November 2016 - Burns

Super Market Liability – What Happens When You’re Injured at a Store

All of us shop at supermarkets or have at one time or another. These stores have a high duty or care to shoppers and must ensure that aisles are clean and free of debris or slippery substances, that objects are properly stocked, and its entrances and exits free of hazards. Regardless, accidents do happen in supermarket, some of which are other than the usual slip and fall. These injury claims are handled as premises liability matters since they occur on someone’s property. These can be difficult to resolve satisfactorily but many do result in substantial compensation if handled correctly by a premises liability lawyer. But there are also things you can do.

Stair Case Injuries: What You Need to Know

Falling or slipping on a stair case can lead to devastating injuries and even death depending on how you fall, your age and condition. Tumbling down a flight of stairs can easily lead to head and neck injuries, a broken pelvis or fractured limbs. An injury sustained on someone else’s property comes under the principles of premises liability law. Homeowners, business owners and public entities have certain degrees of responsibility toward guests and members of the public though different laws regarding notice and liability apply depending on the status of the owner and, in some cases, on the status of the injured party.

Massachusetts Residents Near Bottom for Seat Belt Use

Bay state residents may be politically liberal but we are also libertarian-minded when it comes to certain issues such as wanting the government to stay out of particular social matters. However, this streak of free thinking and hands-off attitude does not translate well when it comes to seat belt use. Massachusetts ranks third to last in the entire country when it comes to seat belt use, behind New Hampshire and South Dakota. Amazingly, New Hampshire only requires those over 18 to buckle up. It has been a struggle through the years to get our Commonwealth residents to use their seat belts but efforts to make non-seat belt use a primary violation have failed. Currently, you cannot be stopped or ticketed for failing to use your seat belt unless you first are observed to have violated some other ordinance or traffic law.

Bike Accidents on the Rise in Boston

Bicycling is on the rise in many of our cities, including Boston, but unfortunately so are serious bike crashes. As a bike accident lawyer I see the emotional toll these accidents take on the victims every day. Designated bike lanes are now ubiquitous throughout our urban and suburban areas. There is the added incentive of no longer having to search for parking or to deal with heavy traffic. A younger work force has embraced bicycle commuting as well with many companies encouraging it. Since 2009, ridership in Boston has grown by over 120%.

Massachusetts Law to Protect Dogs

During these days of partisan bickering and entrenched ideological positions that rarely sees cooperation in passing any kind of legislation, it is refreshing to report on a bipartisan bill that benefits some members of our community. In late August, Governor Baker signed a bill strongly supported by members of both major parties that offers protection to canines who are being treated inhumanely.

Legal Malpractice Super Lawyer

The results of the 2016 Super Lawyer awards have been announced and Attorney Neil Burns was proud, once again, to be selected. Attorney Burns claims that “While the award is a result of much hard work it is mostly inspired by deserving clients who have suffered greatly.” The distinction is especially important because there are only five (5) lawyers in all of Massachusetts who were awarded as a Super Lawyer in the category of Professional Liability: Plaintiff. Legal Malpractice is a field that most attorneys avoid. Why? Perhaps because it is hard to file claims and lawsuits against fellow attorneys. As such, Attorney Burns’ office rejects the vast majority of prospective clients. Nevertheless, the cases that the Law Office of Neil Burns accepts are cases in which the facts and law show that the clients have been greatly wronged by their prior lawyers; sometimes by multiple lawyers. The facts and the law clearly point to professional negligence by the attorney in those few selected cases.

We are Number 1 … For Being the Worst Drivers in the Nation

For those of us who commute to work and have a firsthand look at our fellow motorists on Boston roadways, we may have shaken our hands at how bad so many drivers appear to be. Speeding, cutting off other drivers, making turns from the wrong lanes, ignoring red lights and traffic signs and generally driving like those in third world countries where driver training is nonexistent seems de rigueur for our city.

Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

Month: November 2016