General Personal Injury Archives - Page 5 of 8 - Burns

Prescription Meds and Massachusetts Car Crashes: What You Need to Know

Prescription drugs are a major industry in our country, especially pain medication or opioids such as Vicodin, Percocet or Oxycontin. Doctors prescribe these and other medications regularly, and frequently. However, there may be insufficient verbal warnings by the doctor or pharmacist, or written warnings on the label that advises the user that it causes drowsiness or dizziness or should not be taken if operating a motor vehicle.

Legal Marijuana But Still Illegal to Drive High

Massachusetts is entering a new era in terms of legalized marijuana. A number of states have legalized marijuana use for medical purposes and now Massachusetts, Nevada, Maine and California will join Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Alaska and Maine in legalizing it for recreational use. One of the controversies over its legalization is how it affects driving behavior. While marijuana use may be legal in Massachusetts, it is not legal to drive while impaired or under the influence of a drug (OUI). All states have laws making it unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol or to engage in drugged driving. A blood or urine sample can detect the presence of certain drugs if specifically tested for that drug. Also, police officers trained in drug recognition can detect symptoms of drug use in drivers that can provide probable cause to test the motorists for the presence of drugs in their blood system.

Defenseless Children and How We Represent Them

Children are often the most defenseless segment of our population when it comes to abuse or injury, whether the injury was caused by parents, relatives, nannies or other third parties. Parents who both work trust that a nanny, sitter or daycare worker will take care of their children and know how to deal with crying spells or tantrums with patience and understanding.

What You Need to Know About Ski Injuries

Skiing is a winter activity with millions of participants. Resorts in California, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Vermont are well-known, though other states like New Jersey, Massachusetts and Minnesota have ski areas as well. Ski slopes usually have trails tailored towards a skier’s level of expertise, from the bunny or novice trail to the intermediate and expert. But ski areas can be hazards as well. With so many skiers of different levels competing for space and some trails containing objects like trees, rocks, holes and other hazards, accidents happen every day of the skiing season. Also, ski lifts can malfunction or operators can be lax regarding safety that can result in skiers falling, sometimes from hundreds of feet to an icy and unforgiving surface.

Underinsured Coverage Why You Need It

Auto Insurance Policy Requirements All Massachusetts motorists are required to carry auto liability insurance so that if they cause an accident, the other party can be compensated to some degree. However, the minimum limits for coverage is very low. By state law, a car owner need only purchase coverage of $20,000/$40,000. This means that if you were injured in an accident, you may only recover up to $20,000. If there are multiple injured claimants, the 40,000 would have to divided among you and the other injured parties with no single party collecting more than $20,000.

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.

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 Motorcycle Accidents on the Rise in 2016

Motorcycle accidents and fatalities have been decreasing for several years but in 2016, state officials are finding that the trend is reversing. There are likely several reasons for this unfortunate circumstance. Officials are mostly blaming the mild winter for the rise in motorcycle accidents. Traffic observers commented that they rarely if ever saw motorcycle accidents in the winter months in prior years but the warm weather brought out riders as early as February in 2016. There have been 2 fatal motorcycle accidents each month from February to April giving the state a head start toward exceeding its average of 38 to 46 fatalities it experienced in the past 3 years. Warm weather always brings out more vehicles and as a result, and the incidence of accidents are bound to increase.

Duck Boat Accident and Employer Liability

In a recent tragic accident involving a Boston duck boat driver whose tour vehicle struck and killed a 28-year old woman on a motor scooter on Beacon Hill, there are questions surrounding the employer as well as the vehicle operator. Apparently, a review of the driver’s motor vehicle record revealed a number of startling facts that seemed to have escaped the attention of the vehicle’s owner and driver’s employer, Boston Duck Tours.

Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

Category: General Personal Injury