We have been practicing law in Boston and throughout Massachusetts since 1985. I have represented clients in District Courts, Superior Courts, the Appeals Court, Housing Court, Probate Courts, Federal Bankruptcy Court and the Federal District Court.
In Hingham, Massachusetts last week, a 41-year-old man with 10 prior license suspensions, was allegedly operating a motor vehicle under influence of alcohol when he crossed over the double yellow line and struck another vehicle, seriously injuring the two people in the other vehicle and himself. Police found open containers of alcohol in the vehicle.
Read MoreAccording to a new University of Massachusetts, Amherst, study, use of seat belts is decreasing in Massachusetts. Seat belt use is down to 73% in Massachusetts, according to the study, with the national rate at approximately 85%. This is concerning to a Massachusetts injury lawyer because seat belt use is directly correlated with saving lives. Massachusetts is among the lowest use states in the nation. Teenager seat belt use according to the UMass study was down 3.9%, to only 69%; African American seat belt use was down to 65%; and, with Hispanics, the rate was only 54%. Commercial vehicle drivers were even lower, at 47%. Between men and women, the rate is 68% for men and 80% for women. The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission studies conclude that having a primary seat belt law would boost rates by 10%!
Read MoreMassachusetts State Senator Stephen Brewer, of Barre, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, has introduced a bill before the Massachusetts Senate, removing the current helmet law and allowing all motorcyclists over the age of 21 to have the right to refrain from wearing a helmet. The bill was the subject of hearings in the Senate Transportation Committee this week. The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association sees this as a “freedom” type of law which would promote tourism.
Read MoreThe Massachusetts Clients’ Security Board announced that it had awarded over $2,000,000 to clients that had been defrauded out of their money by 33 lawyers committing legal malpractice in Massachusetts. A program run under the Massachusetts Bar Counsel since 1975, the CSB receives 12.49% of attorneys’ annual registration fees to fund reimbursements. The Board is made up of seven lawyers appointed by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court; they receive no compensation for their work, however, there are investigators and staff who work full time for the Board.
Read MoreAs a Massachusetts consumer attorney, I try to keep clients informed of how to keep safe this holiday season. With rainy weather, and a huge travel day today, we offer the following to avoid Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents:
Read MoreThis time of year we like to remind our clients to keep Massachusetts children safe, especially when buying holiday gifts. Last year our Boston injury blog posted a story about injuries to Massachusetts children noting unsafe toys on the Massachusetts Public Interest Group products list. It includes good instructions regarding plastic toys, plastic baby bottles and foods wrapped plastic.
Read MoreMotorcycle fatalities climbed from the late 1990s to 2008, when there were 5,312 deaths. In 2009, that number went down, to 4,462, a 16% decline. This is notwithstanding an increase in usage. While still too high, the significant decline is encouraging.
Read MoreWe have worked hard to educate our clients about Massachusetts uninsured motor vehicle accidents and underinsured Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents. Significantly, we have encouraged our Boston car accident clients to consider purchasing insurance beyond the minimal insurance. We regularly represent victims of serious Massachusetts car accidents and they often suffer a second “injury: — insufficient insurance to cover their losses.
Read MoreThe Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is currently considering an important case under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 93A, Consumer Protection statute. The issue before the SJC is how to calculate 93A damages following a finding, by the trial judge, that a motor vehicle accident insurance company violated the law by failing to make a fair settlement offer. We reported on this case last December, in an article called Massachusetts Personal Injury Victims Win Unfair Claims Settlement Against Insurance Companies.
Read MoreA recent incident in Boxboro, Massachusetts, with an allegedly illegal immigrant charged with a sixth offense for driving under the influence in Massachusetts, sparked much debate about drunk driving accidents in Massachusetts. Motor vehicle accidents in Massachusetts are frequently caused by drunk drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of times that Americans drove drunk in 2010 was 112 million! 33% of all motor vehicle deaths are associated with alcohol impaired drivers. In 2009 there were 11,000 alcohol related motor vehicle deaths.
Read More