Back on November 21, 2010, our blog http://www.bostonbankruptcylawyerblog.com/ had a report about Four Loko in Massachusetts, which was about to be banned by the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. Now, we are looking at the new phenomenon, AeroShot. College students in Massachusetts, and elsewhere, are trying the new caffeine delivery system.
Read MoreWhen a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer represents a client, we work diligently for the best result given the circumstances of the collision, the client’s injuries, his or her work history, and the permanency of the injuries. However, when we review statistics from Massachusetts and from around the country, we look to seek if there are any patterns that show things are safer year after year. The good news this year is they are!
Read MoreIn the United States, there is often the feeling that once you get your driver’s license at age 16 or so, you have a license to drive over state and federal roads until the day you die. Some drivers, young or old, are always safe. Some are reckless at any age. But what about those who were safe drivers for so long, but now may be just old enough that reflexes are too slow?
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 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 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 MoreIn 2009, 676 people in the United States were killed and 113,000 injured in collisions at red lights, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. While the Massachusetts Legislature debates allowing our communities to decide whether to install cameras at traffic lights in order to catch and deter red light violators, numerous organizations have spoken out in favor of the idea. Foxboro Police Chief Ed O’Leary proposed the idea back in 2006 and was shut down in his community. Southern New England AAA spokesperson Mary Maguire said, “We feel that in urban locations where there are a substantial numbers of infractions, we see evidence that red light cameras can deter red light running.” New York, California, Florida and our neighbor, Rhode Island are among the 27 states that allow red light camera laws.
Read MoreFrom the prospective of a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, there are numerous things we can do to keep our homes safe. While Spring-cleaning, it’s perhaps a good time to check up on those things. Smoke detectors should be checked and batteries changed. Be sure they are on the highest ceiling on each floor and strategically placed with respect to heat sources and kitchens.
Read MoreMassachusetts roofs are in danger, though perhaps only a very small percentage of them. Ice dams can result in water damage to homes. Boston personal injury lawyer Neil Burns notes that experts say it may be safer to not attempt roof work in this weather. The most attention should be paid to flat roofs in Massachusetts commercial buildings rather than homes. Some of those flat roofs do not drain properly. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) provides a host of safety tips for residents. The following are ways to prevent injury and property damage:
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