2020 was the year of staying home. Across the United States, miles traveled on both local roads and highways dropped as millions of people worked from home instead of making their daily commutes, schools shifted to remote learning or cut back the number of school days, and bars, restaurants, and other common destinations shut down …
Massachusetts Road Fatalities Hold Steady, Despite Lower Miles Traveled Read More »
Every state has different rules for when the police must be called after a motor vehicle accident. Both Massachusetts and New Hampshire are fairly liberal in their reporting requirements. While some states require certain types of accidents to be reported to the police immediately, both Massachusetts and New Hampshire allow for reporting in writing. Submission …
Should You Always Call the Police After a Car Accident? Read More »
Decisions about medical care are very personal. And, every situation is different. Still, it is generally in your best interests to accept medical assessment and treatment at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. The most obvious reason, of course, is that it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your …
Should I Always Accept Medical Treatment at the Scene of an Accident? Read More »
Falls Don’t Have to be Dramatic to be Dangerous The seven year old child who took a 35-foot fall from a ski lift at Blue Hills in late January understandably drew significant attention. The fall was dramatic, the victim was a child, and many people witnessed the incident. The boy reportedly sustained a head injury, …
How Much is a Whiplash Injury Claim Worth? Whiplash injuries happen in many ways, but motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common. A whiplash injury occurs when a force causes the head to jerk forward and back. One of the most common causes is being rear-ended, although other types of traffic accidents routinely …
Black Ice Accidents Can Often Be Avoided Black ice can present significant risks in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and other cold-weather states. Earlier this winter, black ice caused multiple local motor vehicle accidents in a single morning. These included a 10-car pile up on 146 at the Mass Pike, an overturned vehicle in Shrewsbury, and several …
Who is Responsible for Injury to the Passenger of a Drunk Driver? In mid-November, an automobile driven by a Lowell woman crashed into two houses in Manchester, injuring the driver and her passenger. The driver was charged with driving while intoxicated. And, because her passenger was injured while she was allegedly driving under the influence, …
Who is Responsible for Injury to the Passenger of a Drunk Driver? Read More »
Who is to Blame for Apartment Building Injuries? Earlier this year, a young University professor was tragically killed when a package she was attempting to move accidentally hit an elevator button, causing the elevator to move. The victim was pinned between the elevator and the shaft. She died of asphyxiation. Initially, an elevator malfunction was …
Who is to Blame for Apartment Building Injuries? Read More »
How Dangerous is Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana? Recreational marijuana use has been legalized in Massachusetts and decriminalized in New Hampshire. Recently, neighboring Maine joined Massachusetts in decriminalization. Several surveys conducted over the past few years demonstrate that most Americans favor legalization. But, a study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA) …
How Dangerous is Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana? Read More »
Police Chase Crashes are All Too Common Earlier this month, a police chase that began in Randolph and ended in Avon resulted in a multi-vehicle traffic accident. The fact that a chase commenced in response to an equipment violation ended in a multi-car crash raises questions about the larger issue of police chases, the policies …
“Traffic crash” brings to mind a collision between two or more vehicles, but that isn’t always the way it plays out. In fact, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that about 40% of fatal motorcycle crashes involve only one vehicle. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the rate …
When you’ve been injured on the job, it’s your responsibility to report that injury to your employer. The time you have to report an injury varies from state to state. In New Hampshire, you technically have up to two years to make a report. But, of course, delaying the report delays your opportunity to secure …
What if My Employer Won’t Submit a Workers’ Comp Claim? Read More »
Burn injuries on the job happen in many different ways, and may be caused by heat, electricity, or exposure to caustic chemicals. Burn injuries can and do occur in many different industries. But, those at highest risk for work-related burn injuries aren’t necessarily those working in what we think of as dangerous professions. Data from …
Restaurant Workers are at High Risk for Burn Injuries Read More »
Tailgating is dangerous, but all too common. It’s especially risky at higher speeds, and in crowded traffic conditions where even a relatively minor rear-end collision can touch off a chain reaction. You undoubtedly see other drivers following too close or accelerating right up behind another vehicle all the time. But, do you do it yourself? …
A study released this month by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA) suggests that one simple problem has a significant impact on the number of traffic fatalities and other crashes on U.S. roads–when it comes to driving, our actions aren’t consistent with our beliefs. In other words, many drivers acknowledge that certain behaviors are …
Actions Speak Louder than Words in Traffic Safety Read More »
Traffic in the Northeast and around the country has been unusually low this spring. Coronavirus-related shutdowns and a large-scale shift to working from home meant far fewer cars on the road. You might reasonably assume that would make the roads safer, but data shows something else. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), nationwide motor …
Road Usage is Down, but Traffic Fatalities Climb Read More »
A few weeks ago, I wrote about a new Massachusetts law that prohibited most hands-on device use by drivers in the state. The law took effect on February 23, but Massachusetts drivers got a bit of a grace period. Until the end of March, drivers caught violating the law were only issued warnings. A fatal …
Violations of Massachusetts Hands-Free Law are Common–and Deadly Read More »
When you think of workers’ compensation claims, you probably think of a work-related injury or long-term exposure to toxins. While those types of claims are certainly more common, Massachusetts workers’ compensation does provide for infectious disease claims under certain circumstances. The determination in an infectious disease case typically revolves around whether or not the exposure …
Automation in the workplace is designed to improve efficiency, lower costs, and even reduce the physical strain on workers. But, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is warning that robotics in the workplace may increase some risks to human workers. Though NIOSH makes it clear that additional information is required, the organization’s …
Are Technological Advances Increasing Crush Injury Risk at Work? Read More »
Rollover accidents make up only about 2% of the traffic crashes nationwide, but they’re responsible for thousands of deaths each year. It likely comes as no surprise that rollover crashes often result in fatalities. But, in fact, recent news stories show that these accidents cover the spectrum in terms of seriousness. In the past several …
A new Massachusetts traffic law took effect on February 23rd, 2020 and it could cost drivers who use mobile devices while driving hundreds of dollars. Under the new law, drivers 18 and older may touch mobile devices while driving only to activate hands-free mode. Any other device usage must be hands-free. Drivers under the age …
Massachusetts Hands-Free Warning Period Ends March 31st 2020 Read More »
Head-on collisions make up a very small percentage of motor vehicle accidents nationwide, but a much higher percentage of fatal accidents. In one recent year, the Insurance Information Institute reports that more than 10% of fatal traffic crashes involved head-on collisions. Some common causes of head-on collisions include: Driving the wrong way on a one-way …
A late 2019 report from a national insurance marketplace ranked Massachusetts the sixth “booziest brunching” state. The company analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data across four years to determine the percentage of fatal daytime automobile accidents attributable to driving under the influence. Both Massachusetts and New Hampshire saw significant declines in drunk driving …
Massachusetts Ranks # 6 in Nation for Fatal Day Drinking Accidents Read More »
When most of us think about falling, it’s a slip on the ice that jars us for a moment or a trip and stumble that comes to mind. However, serious falls are more common than you may think. In one recent year, 59% of unintentional injury hospital stays were attributable to falls. According to the …
Falling Can Be Fatal—and It’s More Common than You Think Read More »
In early November, a 32-year-old new father died following chemical exposure in the kitchen of a Burlington, Massachusetts Buffalo Wild Wings. When strong fumes began to impact both employees and customers, manager Ryan Baldera reportedly attempted to push the substance out of the restaurant with a squeegee. He was overcome by fumes. Though he was …
Deadly Chemical Mix Leads to On-the-Job Fatality Read More »
In late September, Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker issued a temporary ban on the sale of vape-related products in the Commonwealth. The ban, with minor modifications, survived legal challenge, and the sale of most vaping-related materials is currently prohibited. But, just weeks after the ban took effect, the Department of Public Health reported that the death …
Vape Ban Comes Too Late for Middlesex County Woman Read More »
The season of ice and snow is upon us. It won’t come as any surprise to most drivers that in cold-weather states that winter weather can create risky driving conditions. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHA), 24% of weather-related crashes each year occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement. These …
When you’ve been in an automobile accident and it was somebody else’s fault, that other person is generally legally responsible for your injuries. In other words, the driver who caused the accident will typically be liable for your medical bills, repairs to your automobile, wages you lose because of your injuries, and other damages. Of …
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is more common than most people realize, and can have a significant, lifelong impact on the injured person and his or her family. Some of the possible long-term effects of traumatic brain injury include: Frequent headaches or migraines Sensitivity to light and sound Dizziness Memory problems Cognitive issues Sleep disorders Visual …
Late in July, 36 residents of a Cross Street apartment building in Lowell were forced out of their homes by an apartment fire. While the cause of that fire is still unknown as of this writing, the image of dozens of local residents suddenly losing both their homes and possessions destroyed in the fire raises …
Dogs have become the most popular pet in the United States. Americans share their homes with nearly 90 million dogs nationwide, and more than 38% of U.S. households own at least one. The percentages in the Northeast are a bit lower: 29% of households in Massachusetts and just 24% in New Hampshire include dogs. Still, …
Protecting Yourself and Your Children from Dog Bite Injuries Read More »
On July 6, bikers from around the country took part in a 90-mile tribute ride and memorial service for the seven members of the Massachusetts JarHeads Motorcycle Club who were killed in traffic on June 21. According to Marine Corps Times, more than 3,000 motorcyclists gathered in New Hampshire, coming from as far away as …
The statute of limitations for personal injury claim differs from state to state. In most states, the injured person has two, three, or four years to file most injury-related lawsuits. In both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the general statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years. However, different injury cases are treated differently. For …
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim? Read More »
E-scooters can offer significant benefits to communities and the planet. For example, they can reduce traffic congestion, reduce the greenhouse gasses released by traditional motor vehicles, and provide access to transportation for people who are not near public transportation stops. Scooter sharing programs such as Byrd and Lime make it possible to take advantage of …
e-Scooters Raise New Massachusetts Personal Injury Questions Read More »
Elder abuse is on the rise, in Massachusetts and around the country. It’s difficult to sort out exactly how much of that trend is attributable to nursing home abuse, since elder abuse happens in a variety of settings—including at home, at the hands of family members. However, the available information about nursing home abuse and …
The 2019 Dangerous by Design report from Smart Growth America (SGA) reveals a disturbing increase in pedestrian fatalities. More than 49,000 pedestrians were killed throughout the U.S. between 2008 and 2017. Across that 10-year period, the annual number of fatalities climbed from 4,414 to 5,977—an increase of more than 35%. By 2017, pedestrian deaths made …
In most cases, employees may not pursue personal injury lawsuits against their employers in connection with injuries sustained on the job or in the workplace. In both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as in most other states, workers’ compensation is an exclusive remedy. That means that a workers’ compensation claim is typically the injured worker’s only …
As the weather turns warmer and the days grow longer, many people spend more time outside. While there are many benefits to getting out and getting more active, summer activities also introduce new risks. One of those is an increased risk of certain types of slip, trip, and fall injuries. It’s natural to think of …
When you hear “traumatic brain injury,” chances are that you think of a catastrophic accident. It’s true that many traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are caused by events such as a car accident, motorcycle accident, or fall from an upper level (such as construction site injuries). However, traumatic brain injuries may occur in much more routine …
A personal injury case is a case in which the plaintiff is claiming that he or she suffered physical injury because the defendant was negligent. Some common examples include: A car accident caused by a distracted driver A slip and fall injury that occurred because someone failed to maintain property in safe condition An injury …
In a successful personal injury case, the injured party is awarded damages to compensate for his or her losses due to the injury. Some common types of damages in personal injury cases include reimbursement for medical bills, payment for rehabilitative services, compensation for pain and suffering, and lost earnings. Lost Wages v. Earning Capacity There …
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity in Personal Injury Cases Read More »
Early in November, a 31-year-old New Hampshire man was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison in connection with a wrong-way collision. Ryan Kittredge entered a guilty plea to manslaughter and reckless conduct after a three-vehicle crash that resulted in two deaths. One of the victims was a retired Massachusetts police sergeant. Kittredge was …
Wrong-Way Collisions Often Tied to Driving Under the Influence Read More »
Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, and More This is the second part in a two-part series on protecting yourself, your family, and your assets with proper automobile insurance coverage. Read Part 1 here. In the last post, I talked about the importance of adequate automobile liability insurance. Liability insurance helps to protect your assets …
Many people think of automobile insurance as something they’re required to purchase for the protection of others, or simply to avoid getting a ticket or facing driver’s license suspension. With that outlook, far too many simply default to the mandatory minimum coverage when choosing an insurance policy. Once the box is checked and the driver …
In this Article: Introduction Common Causes of Back and Spinal Cord Injury Recognizing and Treating Massachusetts Back Injuries Working with an Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Back injuries are surprisingly common in the U.S., including Massachusetts. About 80% of Americans will sustain a back injury at some point. Of course, these injuries vary significantly in …
In this Article Introduction Slip and Fall/Trip and Fall Lawsuits What if the Injury Victim is Partly at Fault? Damages in New Hampshire Slip and Fall Cases Talk to a New Hampshire Slip and Fall Lawyer as Soon as Possible Introduction Slip and fall or trip and fall accidents are so commonplace that they may …
Many people who have been injured in car accidents or suffered other serious injuries are uncertain about how best to protect themselves. This confusion is often further complicated by insurance company representatives whose job is to save the company money by minimizing your compensation. Sometimes, those representatives seem so empathetic and helpful that injury victims …
People who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents are often unsure where to turn for help. But, with medical expenses rapidly becoming unmanageable, income interrupted, and insurance companies angling to avoid or minimize payment, many are looking for the right advocate. Those who have never worked with an attorney before and don’t have …
New Hampshire recently made news as the state with the most dangerous commute in the United States. As a small state, New Hampshire has a relatively small number of motor vehicle accidents and fatalities. But, when it comes to traffic fatality rates, New Hampshire fares worse than many nearby states. Annually, the Granite State sees …
Nationwide, distracted driving kills thousands of people each year. Efforts to cut down on distracted driving range from public service announcements to increasingly restrictive laws to try to keep driver attention on the road. But, Massachusetts, like most states, has focused those efforts largely on mobile device use. Virtually everyone in the state, and around …
Distracted Driving Dangers Extend Beyond Texting and Driving Read More »
Helping Victims of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crashes In this article: Preface What Damages Can I Recover After a Car Accident? Broderick Law Firm, LLC’s Recent Car Accident Claim Settlement Results Should I Hire a Massachusetts Car Accident Attorney? How Do I Connect with an Experienced Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyer Today? About 4,000 people are injured in …
Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyer Kevin Broderick Read More »
When something as important as getting fair compensation for a serious injury is at stake, it’s only natural that you should want the best injury attorney available. However, if you have little experience with the legal system, you may not know what questions to ask or characteristics to look for in choosing a personal injury …
How do I Find the Best Personal Injury Attorney? Read More »
At the Lowell, Massachusetts Personal Injury Law Firm, Broderick Law Firm LLC, yes, our consultations are really free. About Your Free Personal Injury Consultation When you’ve been seriously injured, an experienced personal injury attorney can be an excellent source of information. For example: Your options following a car accident or other type of injury Any …
