She was recently named the Boys & Girls Club, "Youth of the Year." She and a male friend were on their way to their senior prom at Whites of Westport. Graduation was just days away. She would never make it to either. Authorities say the 18-year-old Durfee High School senior lost control of her Ford...
Read MoreBlog
Car Accident Concerns Fuel Mass. Officials' Marijuana Reticence
A marijuana legalization group has launched an effort to legalize the drug for recreational purposes in Massachusetts. But the governor, attorney general and other officials have refused to back the proposed ballot question, in part because of concerns the Commonwealth could see an uptick in car accidents. A recent Report of the Special Senate Committee...
Read MoreMassachusetts Car Accidents Too Often Caused By Distracted Drivers
Every day in the U.S., 8 people are killed and another 1,160 are injured in car accidents caused by distracted drivers. In 2013, that amounted to 3,170 deaths and 431,000 injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Law enforcement officials across Massachusetts sought to tackle this issue last month - April was...
Read MoreUnderstanding Your Massachusetts Auto Insurance Coverage
Make sure you're covered in the event of an accident Many motorists wrongly assume that if they're involved in a car accident, insurance will pick up the bill. That's why you have insurance, after all. Unfortunately, the reality is quite a bit more complex. Different aspects of your insurance policy cover different types of losses...
Read MoreRish v. Simao – Injuries in Low-Impact Car Accidents
Auto insurance companies routinely exploit the myth that "low-impact car accidents" - those that occur at less than 10 mph - cannot result in injuries. Adjusters will point to the speed of vehicles involved. They will highlight the minimal damage to the cars. They will note the lack of skid marks or the fact that...
Read MoreNew Massachusetts Laws May Help Prevent Bike and Pedestrian Accidents
Lawmakers weighing proposals to enforce sharing the road Over the past several years, bicycle and pedestrian accidents have been on the rise in Boston and throughout Massachusetts. Now, state lawmakers are considering new regulations to protect some of the most vulnerable people on the road. One such measure, known as the Vulnerable Users Bill,...
Read MoreWheelchair Users More Likely Than Other Pedestrians to be Killed in Car Collisions
Pedestrians have no protection from the impact of a car crash and can suffer serious injuries or fatalities when motorists are negligent and cause an accident. While all pedestrians are vulnerable to harm as a result of a collision, recent studies show there are some pedestrians who are more vulnerable than others. In particular, those...
Read MoreDangers of Posting on Social Media after an Auto Accident in Massachusetts
After a car accident in Massachusetts, many people are tempted to tell their friends and family what happened on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or other social media websites. But the reality is the information you share online could jeopardize your ability to be fairly compensated for your car crash in Boston, Worcester, Springfield or wherever your...
Read MoreUber Drivers – Are They Independent Contractors or Employees?
All over the country the question is being asked whether Uber drivers are independent contractors or employees of Uber, a company that connects riders to drivers through a smartphone app. This question has been posed in news stories that explore how courts are being asked to determine whether Uber drivers are, by law, independent contractors...
Read MoreCar vs. Pedestrian in Massachusetts: Who Owes the Greater Duty of Care?
Pedestrians are perhaps the most vulnerable road users in Boston. Typically, nothing shields them from the impact of a moving vehicle. These could be commuters, walkers, hikers, runners or anyone traveling by foot, wheelchair or stroller. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there were 4,750 pedestrians killed and another 76,000 injured nationally in...
Read More