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E-cigarettes seem to be all the rage these days and while they are often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, the reality is that e-cigarettes pose their own health and safety hazards to users. If you have been injured by an exploding e-cigarette, our Massachusetts products liability attorneys are here to help. We understand the pain, shock and horror that the victim of an e-cigarette burn or explosion experiences, which is why we are devoted to fighting for your rights through each step of the legal process.

Injuries arising from hazardous and faulty e-cigarettes, commonly known as “vape pens”, have increased all over the country. In Massachusetts, the attorney general recently filed a lawsuit against a nationwide seller of e-cigarette and vaping products, claiming that the company violated state law by targeting underage individuals for sales of such products through marketing and advertising designed to appeal to young people. In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the retailer did not verify the ages of online buyers for a number of years and also failed to make sure that shipments of these products were obtained by individuals over the age of 21, the state’s legal age for purchasing smoking products. Unfortunately, not only have e-cigarettes led to a significant increase in teenagers and young adults “vaping” – there have also been numerous reports of e-cigarettes exploding across the country, leading to burns, scarring and other severe facial injuries to users.

If you have been injured by an exploding or defective e-cigarette, you may be able to recover compensation through a products liability lawsuit. These claims are complex, but we know how to navigate them effectively. Product manufacturers are required to make sure that their products function as advertised and do not pose any extraordinary danger to customers when used as intended. They are also required to include sufficient instructions for use and safety warnings. When a defective product causes injury or death, there are a number of parties that may be liable including the manufacturer, distributor and retailer. Product defects can be categorized in one of three ways:

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Most drivers obey traffic laws but when they do not, the consequences can be devastating for everyone involved. Anytime a driver runs a red light, innocent motorists and pedestrians moving through the intersection can suffer serious, even deadly injuries. If you’ve been hurt in an accident involving someone disregarding a red light, our Massachusetts auto accident attorneys can help you sue the at-fault party and help you recover the compensation you need to move on with your life. We are committed to holding negligent drivers responsible for the harm that they cause.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that the number traffic deaths related to people running red lights are the highest they have been in 10 years. AAA finds that more than two individuals die each day in red light running accidents, including drivers (35 percent), passengers (46 percent), pedestrians and cyclists (5 percent). Accidents caused by drivers blowing through red lights killed 939 people in 2017, indicating a peak and a nearly 30 percent increase since 2012. The reasons for running red lights range from drivers being distracted and not paying attention to the road, to speeding and deliberately breaking the law. The study also found that while 85 percent of drivers acknowledge that running a red light is dangerous, about one-third of drivers say they flew through a red light within the preceding 30 days when they could have stopped in a safe manner.

Red lights are designed to safely control the flow of traffic and keep drivers safe. All motorists have a legal obligation to obey traffic laws, including following traffic signals so as not to endanger other motorists and pedestrians crossing the street. Sadly, those who run red lights cause and contribute to many intersection and T-bone accidents.

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If you’ve been hurt on the job, you might be eligible to recoup workers’ compensation benefits. Our Massachusetts workers’ compensation lawyers will meticulously examine the facts of your case and assist you in filing your claim. With over 25 years of experience, our firm is well versed in the state’s workers’ compensations laws and can help you pursue the compensation you need to deal with your injuries and move on with your life.

Work injuries range from broken bones to back injuries to disfigurement. Disfigurement, in this context, is the state of having one’s appearance spoiled by a workplace injury. A prominent facial scar, for instance, would be one example of disfigurement. In a recent case, the Massachusetts Court of Appeals weighed in on a claim involving a worker who sustained a left-knee injury that resulted in a limp. Specifically, the employee said he suffered multiple disfigurements due to the accident. The lower court awarded the worker $8,205.53 in damages. Both the insurance company and the injured employee appealed.

As part of the appeal, the employee went through a medical examination by an independent doctor who determined that the worker walked without an obvious limp. Following this, the insurance company withdrew the appeal that it submitted in response to the original damages award. At this point, the only issue left in the case pertained to how much compensation the employee should receive.

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Motorcycles lack the protective features that are readily available in most cars, leaving riders more prone to serious injury, even death. If you have been the victim of a motorcycle accident, our Massachusetts motorcycle accident advocates are here to help. We are dedicated to representing you for injuries sustained from a motorcycle wreck. We understand the serious emotional, physical and financial toll a motorcycle crash can have on a person and his or her entire family, which is why we will fight for your rights at each stage of the legal process.

A Bedford man was critically injured when his motorcycle was rear-ended by a car earlier this month. He died from his injuries. According to law enforcement, the 59-year-old army veteran was heading west on a Massachusetts highway when a sedan struck him from behind. The motorcyclist was thrown off the vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries and was immediately taken to the hospital. The driver of sedan refused medical treatment at the crash scene.

Sadly, motorcycle collisions are a common occurrence in Massachusetts and across the United States. There are over 160,000 registered motorcycles in Massachusetts and these vehicles are much more likely to be on the road during warmer months. Data from the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlights that motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to experience a deadly crash on the road than those in passenger cars. In Massachusetts, there were 2,017 motorcycle accidents in 2016 resulting in 1,635 injuries and 42 deaths. In addition, motorcyclists in the state account for 1 out of every 7 traffic deaths.

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Personal injury cases are complex at every stage. If you’ve been hurt in an accident that you believe was caused by someone else’s negligence, we are here to help. Our Massachusetts injury attorneys understand the both the substantive and procedural aspects of the law that are critical to every case, and we will make sure that absolutely nothing is overlooked.

In a recent case, the Massachusetts Appeals Court concluded that “garden variety oversight” by defense lawyers was not sufficient grounds to permit more time to file an appeal. The plaintiff in the case was hurt while working as he maneuvered a pallet from a truck onto a loading dock over a dock plate. The incident led to the man needing hip surgery and he was not able to go back to work. The man sued alleging that the defendants were negligent in failing to maintain the dock plate, thereby causing the accident and resulting injuries. The plaintiff stated that he was told by a coworker that there had been an issue with the dock place for “some time.” At the end of the trial, the jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff.

The defendants filed a motion, within the proper time frame, requesting a new trial or a remittitur. On February 12, 2018, the trial court judge denied the defendant’s motion and the 30 day clock for filing an appeal began to run. The defendants, however, failed to file a notice of appeal within the 30-day time frame. Rather, approximately 8 days after the 30-day deadline, they filed a motion to extend the time to file notice of appeal. The trial court granted the motion. On April 2, 2018, an estimated 49 days after their post-trial motion was denied, the defendants filed an appeal. In response, the plaintiff filed a cross appeal, challenging the trial court’s judge’s decision to permit the defendants to file their late appeal.

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Warm weather means more bicycles on the road. While bicycling is a fun activity and a great way to exercise, it can be dangerous. Motorists often ignore or fail to pay attention to bicyclists on the road, causing serious and sometimes deadly accidents. If you are a bicyclist who has been hurt in an accident caused by a motorist’s negligence, you might be eligible to recover monetary compensation. Our Massachusetts bicycle accident attorneys are devoted to protecting the rights of injured bicyclists across the state.

According to the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), Massachusetts ranks as the fourth most bike friendly state in the country. The state boasts 36 bicycle friendly businesses, 12 bicycle friendly communities and 7 bicycle friendly universities. LAB is a membership organization that promotes cycling for fun, fitness and transportation through advocacy and education. One of LAB’s goals is to create safer roads and a bicycle friendly nation. While Massachusetts is considered to be a bicycle friendly state, the truth is that accidents do happen. In fact, there were 10 bicyclist deaths in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, bicycle fatalities dropped to 6 and in 2019, there have been 3 bicyclist deaths to date.

Aside from a helmet, bicyclists have no real protection in the event of an accident. This level of exposure can lead to serious, even deadly injuries to the bicyclist who is hit by an oncoming automobile. Sadly, most vehicle-bicycle collisions are the result of driver inattention. Distracted drivers often strike or sideswipe bicyclists, especially on roads where there are no designated bike lanes. If a motorist’s negligence caused your bicycle accident and resulting injury, you may be able to recover compensation. In Massachusetts, negligence refers to the failure of an individual to exercise reasonable care, thereby causing injury to another. Reasonable care refers to the duty to act in a way that a prudent person would act in the same or similar circumstances. Winning a negligence claim requires establishing the following: i) the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care; ii) the defendant breached the duty of care; and iii) the defendant’s breach was a direct cause of the bike accident and plaintiff’s resulting injury.

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Cement truck drivers require a certain level of skill and experience to operate their vehicles since the trucks can weigh up to 30,000 pounds and often carry an additional 30,0000 pounds of wet concrete. This weight, coupled with the size and speed at which these trucks move, can lead to devastating injuries and fatalities in the event of an accident. If you have been injured in a collision involving a cement truck, it is vital to consult a Massachusetts truck accident lawyer who can help. Our goal is to help you and your family obtain the maximum possible compensation in your case.

A head-on crash in Bedford killed an elderly grandfather earlier this month. The crash, involving a Honda CRV and a cement truck, took place around 1:30 in the afternoon. According to law enforcement, the driver of the SUV had been traveling southbound when he crossed over the double yellow line and crashed into the cement truck head on. After the accident, the cement truck ended up losing all hydraulic power, causing it to strike a utility pole, including a transformer. The truck driver declined medical treatment. The man’s 10 and 11-year-old grandsons were in the vehicle at the time of the wreck. The two boys are recovering at the hospital after suffering non-life threatening injuries. Police say the boys survived the crash because they were wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.

In a cement truck accident lawsuit, the plaintiff has the burden of establishing fault. This is typically done by showing that the truck driver’s negligence led to the accident and resulting harm. Negligence takes place when a driver fails to use reasonable care while driving, thereby causing an accident. Reasonable care refers to the level of care that a reasonably competent truck driver would have used under the same or similar circumstances. As such, the plaintiff will have to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that it’s more likely than not that the defendant failed to use reasonable care behind the wheel and this failure was a direct and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury.

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Compared to the occupants of cars, trucks, and buses, motorcycle riders have little protection to shield them from the impact of colliding with another vehicle. Sadly, this means that injuries suffered by motorcyclists are often significant and even life threatening. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a motorcycle crash, call us for a free consultation about your legal options. Our Massachusetts motorcycle accident attorneys understand how to handle even the most complex personal injury cases. We can help value your claim and help you seek the maximum compensation possible in your case.

A recent study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlights that most motorcyclists do not wear any reflective clothing such as jackets, pants, boots, gloves or helmets that would make them more visible on the road. Those who wore visibility gear said their decision to do so was based on a rider they personally knew being killed or seriously injured in a wreck. This is a huge problem as motorcycle riders are significantly over-represented in traffic deaths. In fact, the NHTSA found that more than 5,000 motorcyclists are killed in accidents every year, and many of these accidents are attributed to the rider not being seen by motor vehicle drivers. In every group, participants said that drivers do not look for motorcycles and are frequently distracted by cell phones.

In order to obtain compensation for a motorcycle injury, the rider must establish the elements of negligence by a “preponderance of the evidence.” This requires convincing the jury that a plaintiff’s version of events is more likely than unlikely. Put another way, there is greater than a 50 percent likelihood that the plaintiff’s assertions are true. Each of the following four elements of negligence must be established before any compensation can be recovered:

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No matter how careful a driver is behind the wheel, the reality is that anyone can get into a car accident at any time. In the unfortunate event that you get into a wreck, you need to reach out to one of our Massachusetts car accident lawyers. We will evaluate the specifics of your case and help you learn more about your options. We fully understand the physical, emotional and financial toll that a car crash can have on a victim and his or her family, which is why we will handle your case with the utmost zealousness and compassion.

Allstate Insurance recently released America’s Safe Drivers Report for 2019 which ranks the country’s 200 metropolitan areas according to how often their residents get into car accidents. Unfortunately, three cities in Massachusetts ranked among the top 15 areas where you will find the worst drivers in the country, along with “risky roads” where the highest number of collisions tend to take place. Route 93 in Boston ranked is third place, Main street in Worcester comes in at fourth place and Interstate 91 in Springfield is ranked in seventh place. Not a single city in Massachusetts made the list which ranked the 15 cities where the roads are populated with the safest motorists in the country. As you may expect, researchers found that areas where drivers get into accidents least frequently happen to be less densely populated.

Just like in every other state, drivers in Massachusetts have a responsibility to drive safely and obey traffic laws. Negligence takes place when a person fails to use reasonable care behind the wheel and, thus, causes an accident and resulting injury. Reasonable care is defined as acting with the degree of caution that a rational person would exercise under the same or similar circumstances. For example, if a person caused an accident because he or she was excessively speeding, that person will likely be deemed negligent and on the hook for the resulting harm.

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Medical injuries can have a devastating impact on a patient’s life. If you have suffered as a result of  inadequate or negligent medial care, our malpractice lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. This is a difficult area of law, and having a knowledgeable legal advocate on your side can make all the difference in your case. You can trust that we are devoted to fighting for the rights of medical malpractice victims across the state of Massachusetts.

A Massachusetts state jury recently awarded $11.5 million in a lawsuit alleging that a radiologist misinterpreted an X-ray, which directly led to a toddler suffering cardiac arrest resulting in permanent brain damage. Some time afterwards, the family of the toddler filed a case against the radiologist alleging medical malpractice. After an 11-day trial and deliberation lasting two days, a jury found that the radiologist was negligent for not properly diagnosing the patient’s enlarged heart, which appeared on a chest X-ray. The lawsuit alleged that the radiologist’s failure to react to the child’s heart problem properly ultimately caused her to suffer long-term neurological injuries. In other words, the plaintiff’s argued that had the toddler’s heart condition been diagnosed and treated properly, she would not have suffered the heart failure and cardiac arrest that led to permanent neurological injury.

In Massachusetts, medical malpractice takes place when you suffer an injury due to the negligence of a medical professional. In order to establish negligence you must show that the medical professional breached the standard of care, and that the breach caused the injury or damage in question. The standard of care denotes the generally accepted standard of a similarly qualified professional providing the same treatment. As such, the standard of care differs in every case. For instance, a family doctor will be held to a different standard of care than an ophthalmologist. Negligence can occur at various stages of treatment. Examples of medical malpractice can include misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, medication errors, surgical mistakes and breaches of informed consent.

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