Massachusetts Dog Attacks Cause Serious Injuries, Even Dog Bite Fatalities
Posted on | April 27, 2012 | No Comments
Massachusetts is known for its beautiful walking neighborhoods, which is one reason so many residents own dogs. Unfortunately, though, that means a leisurely stroll around the block can quickly turn awry if an aggressive dog appears. We’ve all been there: You’re walking down the sidewalk, enjoying a peaceful afternoon, when a dog suddenly comes charging out of nowhere, hostile and barking. Or on a motorcycle or bike ride, a dog lunges out from behind a parked car, snarling and nipping at you. Runners often deal with aggressive dog chasing them down the street, turning their daily jog into a sprint. Many dog attacks turn into dog bite injuries, or associated injuries from the attack, and the statistics are shocking.
In 2010, there were 34 dog attack fatalities. Massachusetts personal injury attorney Mark E. Salomone knows that the issue is a complicated one, because it can become a legal issue, in which you can and should pursue dog bite compensation for your injuries.
If you are bitten by an aggressive dog that lives on a rental property, in a business or if it is a stray, dog bite insurance issues become even more complex. Say you’re sitting at an outside cafe and a tourist’s Rottweiler jumps up and tries to get your burger but gets your hand instead. You could have a serious dog bite injury requiring stitches, and you might have broken bones, preventing you from being able to do your job at the office where you work.
In that moment, the last thing on your mind is whether that person has some sort of insurance, if he or she is a Massachusetts dog owner or from afar. And yet, if a dog bite ends up impacting your ability to go to work or to get around and live life normally, you need to take several immediate steps to take care of your dog bite injury, both medically and legally.
The first thing to do is call 911, get a police officer to make a full report and get all identification from the dog’s owner. Then call a tough, experienced dog bite attorney, one who is as forceful as that dog was. You will need to find out your legal rights. You need to be compensated not just for dog bite lost wages but possibly dog attack emotional trauma that the event may have caused as well.
If you or a loved one was injured by a dog bite, find out your legal rights from someone who knows dog attack laws inside and out—Massachusetts personal injury attorney, Mark E. Salomone. For a free and confidential consultation, call 1-800-WIN-WIN-1 or contact us online today. We are ready to listen to you and discuss your legal options.
The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
175 State Street, Suite 200
Springfield, MA 01103
Are motorcycle accident victims in Massachusetts treated fairly?
Posted on | March 29, 2012 | No Comments
Even during tough economic times, some people continue to take pleasure in life’s adventures. For many folks in Massachusetts, this means taking to the open road on a motorcycle.
A new study by the consumer research firm Scarborough, which examines the spending habits of the baby boomer generation, finds that 7 percent of boomers live in a household with a motorcycle.
With many baby boomers now reaching retirement age and having more leisure time on their hands, drivers may notice older motorcycle riders on the roads in the Bay State. Unfortunately, this also means there will be more accidents involving motorcycles. The motorcycle accident attorneys in Springfield at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone have seen first-hand how a serious injury can lead to significant financial losses.
Our Springfield motorcycle accident lawyers also have seen how an injury victim can be treated unfairly. Some people who have never been on a motorcycle might assume that all riders are careless and reckless. They might assume the average motorcycle rider is a young daredevil who commonly speeds down a highway.
The Scarborough study suggests otherwise. Researchers define baby boomers as people who are between 45 and 64 years old. With 7 percent of them living in a household with a motorcycle, clearly many riders are not young speed demons.
Insurance companies, however, are aware of these misconceptions and will try to use them against a rider who was involved in a motorcycle accident in Springfield, or elsewhere in Massachusetts. If you are in a motorcycle wreck through no fault of your own, the insurance company may unfairly deny or limit your injury claim.
Our personal injury lawyers in Springfield won’t let the insurance companies take advantage of our clients. We put experience and resources to work for clients who were injured in motorcycle wrecks in Massachusetts. Contrary to what the insurance companies want you to believe, the cause of a motorcycle accident in Springfield often is due to the carelessness of a driver in a passenger vehicle. The driver may be distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
An experienced accident attorney can help determine liability. At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone, we can conduct a thorough investigation to build a strong case and get you all the money you need to pay for your medical bills and other expenses related to the accident.
The impact of a Springfield motorcycle accident can be devastating to you and your family. An experienced attorney who understands the nature and long-term consequences of your injury can help you achieve the results you need.
For a free consultation, contact a Springfield motorcycle accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. Call 1-800-WIN-WIN-1 or visit www.marksalomone.com to learn more.
The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
175 State Street, Suite 200
Springfield, MA 01103
Teen Hosts Not Liable in Massachusetts Driving Under the Influence Car Accidents
Posted on | March 21, 2012 | No Comments
We all know that teen driver car accidents are far more common than collisions caused by older drivers. Add alcohol to the equation and that worry increases exponentially, especially for parents. Underage drinking parties are all-too common these days, however, and the issue of culpability has become a complex point of contention in numerous teen drinking and driving lawsuits around the country.
Massachusetts has addressed at least part of the underage drinking and driving equation, with a new social host liability law. In early 2012, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that if teens host underage drinking parties but do not provide the alcohol consumed at the party, that they cannot be held responsible by a civil court if an inebriated guest is injured.
The case that instigated the ruling involved a 16-year old girl who was seriously injured in a driving under the influence car accident in 2007, and Boston, Springfield, Worcester-area personal injury attorney Mark E. Salomone has followed it closely. The girl’s boyfriend, who was the driver of the car in which she was a passenger, had consumed alcohol at a party that had been hosted by a 19-year old girl. The host, whose father was not home during the gathering, did not provide any of the alcohol that the driver had consumed; he had brought his own 30-pack of beer and a bottle of rum to the event.
The injured girl’s parents sued the 19-year old host but the subsequent ruling states that teenagers who host underage drinking parties but do not supply alcohol cannot be held civilly liable if one of their guests gets hurt. The court said a social host is only liable only when he or she provides alcohol or controls the supply of alcohol. It also denied a request to broaden the law by extending a “duty of care” to underage party hosts who don’t supply alcohol but provide a location in which teens are allowed to drink.
No doubt, more legal rulings will be coming down the legislative pipeline as underage drinking parties become the grounds for more teenage car accident lawsuits. Teen social host liability, teen car accident injuries and teen drinking car crash fatalities are all in the news more and more these days, so it is up to every parent to educate their kids about the numerous dangers of underage drinking.
If your child was injured in a teen DUI car accident or has been accused of liability as a teen social host of an underage drinking party car crash, you need the aggressive advocacy of Massachusetts personal injury attorney, Mark E. Salomone. For a free and confidential consultation, call 1-800-WIN-WIN-1 or contact us online today. We are ready to listen to you and discuss your legal options.
The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
Teenage drivers in Massachusetts put people at risk on the road
Posted on | February 10, 2012 | No Comments
The National Safety Council supports states adopting seven simple rules for teenage drivers aimed at reducing the number of auto accidents – and saving more than 2,000 lives each year nationwide. These rules are:
- minimum age 16 for a learner’s permit
- six months before unsupervised driving
- minimum 30 hours supervised driving during learner’s stage
- intermediate licensing at 16½ minimum
- intermediate night driving restriction begin no later than 10 p.m.
- no more than one non-family passenger for intermediate license holders
- minimum age 17 for a full license.
What would you do if you injured in an auto accident caused by a teenage driver in Massachusetts? What if you couldn’t work? How would you pay your bills? You need a determined a Massachusetts teen auto accident attorney in your corner. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. Serving clients in nine offices statewide, our knowledgeable attorneys have worked with numerous accident victims, helping them decide what to do, including whether to file an auto accident lawsuit in Massachusetts. Car crashes can be extremely complicated. Don’t panic worrying about what’s the right thing to do. Contact a Massachusetts teenage auto accident attorney who fights for justice. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone.
Teenagers literally think differently. Increasing scientific evidence has found that teens’ brains are physically different from adults and still developing. That’s why teenagers often do things that make people think, “What were they thinking?” That’s why the National Safety Council supports states adopting seven specific rules for teenage drivers aimed at reducing the number of auto accidents.
Scientific research changes constantly. Keeping up to date with the latest developments can be daunting. Don’t leave your future to chance. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident caused by a teenage driver in Massachusetts, take back control. Contact a law firm that demands justice. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. We mean business!
Tags: auto accident lawsuit in Massachusetts > Massachusetts teenage auto accident attorney
Shocking truth about cost of a fatal auto accident in Massachusetts
Posted on | December 16, 2011 | No Comments
A fatal auto accident can happen fast in Massachusetts. Just recently, two men died in a head-on collision on Route 20 in Massachusetts near Springfield. To add to the chaos, one of the vehicles was reported stolen before the deadly car crash.
So many factors can be an issue after a fatal auto accident in Massachusetts. What if a vehicle involved in the fatal accident was involved in a crime? What if the other driver has no insurance? What if your insurance company refuses to pay? Should you file a wrongful death lawsuit? Questions often lead to more questions.
Scared? Confused? Don’t be a victim. Take action! Contact a Massachusetts fatal auto accident attorney who knows how to take charge. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. Serving clients in nine offices statewide, our experienced Massachusetts auto accident lawyers have dedicated their careers to helping clients demand justice. We know the tricks insurance companies sometimes try to play to avoid paying families the money they rightfully deserve. They don’t scare us. Put your trust in a Massachusetts accident attorney who puts people first. Rely on the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone.
The number of people who died in auto accidents in Massachusetts has declined in recent years, from 441 in 2005 to 334 in 2009. But while the number of fatalities has decreased, the financial impact of a fatal motor vehicle accident has skyrocketed across the country. In 2009, the cost of a single motor vehicle fatality exceeded $6 million nationwide, according to federal accident data analyzed by AAA. That figure is 85 percent – or $2.76 million – higher compared to 2005, when the estimated cost of a single motor vehicle fatality was $3.24 million.
Serious accidents demand serious attention. Don’t let the insurance companies dictate what happens to your family. Take back control! Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. Your initial consultation is free. You pay nothing unless you win. It’s that’s simple.
The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone – we mean business!
Avoiding pedestrian accidents: Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters
Posted on | October 14, 2011 | No Comments
Halloween can be a fun and exciting day for children – and for a lot of adults – but accidents can happen. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an average of four wrongful deaths per year occurred during Halloween hours among children ages 5-14 years after pedestrian accidents involving cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that Halloween is typically the second deadliest day for pedestrians (after New Year’s Day). Without question, trick-or-treaters and drivers need to be extra cautious on the roads on Oct. 31.
To reduce risks of Halloween accidents, we offer the following pedestrian safety tips for trick-or-treaters:
- Consider costumes that are lighter in color and more visible to drivers, or add reflective material to the front and back of a costume.
- Consider using face paint instead of masks, or wear masks that are well-fitting with eye and ear holes that don’t obstruct sight or hearing.
- Parents should walk with trick-or-treaters who are younger than 12 years old.
- Use a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you.
- Avoid crossing yards.
- Look both ways before crossing streets, and use crosswalks when possible.
- Always use sidewalks, or if there are none, stay on the far edge of the road facing traffic.
For drivers:
- Drive safely and be on the lookout for trick-or-treaters. Children’s behavior can be unpredictable. They may dart out into the road.
- Buckle up children if you are driving them around for trick-or-treating. Make sure they wear seat belts every time they get into the car, even if you’re driving a short distance.
- Pull over to safe locations to let children out of the car. Let them exit curb side, away from traffic. When you stop, use your hazards to alert other drivers.
- Don’t use a cell phone while driving. While cell phone use and driving on any day can raise your risk of an accident, it’s especially important for drivers to avoid using the cell phone on Halloween. Check for messages or talk on the cell phone after you’ve pulled over safely.
Enjoy Halloween and stay safe. Remember, accidents can happen in an instant. Serious injuries can result in months, years or even a lifetime of struggle. If you or a loved one was injured in an accident, contact an accident attorney at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone for a free consultation. We have decades of collective trial experience and a demonstrated record of verdicts and settlements. Talk to an experienced Massachusetts personal injury lawyer today.
The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone serves people who have been injured due to the negligence of others in Springfield, Boston, Worcester, and throughout Massachusetts.
Pedestrians injury accidents in Massachusetts a real danger due to texting
Posted on | September 21, 2011 | No Comments
Pedestrian accidents happen for many reasons in Massachusetts. Sometimes, the pedestrian is distracted. A startling new study highlights the link between pedestrian accidents and texting. Often, it’s the other way around. The driver might be texting while driving. Or the driver fails to stop at a crosswalk or obey clearly marked traffic signals. You may even be dealing with a hit and run pedestrian accident in Massachusetts. Such a case happened recently in Revere, resulting in the death of a 47-year-old East Boston woman.
Sorting through the aftermath of a pedestrian accident can be a nightmare. You might not be able to work for weeks or months. You might require an extensive hospital stay or months of physical rehabilitation. Bills pile up fast. And often, insurance companies will do everything they can to avoid paying the money they rightfully owe you.
Don’t be a victim. Fight back! Get an experienced Massachusetts personal injury attorney on your side. Hire the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. Our Massachusetts personal injury attorneys have a renowned reputation for our tireless work ethic, attention to detail and vigorous pursuit of justice. We understand that your case is about more than just getting you the money you rightfully deserve. It’s about making sure reckless people are held accountable for their actions. Put your trust in Massachusetts personal injury lawyer who puts people first. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone.
Here’s a sobering statistic. If you’re texting while crossing the street, you’re four times more likely to be hit by a car than someone who’s not texting. Specifically, you have a 25 percent chance of being hit by a vehicle while crossing the street if you’re texting. If you are not texting, you have a 6 percent chance of being struck by a car, according to scientific study conducted by the Youth Safety Laboratory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Now, imagine if a driver was texting. They could be easily distracted. Texting auto accidents are a real danger in Massachusetts. Don’t become another faceless
Tags: Massachusetts personal injury attorneys > Massachusetts personal injury lawyer
Massachusetts grandchildren safer in vehicles driven by grandparents
Posted on | September 2, 2011 | No Comments
Are older drivers safer drivers in Massachusetts? There’s no easy answer. The rate of nonfatal and fatal auto accidents has fallen faster among elderly drivers than among younger drivers nationwide, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But reports of auto accidents involving older Massachusetts drivers regularly make the news. Recently, a 76-year-old driver from Everett accidently drove his car into a pharmacy in Melrose.
Auto accidents happen fast. In an instant, your life can drastically change. You might need serious medical attention. You might need months of physical therapy. You might not be able to work. You need an experienced Massachusetts personal injury attorney in your corner. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. When you have one of our Massachusetts personal injury attorneys on your side, you can be sure we will work tirelessly to win your case and get you the maximum compensation for your injuries. You deserve justice. Demand it. Contact a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer who puts people first. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone.
Older driver auto accident statistics paint a complex picture. Nationally, the odds of getting in a fatal accident increase noticeably each year for drivers over 75 years old, according to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control. But an interesting thing happens when grandchildren are riding in vehicles – grandparents have fewer accidents. Specifically, children are twice as safe when their grandparents are driving instead of their parents, according to a recent scientific study written about in Time Magazine.
Serious accidents demand serious attention. Don’t leave your future to chance. Put your trust in a Massachusetts law firm focused on results. Put your trust in the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Massachusetts, we will use our resources to help you get your life back and get back on your feet. The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone – we mean business!
Tags: Massachusetts personal injury attorneys > Massachusetts personal injury lawyer
Massachusetts teenage drivers put people in danger during summer
Posted on | July 29, 2011 | No Comments
Teenage drivers put people in danger during the summer in Massachusetts. The 100 deadliest days for teenage drivers occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year, according to a recent study done by AAA. During that time, more than 7,300 passengers and drivers between ages 13 and 19 were killed in auto accidents nationwide between 2005 and 2009, reports AAA. That’s nearly 15 teenagers every day during that time period!
What would you do if you were injured in an accident caused by a teenage driver? How would you pay your bills? How would your family survive? You need an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer in your corner. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. Our dedicated Massachusetts auto accident attorneys are known throughout the state for their tireless work ethic. We work hard every day with one goal in mind: to win your case. Put your trust in a Massachusetts auto accident lawyer who puts people first. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone.
Teenage drivers kill thousands every year. In 2009, more than 3,000 teens between 15 and 19 years old were killed and 350,000 were injured nationwide in accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s nearly one teenage killed every 3 hours.
No one wins when a teenager causes a fatal accident. Everyone involved – the other driver, the passengers, their families – suffers the consequences for the rest of their lives. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, you need a first-class law firm committed to getting results on your side. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. With nine offices throughout Massachusetts, our lawyers are conveniently located nearby to serve you.
Don’t suffer because of someone else’s reckless behavior. Take action. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone – we’re ready to work for you!
Tags: Massachusetts auto accident attorneys > Massachusetts auto accident lawyer
Casey Anthony: Not guilty, but she may face personal injury lawsuits
Posted on | July 29, 2011 | No Comments
Casey Anthony was acquitted of killing her own young daughter, but her legal battle may be far from over. Anthony can face civil lawsuits in connection with circumstances surrounding the 2008 disappearance and death of her 2-year-old, Caylee Anthony. Already, someone has filed a lawsuit against Anthony alleging defamation.
At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone, our Massachusetts personal injury attorneys have experience representing clients who have been injured by the negligence of others, even if the person who caused harm was acquitted of criminal charges.
For example, a drunk driver may be found not guilty of manslaughter in a criminal court. The family of the victim, however, may still pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver.
O.J. Simpson, perhaps the most famous example of a person being held responsible by a civil court for actions after an acquittal on murder charges, was ordered to pay $33.5 million for the wrongful deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
With criminal charges, the U.S. Constitution protects people from ever being charged with the same crime after being found not guilty. Even if new evidence comes forward or if she changes her story and admits killing her daughter, Anthony cannot be charged in the death of Caylee.
The system was created this way to protect people from losing their freedom and serving time behind bars, or getting the death penalty, for something they didn’t do. In the Casey Anthony case, she could have been sentenced to death is she was convicted of murder in Florida.
Casey Anthony, however, may be hit with a civil lawsuit filed by people who believe they lost money because of her actions. Like Simpson, Anthony may be ordered to pay money to those she harmed based on the standard used in a civil court.
A woman named Zenaida Gonzalez is pursuing a defamation lawsuit against Casey Anthony. Gonzalez shares the same name as a made-up baby-sitter who Anthony blamed for kidnapping her daughter.
To learn more about your rights, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney in Massachusetts. If you or someone you love has been injured due to someone else’s irresponsible behavior, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Choose a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer who focuses on getting results for clients: the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone.
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