Boston’s first snowfall of the 2015 / 2016 winter season has prompted the question – who is responsible for shoveling the sidewalks and walkways of rental properties? According to the city of Boston, landlords, not tenants, are responsible for shoveling the sidewalks. However, lease terminology and recent changes to a…
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, falling and fighting are the top causes of eye injuries requiring hospitalization. As the number one cause, falling was responsible for more than 8,425 hospitalizations over a 10-year period. Fights came in at a close second, resulting in nearly 8,000 hospitalizations. During that…
Winter in Massachusetts can be harsh. Snow and ice can make roads and walkways dangerously slick. Property owners have a duty to take reasonable care when maintaining these areas, but multiple factors can influence this responsibility. For example, some property owners live out of state and pay a plow company…
The daughters of a man who sustained injuries in a Danvers, MA slip and fall accident in a Target parking lot will be getting $400,000 in personal injury compensation. Emanuel Papadopoulos was walking back to his car in 2002 when he fell on a patch of dirty ice in…
A jury has awarded Brenda Alcala $1.2 million for her slip and fall accident on a sidewalk. The 54-year-old woman shattered her right ankle during the incident while staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Bettendorf. Alcala had to undergo two surgeries. She says that she now has arthritis in that…
A ruling issued by a federal appeals court in a wrongful death case on a cruise ship could pave the way for medical practice lawsuits for claims alleging negligent healthcare on these types of vessels. This could be significant for cruise ship passengers, who for the last century have been…
Slip and fall injuries are one of the most common types of personal injury lawsuits. During wintertime, unsurprisingly, there seems to be a hike in these types of accidents, caused by icy or snowy conditions. Slip and fall accidents are often considered relatively straightforward in terms of liability: the finger…
According to elder advocates, the state’s Executive Office of Elder Affairs, which oversees some 224 facilities, is not properly equipped to protect Massachusetts assisted living residents, who are too often at risk of getting hurt. The Boston Globe reports that assisted living residences in the state are not as tightly…
According to a study by the University of Michigan Health System, everyone is at greater risk of fall accidents during severe winter weather. Various conditions, including wind speed, snow, and temperature were analyzed into a ‘Slipperiness Score’ to reveal that these factors increase the chances of someone sustaining a fracture…
With the cold weather come slippery conditions, and an increased risk for slip and fall accidents. Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, or are a visitor, it is important for you to understand ways to protect yourself, loved ones, as well as understand your rights in the event you…