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With the arrival of spring, more bicyclists will be on the roads. Although bicycling is an extremely healthy, cost effective, environmentally sound mode of transportation, it is not without risks. Between 2000 and 2012, the number of people who commute to work by bicycle in the U.S. rose from 488,000 to 786,000. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bicycle accidents involving a motor vehicle were responsible for 743 cyclist deaths and 48,000 fatalities in 2013 alone. In crashes involving motor vehicles, the cyclist is the most likely to be seriously injured or killed. Contact a Boston Bicycle Accident Attorney Today.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

  • In 2012, cyclists accounted for about 2% of total traffic fatalities.
  • About 48% of bicyclist fatalities take place between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight.
  • Approximately 69% of bicyclist fatalities occur in urban areas.
  • Nearly 1/4 of bicyclists killed in crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08%.
  • The vast majority of cyclists killed are male (88%).
  • The top three states for bicyclist fatalities are: California (141), Florida (133), and Texas (48).
  • The average age of those killed in bicycle / motor vehicle crashes is 44.
  • The most common causes of bicyclist injuries are: being hit by a car, falling, roadway conditions, rider error, crashing, and an animal running out.
  • Bicycle Safety Tips

By following the safety tips below, you can dramatically reduce your risk of serious injury or death in a bicycle accident.

  • Always ride with traffic, on the right side of the road.
  • Use bike lanes whenever possible.
  • Obey traffic signals and signs.
  • Always wear a helmet.
  • Wear bright clothing.
  • Don’t ride at night.
  • If you must ride at night, make sure your bike is equipped with reflectors and a light, and wear reflectors on your clothing.
  • Even if you have the right of way, yield to other vehicles if there’s any doubt about a car or truck driver’s next move.
  • Avoid riding when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

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Every March, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) works to raise awareness about brain injuries. The theme for this year’s Brain Injury Awareness Month is ‘Not Alone.’ The campaign is focused on educating the public about the incidence of brain injuries, as well as how they can help victims and their families. The campaign also aims to reduce the stigma surrounding this type of injury, empower survivors, and help people locate the support they need. Contact a Boston Injury Lawyer Today.

Brain Injury Facts and Figures

  • Each year, more than 3.5 million people experience an acquired brain injury (ABI), an injury typically caused by electric shock, oxygen deprivation, infectious disease, stroke, seizure disorder, drug abuse, trauma, or certain tumors.
  • Currently, there are more than 12 million Americans living with ABI.
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of ABI caused by external-force trauma.
  • Annually, about 2.5 million people suffer TBIs in the United States. Of those, about 2.2 million are treated in the emergency department, 280,000 are hospitalized, and 50,000 die.
  • Someone in the U.S. sustains a TBI every 13 seconds.
  • One out of every 60 Americans lives with a TBI-related disability (about 5.3 million people).
  • The most common causes of TBIs are falls (40.5%), being struck by something (15.5%), motor vehicle accidents (14.3%), and assaults (10.7%).Concussions are Brain Injuries Too

Physicians are taking this opportunity to highlight the importance of treating youth sports-related injuries. These injuries are often downplayed, sometimes resulting in long-term damage that may have otherwise been treatable. Dr. Jeffrey T. Barth, a brain injury expert in Virginia, is working in collaboration with a team of brain injury professionals to educate young people on the prevention and treatment of concussions. The team will reach out to students, parents, teachers, coaches, and the community at large to help them learn how  to identify concussion symptoms, and what steps to take when an injury occurs. To do so, Dr. Barth and his team will work with athletic directors and sports coaches on baseline assessment programs he created. These programs help coaches, players, and other team members to evaluate the severity of a head injury based on cognitive tests conducted on each athlete prior to the injury. Continue reading

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Adverse drug interactions account for approximately 700,000 emergency room visits and 100,000 hospitalizations annually. In fact, nearly 5% of hospitalized patients suffer from medication errors, putting them at the top of the list for inpatient errors. It is likely that outpatient medication errors are even higher. Contact a Boston Drug Injury Lawyer Today.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices keeps a list of medications with a high potential for error. These include drugs that have dangerous side-effects, as well as look-alike and sound-alike drugs that have similar names and /or appearances but entirely different properties. The biggest culprits, especially among geriatric patients, are antidiabetic agents (insulin), antiplatelet agents (aspirin), and a­­nticoagulants (warfarin). Combined, these drugs are responsible for nearly half of all medication error-related E.R. visits for Medicare patients.

Nearly one-third of American adults are on five or more medications, and that figure is likely to keep growing. The good news is, about half of all medication errors are preventable. Through a process called medication reconciliation, adverse drug events can be dramatically reduced by ensuring that new prescriptions don’t have negative interactions with medications you’re already taking. Even over-the-counter medications can result in dangerous drug interactions. For example, if you are prescribed a drug with high levels of acetaminophen (Tylenol), and you are simultaneously taking over-the-counter acetaminophen for a headache, you may unknowingly exceed the safe dosage. In this case, overdosing could result in liver damage. Some adverse events, such as liver damage from an overdose of acetaminophen, may gradually worsen over time. Other types of medication errors can result in emergency health complications, and even death.

What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor?

Proper medication reconciliation involves having a thorough conversation with your physician about the medications you are currently taking (over-the-counter, prescription, and vitamins). To significantly reduce your risk of medication errors, go to all medical appointments prepared with the questions below.

  • What is the drug for?
  • How long should I remain on the drug?
  • Should I avoid any food, drinks, or other medications while on this drug?
  • Does the drug have any side-effects?
  • What is the best method of storing the drug? Does it require refrigeration?
  • What should I do in the event of an actual overdose?
  • Will the drug interact with other medications I’m on?

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Even a seemingly harmless social media post can be used against you in a personal injury lawsuit. For example, let’s say you are suing your insurance company for back injuries sustained in a car accident and the insurance company finds a recent Instagram photo of you at a yoga retreat. Of course, the simple act of doing yoga doesn’t mean you are lying about your injuries. Many factors may come into play, including the type of yoga you were doing. Maybe it was a mild, therapeutic yoga intended to strengthen the muscles supporting your back. However, even if a picture is deceiving, the insurance company may use it to call your credibility into question. Contact a Boston Personal Injury Lawyer Today.

In addition to pictures that make you look “less injured” than you claim to be, social media posts can also contain information that contradicts statements made by you or witnesses. If you claimed that an accident occurred daylight hours, but posted the following on Facebook at 10 pm the day of the accident, Sitting by the pool, drink in hand, loving life, you may have some explaining to do.

What About Privacy Settings?

For starters, your social media posts may not be as private as you think. I for one thought that nobody could see anything I posted on Facebook unless they were a ‘friend,’ until someone I barely knew congratulated me on buying a house. Turns out, photos that you’re ‘tagged’ in can be seen by the friends of everyone else who is tagged in them. If any of those people make their posts public, the posts can be seen by anyone, anywhere.

Even if you’ve chosen a Fort Knox-caliber privacy setting, courts still have the power to order you to disclose social media information. If the defense believes your social media accounts include information relevant to the lawsuit, this will almost certainly happen. In fact, a plaintiff may be ordered to refrain from deleting or editing any information posted to a social media account for the duration of the case.

The best way to avoid a sticky, social media situation if you’re involved in a lawsuit is to prevent the posts from occurring in the first place. Continue reading

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New England in March can be warm, sunny, and framed by blooming flowers and emerald green grass. It can just as easily be dark and gloomy with grey skies, snow and ice, and slushy, muddy roads. Thankfully, this March is shaping up to be quite beautiful. Now that the days are longer, and the winter doldrums are beginning to fade away until next year, everyone’s mind is on spring. And for many people that means spring break. This term may conjure images of bathing suit-clad college students doing keg stands in Miami, but spring break is much less wild for many of us. That being said, during the upcoming spring break weeks, accidents and injuries do spike.

A significant increase in traffic as people head to various vacation destinations, results in a substantial uptick in motor vehicle accidents. By following the tips below, you can help dramatically reduce your risk of serious injuries or death in an accident. Contact a Boston Personal Injury Lawyer Today.

Spring Break Safety Tips

  • Limit the amount of alcohol you consume, especially if you’re driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person is killed in an alcohol-related crash every 31 seconds. With more people on the road during spring break, including more drunk drivers, avoid drinking and getting behind the wheel. But use caution, even if you’re not driving. Excessive drinking (binge drinking) can cause a litany of other health problems, and can place you in dangerous situations.
  • Protect your eyes and skin from the sun. Many people incorrectly assume that because it’s March and the temperatures are still relatively cool, they can’t get sunburned. This is a big mistake. Being outside all day, without sunglasses, protective clothing or sunblock, can result in serious burns, blistering, and long-term skin damage which can become cancerous. Use brimmed hats and protective sun gear to protect your skin from direct rays, and use sunblock on areas of unprotected skin if you’ll be outside for an extended period of time. For eyes, wear sunglasses with 100% UV ray protection.
  • Be safe on the open water. If your spring break plans include cruising around Boston Harbor in a boat, or swimming in the ocean in Florida or another warm-weather locale, use your head. Avoid alcohol when swimming or boating. Regularly apply sunblock. Drink plenty of water. And never swim alone. If you’re boating, wear a life jacket and consider taking a boating safety course before you head out.
  • Stay safe on the road. If your spring break plans involve a road trip, be prepared. Alternate drivers to make sure that nobody is feeling sleepy behind the wheel. Take a map in case you get lost in an area without cell service. Avoid drinking and driving, speeding, and reckless driving. Do not use your cell phone or any other hand-held device while driving. If you must make a call, send a text, or navigate with your GPS, have a passenger do it for you or pull over in a safe area until you are done.

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In 2014, a deadly blaze in the Back Bay killed two firefighters and injured several others. The house fire, which was unintentionally caused by welders working at an adjacent building, quickly grew out of control due to high winds. Last week, Joseph Finn, Commissioner for the Boston Fire Department, held a press conference to release the results of an investigation conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). According to the NIOSH report, the 2014 accident was a result of a “perfect storm” of problems. Contact a Boston Personal Injury Lawyer Today.

The two firefighters killed in the Back Bay fire were 43-year-old Lt. Edward Walsh and 33-year-old Michael Kennedy. NIOSH’s report criticized the fire department for lack of training and inadequate staffing, both of which may have contributed to the accident’s devastating outcome. NIOSH also attributed the tragic outcome to high winds and the fact that firefighters were not notified in time. Several windows and doors were open at the time of the blaze, which allowed high winds to blow into the open spaces causing a backdraft. Fire consumes oxygen. If a fire has consumed all oxygen within a space and more oxygen suddenly becomes available (through an open door, window, or other opening), the explosive reaction is called a backdraft.

According to Finn, “People were literally blown off their feet.” Adding to the unfortunate events, water was cut off to the house when the fire burned through the hose lines.

The NIOSH report included a review of contributing factors, as well as several proposed fixes to prevent similar catastrophic events in the future. In response to the criticism from NIOSH, Finn said, “I’m OK with the critical part. I don’t take offense to it.” However, he also said that the department had recognized the need for additional training and had devoted more time to training in the two years preceding the fire than in the previous 10 years.

Not the First Time

Multiple high-profile cases in recent years have brought the Boston Fire Department under fire.

  • In 2009, a fatal fire truck crash was blamed on inadequate training when a BFD firefighter slammed into a building on Huntington Avenue.
  • Multiple fire trucks were cited for faulty brakes and other parts in 2009, resulting in several trucks being pulled out of service and the fire safety chief’s termination for absenteeism.
  • The flawed tactical decisions of BFD supervisors were to blame for the death of two firefighters in a 2007 West Roxbury restaurant blaze. Their actions resulted in a backdraft that sent a giant fireball through the building.

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Taking public transportation is typically safer, more cost effective, and better for the environment than driving individual vehicles. However, the Mass Bay Transit Authority (MBTA), which operates busses, trains, and ferries in Boston and the surrounding communities, has had its share of accidents in the last few years. Due to the sheer number of people using MBTA to commute every day, accidents often result in serious injuries and death. No public transportation system is perfect, but the MBTA has come under scrutiny lately for having outdated equipment,  issues with their drivers, problems with management, all of which leads to less than ideal conditions for its riders and potential safety issues as well.  Contact a Boston Personal Injury Lawyer Today.

Recent MBTA Accidents

  • Last month, a pedestrian was struck by a MBTA bus at the intersection of Albany and Massachusetts streets.
  • Six bus passengers were injured when a MBTA bus collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Warren and Quincy avenues last year.
  • In 2014, a MBTA bus driver who claims that she closed her eyes while sneezing, slammed into a guardrail in Newton. However, bus surveillance video showed that the driver was holding a cell phone in her left hand during the accident. Several passengers, who sustained non-life threatening injuries, said that she was driving too fast.

Beyond the Bus

  • Just this month, a man was struck and killed by a MBTA train near the Mansfield commuter station.
  • In 2009, dozens of people sustained serious injuries when the driver of a Green Line train crashed while allegedly texting. In response to that accident, MBTA operators are not permitted to have cell phones in their possession during work shifts.

Preferential Treatment?

In light of multiple accidents over the years, one might think that local law enforcement is cracking down on MBTA bus drivers involved in accidents. But it seems that the opposite may be true. In a WBZ investigation conducted last year, two people who had been injured in MBTA bus accidents claimed that the bus drivers got off clean. One source said that a T bus rear ended, and nearly killed her three years ago. The other accident involved a pedestrian who was dragged about 20 feet after being hit by a MBTA bus. In both cases, no charges were filed. The driver of the bus that hit and dragged the pedestrian received a citation, but it was “retracted and subsequently not issued.” In a statement to WBZ, an unnamed Transit police officer said, “You don’t write bus drivers.” According to the officer, when citations do get issued they, “will be taken care of later.”

Bus accidents can occur for many reasons, including an intoxicated driver, a driver who is texting or otherwise distracted, speeding, and faulty or defective vehicle parts. Whatever the reason, if you’re injured in a MBTA bus accident, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced injury lawyer.

Altman & Altman, LLP – Experienced MBTA Accident Attorneys Continue reading

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Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are usually the first responders at the scene of an urgent medical crisis. As such, their role is crucial to the patient’s outcome. EMTs are trained to handle acute health crises and serious injuries while en route to the hospital in an ambulance. Their goal is to keep the patient stable until they arrive at the hospital for more sophisticated treatment, including emergency surgery. Without EMTs, many patients would never make it to the hospital in time. Their life-saving role is responsible for saving people every day. But what if they make a mistake that causes injury to the patient? What if their mistakes result in the patient’s death? What if they refuse to treat the patient at all? Contact a Boston Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today.

If you believe that an EMT’s negligence resulted in serious injuries or death, you may want to file an EMT malpractice lawsuit. As with all medical malpractice cases, you must first establish that a breach of duty of care existed. Duty of care in malpractice cases refers to the standard of care that the medical professional is held to. Did he or she provide the same quality of care that an EMT with similar skills and knowledge would have provided under the same, or similar, circumstances? If the answer is no, the EMT may be liable for a breach of duty of care.

Examples of Breaching the Duty of Care

  • Failing to respond to a 911 call
  • Not arriving fast enough, or not getting the patient to the hospital in a timely manner
  • Not having the appropriate equipment, treatments, or medications in the ambulance
  • Improper insertion of a breathing tube
  • Giving hospital staff inaccurate information about the patient

Gross negligence is a more serious claim. Gross negligence occurs when the EMT’s actions are excessively negligent. For example, if the EMT refuses to perform CPR on an unconscious patient, this may be considered gross negligence. However, if the EMT performs CPR but is unsuccessful at saving the patient, this would not be considered gross negligence.

What if My Ambulance is Involved in an Accident?

If an ambulance is involved in a collision while a patient is inside, the patient is entitled to file a claim. You may be able to recover damages if you were injured as a result of the accident. Whether compensation comes from the ambulance company or the driver of another vehicle depends on who was at fault in the accident. Continue reading

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The U.S. unit of well-known camera and medical device manufacturer, Olympus, has agreed to pay more than $623 million in civil and criminal penalties for violating the U.S. government’s False Claims Act. Prosecutors are calling this the largest anti-kickback settlement to date. The U.S. attorney’s office for the District of New Jersey alleges that Olympus paid almost $3 million to government health practitioners in Latin America to increase sales of its product in that part of the world. Olympus admitted that these kickbacks violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. John Slowik, Olympus’ former chief compliance officer, brought the violations to light in 2010 as part of a whistleblower lawsuit against the company. Contact a Massachusetts Whistleblower Attorney Today.

Slowik’s allegations helped to uncover multiple violations by Olympus executives and senior employees, including kickbacks in the form of trips to Japan, expensive meals, spa treatments, golf trips, and consulting fees. “There was a relatively widespread pattern of the company using various forms of financial benefits—cash, trips, consulting agreements—to induce doctors, hospitals and other health-care providers to buy their stuff,” said Paul J. Fishman, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Olympus admitted to the misconduct of its senior employees and executives.

Kickbacks Helped Olympus Generate $230 Million in Profits

According to Olympus and federal prosecutors, the kickbacks generated approximately $600 million in sales of medical equipment between 2006 and 2011, resulting in about $230 million in profits for the company. The majority of the medical device sales were for endoscopes; long tubes affixed with miniature cameras that allow physicians to perform internal examinations of patients’ lungs and colons. According to the settlement agreement, some of these endoscopes were sold for more than $20,000 each.

Whistleblower Set to Receive $51.1 Million

As compensation for his role in uncovering these violations, Mr. Slowik will receive $51.1 million. According to his attorneys, Slowik initially tried to report the violations internally, but his attempts to resolve the issues were unsuccessful.

In addition to paying hundreds of millions in penalties, as part of the settlement agreement, Olympus must also improve its compliance training and assign an independent monitor to oversee compliance for a minimum of three years. If the company violates any of the agreed upon requirements within the three-year period, the government is entitled to pursue criminal charges. Continue reading

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A whistleblower is a person who exposes an individual, company, or organization engaged in illegal or illicit activity. Since 1970, whistleblowers have been protected from retaliation by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Last month, these protections were enhanced when OSHA issued a revised Whistleblower Investigations Manual for use by agency investigators to determine whether to pursue or dismiss a retaliation case. The updated manual includes a change that significantly affects the investigation process for whistleblowers, in favor of employees. Contact a Boston Whistleblower Attorney Today.

In the old manual, OSHA investigators were instructed to dismiss complaints unless the whistleblower was able to show evidence of a prima facie allegation of retaliation. This means, essentially, that upon initial examination, enough evidence must be present to support the allegations of retaliation. The updated manual eliminates the prima facie requirement. Under the new guidelines, OSHA only needs to “find reasonable cause that a complaint has merit.” Basically, the updated standard requires much less evidence. “The evidence does not need to establish conclusively that a violation did occur.” These changes have effectively tipped the scales in favor of the whistleblower.

Whistleblower FAQs

  • In order to obtain a financial reward, a whistleblower must file a lawsuit.
  • If the illegal or fraudulent activity cheats the government, a whistleblower can file suit under the Federal False Claims Act.
  • A ‘relator’ is a person who initiates a False Claims Act lawsuit.
  • The relator must be an ‘original source’ as defined by the False Claims Act: “ An individual who has direct and independent knowledge of the information on which the allegations are based and has voluntarily provided the information to the Government before filing an action under this section which is based on the information.”
  • Will my employer know if I file a False Claims lawsuit? The suit will remain ‘under seal’ and will not be served on the defendant for a minimum of 60 days, and as long as several years.
  • Private citizens can also receive a financial reward for reporting tax fraud or failure to pay federal taxes.

Whistleblowers May Receive Up to 30% of Recovered Funds

Blowing the whistle on government fraud can be extremely lucrative for the whistleblower. Under the False Claims Act, not only are whistleblowers given job protection, they are also typically entitled to a portion of funds recovered by the government. In fact, a whistleblower may receive up to 30% of the recovered funds. Considering that settlements can be in the tens or hundreds of millions, even in the billions, 30% can be a substantial figure. Continue reading

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