Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

July 18, 2022

Post Pandemic, Truck Accidents and Fatalities on the Rise in Massachusetts

As traffic volume in the U.S. (and Massachusetts) rebounded after the pandemic of 2020, so did traffic fatalities. Deaths involving large trucks were no exception. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), estimated fatalities in accidents involving at least one large truck jumped 13% between 2020 and 2021. This means that last year alone, over 5,600 people died in truck crashes in the United States.

Noting that this number represents an “unfathomable” 52% increase in truck accident fatalities since 2010, the Truck Safety Coalition issued a statement saying “What more is needed to take safety seriously? We need to do everything possible to reverse this terrifying trend because lives hang in the balance.”

Large Truck Crash Fatality Statistics 2021

June 10, 2022

Sexual Abuse in Southern Baptist Churches

by Altman & Altman

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) released the results of a major independent investigation in May 2022 indicating that church leaders ignored and covered up claims of sexual abuse for decades. The largest protestant denomination in America, the SBC is a loosely connected group of over 47,000 individual churches with more than 14 million members. The revelations suggested a pattern of inaction by high-ranking staff and prompted comparisons with the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.

Accusations of Sexual Abuse in Southern Baptist Churches

In 2019, the Houston Chronicle helped break the news about sexual abuse in SBC churches. The story indicated that not only did the Southern Baptist Convention routinely mishandle reports of sex abuse, but also that hundreds of church leaders and volunteers had been criminally charged with sex crimes. Reporters found nearly 700 alleged victims—mostly children—who were sexually abused in a 20-year span. This bombshell news prompted the SBC to request a third-party inquiry into the sex abuse claims.

May 25, 2022

Does Shower to Shower Talcum Powder Potentially Cause Ovarian Cancer?

by Altman & Altman

After more than 50 years of questions about the safety of talcum powders such as Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower, some manufacturers have started removing talc from their products. But that offers little comfort to the many women who say Shower to Shower and other talcum powders caused their ovarian cancer.

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), studies from as early as the 1960s suggested a possible link between ovarian cancer and talc products applied to the genital region. Thousands of talcum powder cancer lawsuits in recent decades have accused Johnson & Johnson (and other manufacturers) of failing to warn consumers of the health risks.

Can Shower to Shower Cause Ovarian Cancer?

May 4, 2022

Injured at the Mall: Who’s Responsible?

by Altman & Altman

Injured at the Mall: Who’s Responsible?

Accidents happen everywhere and shopping malls are no exception. Customers slip and fall in icy parking lots. Shoppers are pushed by rowdy Black Friday crowds. Escalators malfunction, causing catastrophic injuries and sometimes even death.

But if you are seriously hurt while at a mall, who is liable? In theory, the answer is simple: anyone who is negligent. In reality, many factors come into play. Where exactly did the accident happen? Could it have been prevented? Was it the fault of the mall owner or a tenant? If you have more questions than answers, a personal injury attorney can help you navigate the situation.

May 4, 2022

Defective Wall Bed Recall – Faulty Wall Beds And Bunk Beds Can Cause Serious Injuries

by Altman & Altman

When you think of household hazards, your bed probably doesn’t come to mind. But like any other piece of faulty furniture, defective beds can cause serious injuries and even death. In April 2022, a recall was issued for around 129,000 wall beds after one fell and killed a 79-year-old woman. And that was far from an isolated recall. In just the past two years, over a million beds and bed frame units in the U.S. have been recalled for dangerous defects.

Major Defective Bed Recalls

Defective furniture recalls happen for a variety of reasons, from suffocation dangers to fall hazards to high levels of lead paint. Below are just some of the recent major recalls of faulty beds and bed accessories.

April 20, 2022

Social Host & Liquor Liability Laws in Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

Many people know that bars can be liable for serving alcohol to customers who are obviously drunk. But did you know friends, family, and other private hosts may also be legally responsible for overserving their guests? While only commercial establishments are subject to Massachusetts liquor liability statutes, both businesses and private citizens can face penalties in civil court.

What does this mean to you? If you are injured by an intoxicated individual in Massachusetts, you have the right to sue not only that person but also whoever served that person too much alcohol.

When Does Alcohol Liability Law Apply?

April 20, 2022

Bike Share / Bluebikes / Have increased cycling accidents across MA – When do you need a lawyer?

by Altman & Altman

After a long, cold winter, spring invites Massachusetts cyclists outside again. Unfortunately, as the warm weather increases, so do bike-related accidents. The number of incidents involving bicycles in Boston tends to jump up in May and remain high into the fall.

In addition to increasing in summer, bicycle ridership appears to be increasing year to year. According to the City of Boston, participation in the Bluebikes bike share program rose 17% from 2019 to 2021. September 2021 was the busiest month ever, with nearly 435,000 bike trips that month alone.

With more cyclists on the road, it seems more bike accidents are inevitable. And the dangers multiply in cities: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that nearly 80% of bicyclist deaths occur in urban areas.

March 29, 2022

What is the Boppy Pillow Lounger Recall

by Altman & Altman

Around 3,500 babies die in the U.S. each year in sleep-related incidents. An overwhelming 72% of these sudden infant deaths have been linked to soft bedding. Safe sleeping guidelines are clear: babies should sleep on a flat surface such as a crib without pillows, blankets, or other soft bedding. However, an entire class of commercial infant products known as inclined sleepers violates these rules.

Inclined sleepers–including Boppy pillow loungers–are not flat, have soft padding, and come with a very real risk of suffocation. In fact, they are so dangerous that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) passed a new regulation effectively banning these products in 2022. But the decision comes too late for the families of the over 100 babies who died while using inclined loungers.

What is the Boppy Pillow Lounger Recall?

March 29, 2022

Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuits

by Altman & Altman

Talc is a soft mineral that absorbs moisture, soothes skin, reduces smells, and prevents caking. As a result, its use in commercial products ranges from baby powder and deodorant to makeup and moisturizing lotion. Unfortunately, critics say, it may also cause cancer.

Concerns about talcum powder’s safety have existed since at least the 1970s. But in recent decades, the scrutiny has become an avalanche. In the past 15 years, nearly 40,000 talcum powder lawsuits were filed against the product’s largest manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson.

The Link Between Talcum Powder and Cancer

February 11, 2022

Asbestos cancer cases, often referred to as mesothelioma cases- Can I still make a claim?

by Altman & Altman

The health hazards of asbestos have been widely known since at least the 1970s. By the 1980s, an explosion of lawsuits linked asbestos exposure with mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer with no known cure. Recognizing the potential dangers, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) largely banned new asbestos products in 1989.

So why do we still hear about asbestos-related mesothelioma in the news and on late-night television? Why are companies still awarding multimillion-dollar settlements to mesothelioma patients and their families? Because over 3,000 people are still diagnosed with mesothelioma every year–and asbestos is almost always the cause.

Although asbestos has mostly disappeared from new materials, exposure continues. An estimated 3.5 million buildings in the U.S. still have asbestos. In addition, mesothelioma has an unusually long latency period. Symptoms may not appear for 20-50 years, which means people exposed to asbestos in the 1970s may just now be diagnosed with the disease.

Who Gets Mesothelioma?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that rarely causes health problems in small doses. Its unique properties, however, make it attractive for widespread industrial and commercial applications. Because of its resistance to heat, fire, and corrosion, asbestos was particularly popular in the construction industry. It appeared in building insulation, roof shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, and cement. But its use didn’t stop there–at one time in the U.S., asbestos could be found in everything from brake pads to fireproof clothing to hair dryers.

For that reason, millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos. But mesothelioma most often occurs after years of direct occupational or environmental exposure. The professions most at risk for asbestos-related health problems include the following:

Automotive, shipyard, and railroad workers
Aircraft and auto mechanics
Industrial, factory, and power plant workers
Building remodelers, drywall removers, and demolition crews
Construction workers and carpenters
Insulation manufacturers and installers
Firefighters and other first responders
Miners
Plumbers
Electricians

Because workers can bring home asbestos fibers on their clothing, family members are also at risk for secondary exposure.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Asbestos-related injuries have been documented since at least the 1920s, but the material wasn’t well regulated for another half-century. As the scientific link between asbestos and mesothelioma became clear, thousands of victims filed claims. Mesothelioma lawsuits allege that employers, corporations, manufacturers, and governments hid the dangers of asbestos for decades.

Over the years, asbestos cancer victims have received millions of dollars in jury trials, corporate settlements, and class-action lawsuits. Mesothelioma is a devastating disease, with expensive medical bills and a 5-year survival rate of only 10%. Partly for that reason, compensation can be huge: juries have reached asbestos liability verdicts of $250 million, and mesothelioma settlements of over $1 million are not uncommon. Continue reading