Personal Injury

June 21, 2013

New England Patriots’ Aaron Hernandez Sued for Personal Injury in Man’s Shooting

Aaron Hernandez, the New England Patriots tight end, is the defendant of a personal injury lawsuit accusing him of shooting a man in the face at a strip club out of state. The altercation purportedly took place in February 2013 while the two men were riding the same vehicle after visiting the club.

The plaintiff, Alexander Bradley, claims that Hernandez aimed the weapon at him and it went off. As a result, Bradley says, he lost on eye, required facial reconstructive surgery, and sustained damage to his right arm and hand. He contends that Hernandez wasn’t licensed to carry the gun. Bradley is seeking over $100,000.

If you or someone you love was injured in a Massachusetts incident that you believe was caused by someone else’s reckless or careless actions, please contact our Boston injury lawyers today.

Meantime, Hernandez could be facing more legal troubles. The body of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd was discovered near his home earlier this week in North Attleboro. Police secured a warrant to search the football player’s home after a rental car registered to him was connected to the murder. According to Boston’s Fox 25 news, an anonymous source says that forensic evidence linked a car driven by Hernandez to the crime scene and that he and Odin were together at a bar on the night that the latter died.

ABC News says that a security system in the NFL player’s home that includes video surveillance has been destroyed, as has a cell phone that has since been given police. Sports Illustrated CNN says that Hernandez will likely be arrested.

Source: Patriots’ Hernandez likely to be arrested, SI.com, June 20, 2013

Patriots Star Sued, TMZ, June 19, 2013

Lawsuit: Patriots’ Aaron Hernandez shot man after fight at a Miami Gardens strip club , Miami Herald, June 21, 2013

More Blog Posts:
Toddler’s Near Drowning Incident Serves as a Stark Reminder for Parents to Keep Kids Safe around Pools this Summer, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, June 19, 2013

Study Finds Voice-to-Text is Just as Distracting as Manual Texting, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, June 17, 2013

Drug Injury Lawsuits Blame Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol for Liver Damage, Boston Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, June 13, 2013 Continue reading

June 19, 2013

Toddler’s Near Drowning Incident Serves as a Stark Reminder for Parents to Keep Kids Safe around Pools this Summer

by Altman & Altman

A Maine toddler who was found floating face-down in his family’s swimming pool last Thursday is slowly improving.

Cody Campbell, 2, was unresponsive when he was pulled from the above-ground pool by his mother. He had a pulse, but no brain activity at the time of the accident according to emergency responders.
Campbell, who is recovering at Maine Medical Center has made progress and now recognizes his parents and is now talking, though he is having some difficulties with his speech. Police say that Cody was at home with his mother and siblings when he went missing and was found in the pool.

Though the story did not end tragically, this situation serves as a reminder for parents to make keeping children safe around swimming pools a priority. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning accidents are the leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4, and the fifth leading cause of death for individuals of all ages.

Swimming pools pose the greatest risk for submersion injury or death by drowning to young children. Though the child may survive a near drowning experience, as was the case of Cody Campbell of Maine, nonfatal drowning may cause irreversible brain damage and long term disabilities, including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functions.

Who Is At Risk?

According to the CDC, rates of drowning incidents vary demographically by age, gender, and race. The highest rates are among those children ages 1 to 4, and typically males are at a greater risk for drowning than females. The biggest risk factor for drowning incidents is accessibility to water. Those who live close to bodies of water, those have a swimming pool, or those regularly visit a pool are generally more susceptible to pool-related incidents and drowning. Additionally, level of aquatic training and swimming strength are contributing risk factors.
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June 17, 2013

AAA Says Hands-Free Calling & Texting Devices Don’t Prevent Boston Distracted Driving Accidents

by Altman & Altman

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, sending and reading text messages with a hands-free devices or talking on a cell phone without using your hands while driving are no less distracting than doing these activities manually. The AAA’s study comes as voice-activated technologies that let people talk, text, and Facebook while driving continue to grow in popularity. This is the most comprehensive study of its kind to date. In Massachusetts, please contact our Boston injury lawyers if you believe that your car crash injuries or a loved one’s death was caused by a negligent driver.

Per the study, which sought to gauge how mental or cognitive distraction affect driving, even these hands-free devices don’t take away the mental distraction that can arise from engaging in so many other activities while operating a motor vehicle. As the mind becomes more distracted, the brain’s reaction capabilities slow down, as does its ability to detect vital cues on the road, including pedestrians and stop signs.

These findings are important for hands-free device manufacturers and also makers to know so that they can make sure that consumers don’t end up thinking that these types of products make it safer to text and talk while driving. AAA CEO Robert Darbelnet even called the surge in hands-free technology a “public safety crisis” just waiting to happen.

June 10, 2013

Child Brought to Hospital after Ceiling Collapse in Lynn, MA

by Altman & Altman

A 12-year old child was hospitalized on Saturday night after a 6-by-6 foot piece of plaster from a section of a city apartment’s ceiling collapsed.

Authorities believe that the heavy rainfall from both Friday and Saturday is to blame. According to officials, water got into both the insulation and plaster in the third floor unit of the building, causing the ceiling to become waterlogged and eventually collapse.

The city building inspector responded to the scene to examine the whether the premises was up to code. The case is still being investigated.

Building codes are adopted to protect innocent tenants, guests, and employees from dangerous situations. Their purpose is to safeguard the public by making sure that buildings are sound and properly constructed, have adequate means of exit in the event of a fire, and are otherwise sufficiently safe and sanitary.

When building codes are violated or ignored, they can leave individuals seriously hurt; as was the case on Saturday night. By Massachusetts’s law, landlords are required to properly maintain their properties so that there are no unsafe conditions, and premises liability law holds landlords accountable when they neglect their responsibilities, and a person becomes injured or dies as a result.

As a tenant, your landlord is responsible for maintaining places such as common areas as well as areas where a landlord has exclusive control. Common areas include building entrances, lobbies, hallways and stairwells. Places such as rooftops, foundations, and other types of structural areas are considered places where the landlord has exclusive control and their maintenance falls under the direct responsibility of the property’s owner. Landlords need to take reasonable care of their properties and ensure that they are not only in good/working condition but also that they are sanitary and do not pose a major health threat. Examples of health and sanitary violations include mold, infestations of mice, termites or other insects that can compromise a tenant’s health. Additionally, landlords are liable for any necessary repairs to structural areas on their properties.
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June 4, 2013

Two MA Toddlers Seriously Injured after Window Falls

by Altman & Altman

Two children were hospitalized after falling out of second story windows in Plymouth and Wellesley this weekend.

In Wellesley, an 18-month old fell through a screen from a second story window and onto a deck below around 4:10 p.m. Sunday afternoon. She was taken to a Boston hospital as a precaution, but did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. Another 2-year old girl fell out from the second floor window of a residence in Plymouth, around 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening. She was airlifted to Tufts Medical Center in Boston and was listed in serious condition.
With the arrival of warmer weather, residents around Massachusetts are beginning to open their windows to let the fresh air in. Unfortunately the pleasant feeling of fresh air may turn tragic, especially in households with small children. Nearly 4,000 children are injured and more than a dozen children under the age of 10 die each year in the United States from window falls, according to Boston Children’s Hospital. Window falls are most often caused when children push themselves against the screen of an open window, resulting in the screen to give way, and the child to suddenly fall. Fortunately, there are ways for parents and caregivers to protect their children from falling out of windows.

Simple Tips to Prevent Window Falls

• Open windows from the top, instead of the bottom.
• Lock all unopened doors and windows.
• Keep furniture, beds and anything a child may climb on away from windows.
• Install child safety guards on windows.
• Always, always, always supervise children-especially in rooms with windows that are opened.

About Child Window Safety Guards

Child safety guards are usually made of aluminum or steel bars with a maximum of four-inch spacing. They are installed into the window frame and designed to withstand 150 pounds of pressure, but they may not be strong enough to keep a child from falling out. Another type of guard that may be temporarily installed is an operable window guards which are releasable and removable from the inside, without the use of tools, keys or excessive force. For windows that cannot sustain a fixed window guard, they are a good option. In fact, the Boston Fire Department recommends these types of guards because they are easily releasable in the event of an emergency. Though neither fixed nor operable window guards are required by law in Massachusetts homes, they are highly recommended for households with children under six years old.
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May 30, 2013

Woman Injured After Hit-and-Run Accident in Worcester, MA

by Altman & Altman

A Worcester woman was seriously injured after a hit-and-run crash early this morning.

The victim, 24, was struck around midnight while crossing the street at the intersection of Chandler and Wellington Streets. Police found the young woman lying in the middle of the road with severe hip and facial wounds.

Witnesses who saw the accident reported a small, dark-colored SUV flee the scene toward Main Street. According to police, it appeared that the woman was struck and rolled on top of the car and then fell back onto the ground. The victim was transported to a local hospital where she is currently listed in stable condition. Police are still investigating the accident.

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According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,280 pedestrians were killed as a result of motor-vehicle crashes and 70,000 were injured in pedestrian accidents in 2010. The number of pedestrian fatalities in 2010 accounted for 13% of all motor-vehicle accident fatalities and the number of injuries accounted for 3% of the total amount of individuals injured in a traffic accidents.

Most hit-and-run accidents occur in metropolitan areas where there is a high volume of car and pedestrian traffic. In fact, in 2010, the NHTSA reported that 73% of all pedestrian accidents occurred in urban settings, and typically at non-intersections (79%). Weather conditions, as reported by the NHTSA do not seem to have an impact on the amount of pedestrian fatalities however the majority of these types of accidents usually take place during nighttime hours. About 1 in 5 pedestrians killed in 2010, were the victim of a hit-and-run motor-vehicle accident, the NHTSA reported.

Pedestrian accidents occur for a variety of reasons, and may be attributed to not only the actions of a motor-vehicle operator, but the actions of a pedestrian as well. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding and reckless driving, and distracted driving by motor-vehicle operators are the most common factors that cause pedestrian accidents. About 20% of drivers involved in pedestrian accidents fled the scene according to the NHTSA. In some cases, pedestrians’ actions caused accidents. Actions such as alcohol consumption (leading to impaired judgment) was the most prominent factor, as well as failing to follow road signals, such as crosswalk signals, and improperly crossing intersections.
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May 20, 2013

3 Serious Dog Attacks in Bridgewater, MA, But No Help from Animal Control

by Altman & Altman

The town of Bridgewater, MA is facing a serious issue following the resignation of the town’s animal control officer and three serious dog attacks since mid-February.

Police say they are without backup when it comes to animal-related emergency calls since Eric Badger, Bridgewater’s Health Agent and part-time animal control officer, resigned from his positions back in February of this year.

“Right now, there’s nowhere to turn,” Police Lieutenant Tom Schlatz said. Without an Animal Control officer in town, “there’s a certain follow-up that’s not being done.”

According to the town’s officials, Bridgewater police has responded to three separate dog attacks over the last six weeks.

On April 9, a woman was attacked while walking her own dog when a 4-year old boxer, lunged at the woman’s dog. The boxer bit the woman in the leg, leaving puncture wounds on her calf. One week after that incident, on April 16, an 11-year old was bitten by a dog at a residence and taken to the hospital for injuries on her arms and wrists. On May 12, a Shaw Road resident called police after his 6-year old daughter was bitten by an American bull dog while playing with her friends.

In all three cases, police stated that they left messages with Badger, who later said he would not respond to the messages because he had already resigned from his post as animal control officer. Badger said that the animal control officer would step in in these incidents only if the dogs had not been vaccinated. All three of the dogs in these cases had been vaccinated, and will remain in their homes.

Badger, who received only a $100 stipend each week for responding to animal-related calls on an on-call basis, said he didn’t have a real budget to work with. He stated that he did not even have a crate to keep animals quarantined and in one instance, had to call upon the help of a neighboring town’s animal control unit for assistance.
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May 6, 2013

MA Man Dies after Boat Crash on the Taunton River

by Altman & Altman

A Taunton man was killed yesterday after a boating accident on the Taunton River, and the boat’s operator has been charged with homicide by vessel while operating under the influence.

The crash occurred around 6 p.m. when the boat’s operator Anthony Rose, 46, crashed the boat into a tree in the water, killing his cousin Manuel Pinhero, 47. Investigators say Rose had been under the influence of alcohol and was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the accident.

Police received emergency calls around 5:45 p.m. from other boaters who witnessed the accident. After the accident, Rose allegedly drove the boat ashore near east Water Street in Taunton, where he and other passengers were met by Massachusetts Environmental Police. After failing field sobriety tests, Rose was placed under arrest and was charged with OUI homicide by vessel and negligent operation of a boat. He was arraigned in court this morning and held on $10,000 bail. The crash is still under investigation.

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Just as with driving a car, operating a boat comes with high responsibility. Some of the main reasons people get into boating accidents include careless operation, inattention, inexperience, passenger behavior, speeding, and substance use. There are many different types of boat accidents, including boats colliding with other boats, boats flooding, passengers falling overboard, water sports mishaps, and as was the case yesterday boats colliding with fixed objects.
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April 30, 2013

Owner Cited in Aftermath of Fatal Allston, MA Fire

by Altman & Altman

The property owner of a two-and-a-half story Allston apartment has been cited after a deadly fire this weekend.

Anna Belokurova, the owner of the residence at 87 Linden Street, was cited for illegal occupancy in the basement and overcrowding of the house. According to officials, 18 people had been living in the home at the time of the fire. The house had also not been inspected since 1992.

The fire, which is still under investigation, broke out around 6:30 on Sunday morning, and claimed the life of Boston University student, Binland Lee.

Three residents were rescued by firefighters using ladders, while one resident jumped from an upper story to escape the fire Deputy Chief Stephen Dunbar said. According Dunbar, firefighters had tried to reach Lee who was in the attic at the time, but were unable to reach her.

Six firefighters and nine of the building’s occupants sustained non-life threatening injuries during the fire.
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March 31, 2013

Boston Food Injury Lawsuits Let Victims Recover Damages for Serious Allergic Reactions, Food Poisoning, Burns

by Altman & Altman

If you suffered a serious injury from food that you were served or bought, you may have grounds for a Boston personal injury lawsuit. Food-related illnesses can cause serious harm to the victim.

For example, food that is improperly prepared or spoiled or cooked in an unsanitary environment can cause stomach conditions, such as food poisoning, Salmonella, E. Coli, and even death-with older seniors and younger kids more susceptible to the more serious complications. There may be hospital bills, medication, and related costs from having to take time off work to recover.

Another common food injury is burns from liquids or dishes that are too hot. This can cause burn injuries to the tongue or hands/another part of the body should the high temperature cause the person to drop the food/drink.