November 17, 2022

Brain Injuries Caused by Auto Accidents and Accidental Falls in Massachusetts

Massachusetts residents had higher rates of traumatic brain injury-related emergency department (ED) visits than residents of any other state studied, according to a 2021 report in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. Over 998 per 100,000 MA residents went to an emergency room for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a single year, topping the list of the 25 states reporting that data. While the Commonwealth fared better on TBI-related deaths and hospitalizations, one thing is clear: brain injuries affect a substantial number of Massachusetts residents every year.

TBIs occur when a bump, blow, jolt, or penetration to the head disrupts normal brain function. Although many TBIs result in mild concussions, serious brain injury is a major cause of death and disability. In fact, a 2018 special report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) indicated that TBIs contributed to 68,260 emergency room visits, 5,062 hospitalizations, and 820 deaths of MA residents in one year.

Causes of Brain Injuries in Massachusetts

October 31, 2022

Can Paraquat Exposure Cause Brain Damage, Dementia and potentially Parkinson’s Disease?

by Altman & Altman

One of the most widely used weed killers in the world, paraquat has recently drawn criticism for its potential link to Parkinson’s disease (PD). Lawsuits by thousands of farmers, agricultural workers, and others exposed to paraquat claim it caused them to develop the incurable brain disorder. PD symptoms can include shaking, fatigue, difficulty walking and talking, memory problems, and even dementia.

Paraquat manufacturer Syngenta (along with its corporate predecessors) has long defended the chemical’s safety. An October 2022 Guardian report, however, revealed that the company appears to have known about paraquat’s potential neurological dangers for decades. In addition, when internal research showed negative effects of paraquat on brain tissue, Syngenta apparently withheld that information from regulators while downplaying similar findings by independent scientists.

What is Paraquat?

October 18, 2022

Can I Sue My Landlord for a Slip and Fall Accident?

by Altman & Altman

Accidental falls send more Massachusetts residents to the ER than any other reason. If you suffer an injury due to a fall on the job, workers’ compensation insurance may cover your medical bills and missed days at work. But what if you slip and fall at your place of residence? In some circumstances, you can legally seek financial compensation from your landlord.

What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents at Rental Properties?

According to the National Floor Safety Institute, hazardous floors are the leading cause of accidental falls. A wide variety of floor-related and other hazards at rental properties can potentially cause you to trip or slip and fall, including the following:

October 13, 2022

Studies Link Roundup Weed Killer to Cancer and Neurological Diseases

by Altman & Altman

If you’ve ever used a commercial weed killer on your yard or farm, you have likely used Roundup®. In fact, glyphosate — the active chemical in Roundup — is the most widely used herbicide in the United States. In the past decade, however, concerns about its health effects have caused over 125,000 people to file lawsuits claiming Roundup causes cancer.

And now, new research suggests that the controversial product may also increase the risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Roundup owner Bayer announced that it will stop selling glyphosate-based herbicides for residential use in the U.S. beginning in 2023. But that does little to help the tens of thousands of people who believe they were harmed by the product.

Does Roundup Cause Cancer?

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” According to NPR, the scientists based their conclusion on the following three types of studies:

“Strong evidence” that glyphosate can damage cellular DNA, which is the first step in causing cancer.
Studies showing that when mice consume glyphosate, they get more tumors.
“Limited evidence” that people exposed to glyphosate have higher rates of a kind of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

While non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the form of cancer most commonly associated with Roundup, a 2022 University of California study found a link between thyroid cancer and 10 pesticides, including glyphosate.

Does Roundup Cause Neurological Diseases?

Several studies in the past few years have raised concerns about the long-term health risks of Roundup, especially regarding diseases of the brain:

In 2020, a study in Japan concluded that glyphosate may be a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease.
In 2022, a Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University study showed that glyphosate and Roundup increased seizure-like behavior in roundworms, concluding that the chemical has “concerning” effects on the nervous system.
In 2022, researchers from Arizona State University showed that glyphosate infiltrates the brain, suggesting a possible link to conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body disease, and Huntington’s disease.

Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a decision in 2020 that did not identify any human health risks of concern from glyphosate exposure, it withdrew this decision in 2022 pending further review. Continue reading

September 23, 2022

MBTA Safety Incidents Prompt Federal Investigation

by Altman & Altman

After a series of train derailments, fires, injury collisions, and fatal accidents, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has come under fire for what federal regulators called its “lax safety culture.” A “pattern of safety incidents” prompted the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to conduct a months-long investigation into Boston’s rail transportation system. The review revealed overworked employees, issues with staffing, a lack of safety protocols, and a long backlog of maintenance cases. On August 31, the FTA ordered the MBTA to address 53 problem areas.

Recent MBTA Accidents

In the past year alone, multiple accidents on and around the T have resulted in injuries and deaths. The transit system has decayed over the course of decades, according to a report by WBUR highlighting the following high-profile MBTA accidents:

September 20, 2022

UPPAbaby Baby Strollers Recalled After Numerous Infant Hand Injuries

by Altman & Altman

Many baby stroller recalls result from risk of injury to the child riding in the carriage. A recent recall, however, stemmed from an injury caused to a child outside of the stroller. On September 1, UPPAbaby recalled its RIDGE jogging strollers after a brake sliced off the tip of a non-occupant child’s finger. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), children not in the stroller can get their fingers caught in the rear disc brakes, potentially causing laceration or amputation.

UPPAbaby Stroller Recall Details

The UPPAbaby recall involved about 14,400 all-terrain RIDGE jogging strollers, which feature a disc hand brake system. The brand UPPAbaby appears on the front of the stroller, RIDGE appears on the side of the frame, and the model number “1401-RDG-US” appears on the left side of the frame above the rear wheel. The strollers have a black frame, black tires, and a fabric color scheme in white, charcoal, or slate blue.

August 26, 2022

Camp Lejeune Justice Act Allows Veterans to Sue for Toxic Water Injuries

by Altman & Altman

It was a decision decades in the making: Veterans exposed to toxins on the Camp Lejeune military base years ago can now sue the federal government for their water contamination injuries. On August 10, President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act aimed at helping military members exposed to toxic substances during their service. Included in the legislation was the long-awaited Camp Lejeune Justice Act, designed to provide judicial relief to those harmed by tainted groundwater on the base — some 40 years after it was discovered.

Contaminated Water Injuries: What Happened at Camp Lejeune?

Established in 1942, Camp Lejeune serves as a U.S. Marine Corps Base in North Carolina. Military activities started polluting the drinking water in the early 1950s and continued into the 1980s when the contamination was discovered. By the time the poisoned wells were closed in 1985, as many as a million people on the base may have been exposed to the toxic water supply.

August 22, 2022

Johnson & Johnson Discontinues Talcum-Based Baby Powder Worldwide

by Altman & Altman

Johnson & Johnson will stop selling its popular talc-based baby powder globally starting next year, according to a corporate statement released in August. The multinational healthcare conglomerate had already discontinued talc-based baby powder in the U.S. and Canada in 2020, but will now transition to cornstarch-based powder worldwide. Although the company says it stands behind the safety of the talc product, the announcement comes after thousands of lawsuits have claimed that Johnson & Johnson baby powder causes cancer.

What Do Baby Powder Lawsuits Claim?

Baby powder lawsuits assert that Johnson & Johnson and other manufacturers knew their talc products were contaminated with asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral fiber known to cause cancer. Although the companies were aware that talc-based baby powder could cause ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, the victims claim, they did nothing to warn consumers of that risk. Many talcum powder cancer lawsuits have been brought by women who developed ovarian cancer after regularly using the product on their genital area for years.

August 19, 2022

Infant Swings and Rockers Recalled After Baby’s Death

by Altman & Altman

Reports of two children becoming dangerously entangled in restraint straps prompted a massive recall of 4moms infant swings and rockers. The company recalled over 2 million products after one baby died of asphyxiation and another suffered bruising to his neck before being rescued. Both entanglement incidents occurred when babies crawled under the seats of unoccupied MamaRoo infant swings.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), families with infants who can crawl should immediately stop using the recalled baby swings and rockers and place them somewhere that crawling infants cannot access. Consumers can contact 4moms to receive a free fastener to prevent the straps from extending under the swing when not in use.

RockaRoo and MamaRoo Recall Details

August 16, 2022

With kids about to head back to school – Some facts about school bus safety in Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

As the school year nears, parents have a lot on their minds: new classes, fall sports practices, back-to-school shopping, and generally hectic schedules. But there is one thing you hope never to have to worry about: you or your children being hurt in a school bus accident. While school buses are among the safest modes of transporting students to and from school, accidents do happen.

School Bus Accident Facts

In Massachusetts, an estimated half a million public school students travel daily on 9,000 yellow school buses (School Bus Fleet). According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, most school bus-related injuries happen to people getting on or off a bus. Children aged 4-7 have the highest risk of suffering school bus injuries.