Articles Posted in Slip and Fall

Recently reported hunting accidents during deer-hunting rifle season have our Boston personal injury lawyers reminding hunters to stay safe out there. Not only are you at risk of being shot inadvertently by another hunter but you could suffer a slip accident in the darkened woods or a fall accident from a deer stand.

Nashua Patch reported two separate Massachusetts hunting accidents on opening day. A man from Marlborough was shot and killed by another hunter in an early morning incident while hunting with his father and brother in Lisbon. Later that day, a hunter from Pittsfield was severely injured after being shot in the buttocks while hunting with a group of five hunters.

The Milford Daily News reports more hunting permits handed out in our region this year means more hunters will be out there looking for the ultimate prize, a multi-pointed buck. In an effort to control the animal population throughout Massachusetts, hunters will be permitted to hunt an additional 850 deer this year compared to last year. Massachusetts hunters are permitted to kill two bucks in addition to antlerless deer. In total, 9,000 antlerless deer can be hunted and killed in Metro West, Greater Boston and North Shore in addition to the just shy of 9,000 that can be killed in Zone 11.

With so many hunters out there this year, hunting safety becomes a prominent concern. According to NashuaTelegraph.com, wearing orange can make a hunter easier to spot even in thick brush or popular hideouts. Wearing bright orange doesn’t scare the deer away because they can’t distinguish colors like red, green, yellow or orange but it can make hunters highly visible to anyone else sharing the woods. Neighboring New Hampshire has reported 31 firearm-related accidents since 2000 but only 11 of them involved a hunter dressed in bright orange. All 11 were considered accidental from a fire mishap or careless handling.

Massachusetts requires hunters to be dressed in bright orange and take a hunting safety course prior to going out to hunt. Education and awareness can keep hunters safe and making the right choices when it comes to avoiding injuries.

Keep safety in mind by using these additional hunting safety tips from Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife:

-Never drink and hunt. Alcohol is a bad combo when it comes to using a loaded firearm.

-Don’t keep guns loaded when you aren’t using them.

-Use a haul line to raise your gun or gear.

-Only fire when you are sure of your target and what is behind it.

-Never run, jump a ditch or climb a tree with a loaded gun.

-When using a tree stand, wear a Fall-Arrest System or full body harness to prevent a fall accident from heightened levels. Make sure the stand is sturdy before using.

-Hunt with a friend in case an emergency arises and rescue help is needed.

-Keep a charged cell phone on silent but handy in case an accident occurs.

-Always keep guns and ammunition stored separately.
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The long-awaited outcome of her personal injury lawsuit has a Boston Marathon spectator feeling vindicated, according to a recent article in Metrowest Daily News.

The 65 year-old woman was struck by a state police officer on his motorcycle during the 2007 Boston Marathon. She brought a civil case against the officer for negligence; filing for compensatory and punitive damages.

The victim acquired $983 worth of medical bills but was angered when the police refused to pay them or accept responsibility for the accident. Making matters more complicated was the fact the victim felt law enforcement was covering up the accident.

Additionally, as our Boston personal injury attorneys are well aware, falls among the older adult population can lead to long-term medical complications, including knee and hip-replacements. The Boston Globe reports the woman was knocked to the ground on State Route 135 in West Natick.

The attorney representing the police alleges that the woman was in the street when she was struck and was not paying attention to her surroundings. The victim claims she was standing behind the designated white line for spectators.

Following four days of testimony, the jury deliberated 4 hours before rendering a verdict. The Patriot Ledger reports the Superior Court jury found the police officer to be negligent and awarded the woman $15,500 in damages.

The victim also claimed battery against the police officer and violation of civil rights against the lead detective but was not awarded for those charges.

The Boston Marathon attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year. In anticipation of this year’s marathon, Run the Planet offers the following crowd safety tips to spectators:

– Always be aware of the closest exit location as well as all of your surroundings.

– Take notice of the ground surface. For example, loose gravel, muddy, unleveled or wet surfaces can all be dangerous, especially in large crowds where space is limited.

– Discarded objects lying on the ground like clothing, trash, bottles or food items can also be dangerous once the race starts and attention is directed towards the marathoners.

– Benches and scaffoldings are not meant to hold lots of weight so refrain from standing on them to get a better view.

– If you are in the midst of a panicked crowd, try to remain calm and go with the flow. Trying to retreat against a moving crowd is dangerous.

– Communicate with others by use of hand gestures since talking is difficult amid crowd noise.

– If you stumble and fall to the ground, keep crawling in the direction of the crowd. Cover your head and curl up in a fetal position if you can’t move at all.
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