Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog

April 15, 2018

Tanker Crash Finally Cleared, I-95 to Reopen Monday

Enfield Police announced on Sunday that the I-91 ramp off the Massachusetts border will reopen Monday, April 16th. The ramp will reopen after being closed for nearly a week due to a rollover crash of a tractor-trailer causing an enormous oil spill on the highway. The driver of the tanker was identified as 32-year-old Jonathan Andrew Edwards. Reports indicate that he did not clear the turn on the ramp which caused the rollover. The tank appears to have landed on the right shoulder. Mr. Edwards is a resident of West Springfield. He sustained injuries as a result of the rollover and was transported to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

One exit, number 49, was already reopened as of late afternoon Sunday. The rest of the highway needed massive cleanup because the tanker spilled out the entirety of its front compartment and part of a second compartment, both of which carried gasoline. Nearly 3,000 gallons were cleaned up from the highway.

Three families with homes on Kalish Avenue had to leave their homes temporarily due to the gasoline spread. There were nearly six drinking wells in the area that were affected and the water was tested by the state to determine that they were not contaminated.

April 15, 2018

Accidents in Rideshare Vehicles

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Rideshare apps are commonplace today. People find themselves in other drivers’ vehicles more and more, to get to places safely and quickly. If you are injured in a car accident while a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you still have rights to compensation for you injuries. Since these are companies that you are dealing with, before you even get to their insurance, it can be difficult navigating the process to get paid. Each driver with any ridehsare service is required to have ample insurance coverage should such an accident occur. The most popular rideshare companies require driver’s to have a $1 million policy coverage.

The problem that occurs is that the driver is not the employee of the rideshare service, he or she is an independent contractor. This means that the rideshare company its not automatically on the hook for your injuries. An experienced Massachusetts personal injury attorney must first determine who is at fault to determine which insurance policy kicks in – that of the driver or the rideshare app. Rest assured that if a second car hits your rideshare car, many rideshare companies have and require uninsured motorist coverage to be in place.

The attorneys at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers are focused on giving their clients services designed for the client’s unique situation. The firm understands that a car accident can change your life completely whether it is from enduring medical treatment or the affect on your finances. The attorneys will narrow down your best option to provide you compensation.

April 15, 2018

Car Accident Injuries Can Last Longer Than You Think

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Car accident injuries that can hang around for a lengthy time are traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. An impact to the head or skull can be severe. If the impact is strong enough, the victim will suffer problems with agility and simply being able to think normally again. Even a mild injury to the head can result in difficulty making ordinary movements or changes in personality. The brain is a sensitive yet marvelous organ, and any injury to it will take a long time to recover from as you will need to retrain yourself to do what you could do before.

Car accidents can cause catastrophic injury to the spine of the occupant. This means being paralyzed or simply losing the full mobility that you once had. When there is loss of movement, this also affects the muscles in that area and chronic pain can develop. Other complications that are not generally thought about, but occur often, are problems with internal organs, including the lungs and veins. It is rare to fully recover from a spinal cord injury.

If you have suffered severe injuries to the head or spine after a car accident call the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers right away at (617) 777-7777 to make sure your future medical costs are covered by the party at fault. Your attorney will determine, in conjunction with your doctor, how long you will need medical care. Your attorney will communicate with the insurance company after your accident to make sure that the long-term effects of your injury are paid for, and that any rehabilitation is covered.

April 15, 2018

Avoid These After a Car Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Preparing yourself for what to do after a car accident is important. But, it can be equally as important to remember what not to do.

Do not make any statements to your insurance company unless and until your coverage is explained to you. You do not have to consent to the conversation being recorded either.

Do not just take what the insurance company or contractor say is their belief of your total loss. This number may be lower than what your actual property loss is. It is important to also obtain legal advice and representation before you sign any documentation with the insurance company or their contractors. This is especially true when it comes to settling your claim. Do not let your personal circumstances affect your ability to get the most compensation possible. Along with not accepting any documentation from your insurance company that requires your signature, do not accept a check from them that purports to be a settlement of all your claims even though you have not signed anything.

April 15, 2018

Unsafe Roads

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

It is easy to think that all car accidents happen because of the actions of one or more drivers. However, sometimes the driver will have zero fault. This is the case when there are unsafe roads that are the cause of the accident.

When the conditions of the road or highway are what led to your accident and injury you would be able to file a personal injury lawsuit in a couple of ways. One would be suing the government because the highway was improperly designed or cared for, and that is exactly what caused your accident. Sometimes, another driver does hit you and will blame the road. However, you would be able to still sue the driver in a personal injury lawsuit because the driver did not take into account the bad conditions while driving. The driver should have still tried to drive as safely as possible, and if he or she did not do so then he or she is liable to you for the negligent behavior.

The attorneys at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers are ready to handle personal injury cases in these types of situations. Nearly all the cases that are handled are personal injury cases to allow us to build the experience needed to be as successful as possible.

April 15, 2018

Car Accident Claim Checklist

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

After experiencing a car accident, it is important to know what to do next. If you are injured in the accident, you may plan on going directly to seek medical care. En route, if you can, contact your insurance. It is always best to contact them first, and as soon as possible. Hopefully, you have quick online access to your insurance policy or a copy in your car. The next thing to do is to have that handy so that you can review it while on the phone with insurance.

All communications with your insurance company should be recorded by you in some manner, like taking notes during or after the conversation. You should know who you talked to, direct contact numbers and titles of the persons you communicate with. In any conversation you have, make sure you tell the truth and leave nothing out.

Once you have contacted insurance and have had medical attention, you might next want to investigate whether you have other insurance policies that may cover you. These are commonly known as “umbrella” policies, or coverage through your homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance or self-employment insurance.

April 15, 2018

Great Barrington Female Dies in Car Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Annemarie E. Bushka, a female in her 60’s, was killed while driving mid-morning Sunday, April 15th on Maple Avenue in Great Barrington, Western Massachusetts. Ms. Bushka was a Great Barrington resident. The man that hit her head-on was New York City man Robert Bacigalupi, also in his 60’s. He was also injured in the crash, and was transported to Berkshire Medical Center for treatment.

Great Barrington Police will request that charges are filed against Mr. Bacigalupi for vehicular homicide. They are still looking into how the incident occurred and ask that any witnesses please contact them at 413-528-0306.

April 15, 2018

Westwood Bridge Construction Site Accident Causes Serious Injuries

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Barletta construction workers were on a job location at the East Street Bridge in Westwood on Sunday afternoon. An employee was seriously injured in an accident, details of which were not yet released by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The workers were altering the bridge over East Street on which the Franklin Commuter Rail Line runs.

Along with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, State Police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are looking into the incident.

April 15, 2018

Quincy Man Hospitalized After Car Crashes into a Home

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A male driver on Quarry Street in Quincy, smashed into a home with such a severe impact that he had to be transported to Southshore Medical Center, on Sunday. He was driving downhill, and for unknown reasons the vehicle swerved off the pavement, initially colliding with a couple of vehicles in a driveway before hitting the house.

Witnesses living nearby could see the aftermath of the collision, the truck protruding from the home. One witness noted that the driver was conscious immediately after the crash, but appeared confused. Several neighbors rushed to the scene. A neighbor of the home reported that this is not the first time a vehicle has crashed into that house, and not the first time that particular portion of the house was hit. The house was empty at the time of this accident.

April 15, 2018

Memorial Drive Train Crossing Fatality in Springfield (Update)

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Today, Hampden District Attorney representative James Leydon confirmed that the female who died in the train crossing on Memorial Drive just after 2 a.m. on Saturday was a Springfield resident named Kenisha Forbes.

Further details establish that her Sport Utility Vehicle crashed into the rear of the train as it was barreling down the tracks.

The Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit of Hampden District Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Springfield Police Department are looking into how this could have occurred.

A few candles and rubbish mark the site of the accident.