January 2016 | Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys

Archives for: January 28th, 2016

Fatality-proof driving technology promised by Volvo

An accident on a Massachusetts road can range in severity from minor to fatal, but Volvo hopes to make deadly accidents a concern of the past by 2020. While it is clear that a driver bent on reckless driving may not be able to avoid deadly incidents, Volvo’s developing technologies have the potential to minimize damages for those motorists who are attempting to observe safe driving practices. In fact, a number of smart features have been used in the brand’s vehicles already, and the combination of these may provide significant safety advantages even now.

Written by on January 28, 2016

24-year-old Carson staffer killed in Iowa crash

Massachusetts residents who are following the 2016 presidential campaign might have heard that a young staffer for GOP candidate Ben Carson died after a campaign van crashed in Iowa on Jan. 19. Three other campaign volunteers were also hurt in the accident.

Written by on January 26, 2016

NTSB adds reducing fatigued driving to its 2016 list

Massachusetts drivers likely know that driving under the influence and driving while texting can be very dangerous and put them at risk for becoming involved in a car accident. However, fatigue-related crashes are also not uncommon. In fact, the National Transportation Safety Board listed fatigue-related accidents as one of their top 10 pressing safety issues during the annual meeting on Jan. 13.

Written by on January 20, 2016

Wrong-way crash leaves 2 injured in Massachusetts

An early morning wrong-way crash left two people critically injured on Jan. 12. The collision happened in Lexington, and caused the closure of the road for two hours while police investigated.

Written by on January 18, 2016

Massachusetts State Police investigates fatal car crash

The cause of the head-on car accident in Agawam that killed one driver and injured the other remains unknown. Investigators from the state police’s collision analysis team have yet to announce any findings. A lieutenant from the local police department said that, at this point, nothing indicates that authorities will issue any criminal charges.

Written by on January 15, 2016

Road safety in Massachusetts during the winter months

Winter driving conditions in Massachusetts can be extremely treacherous, but data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that modest amounts of snow or ice can be even more hazardous for drivers than full-blown winter storms and blizzards. According to the NHTSA, almost a quarter of the motor vehicle accidents that occurred between 2004 and 2013 on the nation’s roads were caused by weather conditions, and snow, ice or slush were responsible for nearly half of these crashes.

Written by on January 11, 2016

Athletic reforms part of wrongful death settlement

College athletic programs in Massachusetts might want to review their training programs after a recent California case involving the death of a student athlete. Along with a hefty monetary settlement, the University of California, Berkeley, agreed to ban coaches from using extreme workouts as punishments and to increase their coaches’ awareness of medical conditions among their athletes.

Written by on January 11, 2016

The dangers of keyless ignitions in Massachusetts

When a key is taken out of a car’s ignition, the car stops running. However, this is not always the case for cars with a keyless ignition. This had led to a number of injuries and deaths related to carbon monoxide poisoning. In December 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that keyless ignitions were a safety problem and suggested that alarms could be added to the cars at a minimal cost.

Written by on January 8, 2016

1 killed, 4 Secret Service agents injured in head-on collision

Massachusetts residents may have heard about an accident in New Hampshire in which four Secret Service agents were seriously injured. The accident, which happened on Dec. 29 on New Hampshire Route 16, also injured two others and claimed the life of a 45-year-old man.

Written by on January 6, 2016

Wrongful death suits may need to account for Medicare

Those filing Massachusetts wrongful death lawsuits in pursuit of damages may need to consider the type of suit they file and how it relates to Medicare. In cases where a deceased person received Medicare-covered medical treatment after sustaining the injuries that eventually claimed their lives, the Medicare payments may have been classified as conditional. If the at-fault party’s insurer subsequently pays for these expenses, Medicare can demand its share of the payment.

Written by on January 4, 2016