How effective are motorcycle helmets? According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), helmets saved the lives of 1,829 motorcyclists in 2008. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 823 lives could have been saved during that year. On an average, helmets are effective 37 percent of the time in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists and 41 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries for motorcycle passengers.

Helmets offer protection in the event of minor or high-speed collisions. If a rider strikes his or her head against a hood, windshield or roadway, devastating brain trauma can occur. Traumatic brain injuries can result in permanent physical and mental impairment. Victims of traumatic brain injuries often experience a significant loss in their quality of life. Many are unable to perform the activities they enjoyed prior to the injury such as playing with their children, hiking or biking. Helmets cannot prevent all traumatic brain injuries, but they can greatly reduce the likelihood of a permanent brain injury from occurring.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, it is important that you discuss your legal rights and options with a skilled Massachusetts personal injury lawyer . It may be possible to hold the at-fault driver financially accountable for your medical bills, suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity and other related damages.

There are many health risks that may occur during pregnancy if the mother is taking antidepressants. According to The Mayo Clinic, early studies linked tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline and nortriptyline) to limb malformation. SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors such as Lexapro, Prozac and Zoloft have been linked to serious birth defects such as persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). Some studies also link these antidepressants to heart defects affecting the septum. The link between SSRIs and birth defects has been shown by numerous studies over the years.

Many medical professionals will not prescribe Paxil during pregnancy because of the relationship between Paroxetine and fetal heart defects when taken during the first three months of pregnancy. Phenelzine and tranylcypromine are typically avoided during pregnancy as well for their relationship with limited fetal growth and aggravate maternal high blood pressure.

These potential dangers do not, however, mean that pregnant women should automatically stop taking their prescribed medications. Instead of completely stopping medications, a medical professional may be able to offer an alternative that is best for the mother and baby. It may be possible to change the antidepressant to a medication that is safer for the baby. Every case is different, but all mothers should discuss their medications and their concerns with their doctor.

If you were taking antidepressants during pregnancy and your child was born with a birth defect, please do not hesitate to speak with an experienced Boston personal injury lawyer about your legal rights and options.

Spinal cord injuries can result in permanent disabilities, which can have devastating emotional and financial consequences for the injured victim and his or her family. Some of the symptoms of a spinal cord injury include loss of sensation and mobility, loss of bowel or bladder control, chronic pain, breathing problems, weakness, paralysis and numbness in the extremities.

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury or spinal damage as a result of a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation for injuries, damages and losses. Some of the damages that may be sought include medical expenses, loss of earnings, loss of the ability to make a livelihood, hospitalization, rehabilitation, medical equipment and cost of medication.

Victims may also seek compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress. If a family loses a loved one as the result of a spinal cord injury, then, the family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party.

The experienced Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at the Kiley Law Group use our knowledge, experience, skill and resources to provide you the quality legal representation you deserve. We will remain on your side, fight for your rights and strive to ensure that you receive just compensation for all your injuries, damages and losses.

The first myth is that the insurance companies are here to help you in your time of need. Believing that myth can land you in serious trouble. Insurance companies have always been well-oiled money making machines. Insurance adjusters are trained to ensure that your claim’s value is reduced if not completely eliminated. Paying you will affect their bottom line. Do not be bullied or intimidated by the insurance company. You do not have to talk to them or provide recorded statements. Always wait until you get legal advice.

Another common myth is that the other driver’s insurance company is obligated to pay your medical expenses. That is not true. They are only required to do so if they are ordered to do so by a court of law or if they fall under the guidelines of a policy. Also, you will not automatically receive compensation if the accident was not your fault. For example, if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, no one is automatically obligated to pay your medical expenses. Finally, it is not true that Massachusetts’s juries are generous when it comes to awards.

Many plaintiffs and injury victims shy away from seeking legal advise because they believe these myths to be true. Please do not fall in the trap that insurance companies set for you with their propaganda and cleverly designed marketing campaigns. An experienced Massachusetts personal injury lawyer can help you better understand your legal rights and options in the aftermath of a car accident. Please contact the experienced Boston car accident lawyers at the Kiley Law Group for a free and comprehensive consultation.

In 2010, Massachusetts passed a law banning drivers under the age of 18 from using a hand-held cellphone and also prohibited texting while driving for motorists of all ages. However, there was no action taken at that time to extend the hand-held cell phone ban to drivers over the age of 18.

This essentially made the texting ban difficulty to enforce because of the difficulty in distinguishing between dialing and texting. Police in Massachusetts issued about 1,100 citations for texting while driving just in the law’s first year. That amounts to roughly one for every 200 speeding tickets issued in a state with 4.7 million licensed motorists.

There is no question that this uniform hand-held cell phone ban will improve safety on our roadways. It will also make it easier for police to enforce the ban. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), any activity that takes the driver’s hands off the wheel, eyes off the road or attention off driving is distracted driving. Such distractions, whether it is holding a cell phone and talking or texting, can result in devastating accidents.

NHTSA’s statistics show that in 2009, more than 5,400 people died and 448,000 suffered injuries in car accidents nationwide involving a distracted driver. Among those killed or injured in these crashes, nearly 1,000 deaths and 24,000 injuries included cell phone use as a major distraction. Safety advocates say that even talking on a cell phone with a Bluetooth device can be distracting to the driver. However imperfect Massachusetts’ cell phone ban may be, as Massachusetts car accident lawyers who represent the rights of injured accident victims, we believe that it is a big step in the right direction and is likely to save hundreds of lives.