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.

Although certain dog breeds (pit bulls, rottweilers, German Shepherds) are believed to attack more frequently, it is important to remember that any breed of dog, can turn around and attack a child at any time. It is crucial that we educate our children about how to behave around dogs and how to act in the presence of a hostile dog.

It would be in a child’s best interest to never approach an unfamiliar dog. Even if it is a known dog or a family pet, it is important to teach children not to startle or provoke any animal. Children should be taught never to disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for its puppies. If knocked over by a dog, children should roll into a ball and lie still. If you are being confronted by a dog, do not run away or scream. That might provoke the dog to chase you.

Children should not play with a dog unless they are under adult supervision. Any dog bite should be reported to an adult immediately. Learning how to prevent dog bites is an important step toward protecting your child from what can become an extremely traumatic experience.

Under Massachusetts law, dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their pets under certain circumstances. If your child has been bitten by a dog in Massachusetts, please contact a Boston dog bite lawyer before you talk to the insurance company or sign any forms. The experienced dog bite attorneys with the Kiley Law Group have more than three decades of experience of successfully handling a variety of personal injury cases including dog bite cases. Please contact us to obtain more information about protecting your child’s rights.

Parents and caretakers can help ensure the safety of a child by enhancing certain features in and around the home.

Burn Injuries
The CDC reports that 435 children in the U.S. suffer burns on a daily basis that require immediate medical treatment at a hospital. There are steps you can take to prevent these oftentimes devastating injuries, such as ensuring that you have smoke alarms installed on each floor of your home.

On average, a toddler or younger child is most likely to suffer burns from scalding liquids or steam, such as from a pot or pan on the stove that is within reach of a child. Because of this, try to use the back burners on the stovetop whenever possible.

Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions remain the leading cause of child injuries and fatalities among children. In 2009, 13 children under the age of 15 were killed in car accidents in Massachusetts, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

All too often, children are either not secured properly in their safety seats while in a vehicle or are not even in a car seat or booster seat when they should be. The CDC reports that about 80% of parents and caretakers report misusing car seats and safety restraints for their children.

It is imperative to install and use car seats exactly as instructed in order to prevent your child from getting injured in the event of a collision.

Playground Injuries
Playground injuries that require emergency medical treatment are suffered by over 200,000 children aged 14 and younger in the U.S. on an annual basis, with about 50% of the injuries reported as severe.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission determined that many of the injuries that occur on the playground are the results of falls off of playground equipment. Make sure that your child is properly supervised while on the playground to avoid a serious injury from a fall.

Accidental Poisoning Injuries
Accidental poisoning injuries may result when chemicals and cleaning liquids are not properly locked up in the home. If these dangerous products can be accessed by a child, there is an elevated risk of that child getting seriously injured if he or she were to ingest a toxic product.

Bright labeling of cleaning products may also be eye-catching to young children, leading them towards the product. Toddlers are also more likely to ingest or taste items or other products that they come across or pick up around the home. Keep all chemicals, cleaning liquids, and other hazardous products locked up in high cabinet that is out of reach from your child.

When Should You Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm?
Attorney Tom Kiley, also known as the Million Dollar Man, has over 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in a variety of personal injury cases.

Call Kiley Law Group at 800-410-2769 today to find out about your legal options before you sign any forms, give a statement to the insurance company, or hire a lawyer.