Few things say “summer vacation” like packing up the car, rolling down the windows, and getting out of town on a road trip. Massachusetts residents agree: in a summer road trip survey we recently conducted, 100% of respondents plan to go on at least one road trip this summer. Are you set up for a… Read More
Should Motorcycle Lane Splitting Be Allowed In Massachusetts?
You may recall a hot summer afternoon spent inching along the highway with the air conditioning blasting, wishing for a break in the traffic so you could get home a little sooner. Then, in the rear view mirror, you see the one person who’s getting home before everyone else: a motorcyclist cruising along the yellow… Read More
Avoid Bike Accidents: May is Bike Safety Month
Riding is risky—Cyclists account for only 1% of traffic across the United States, and yet 2.9% of Massachusetts traffic fatalities involve a cyclist. To further complicate matters, those statistics only reflect the bike accidents that are reported—emergency room studies estimate that as few as 10% of bicycle crashes causing injury are ever recorded because unlike… Read More
Safety in Bike Sharing
We live in a sharing economy. Home, car, and bike sharing – anyone can share any of these possessions with a complete stranger. Companies such as Airbnb, Uber, ofo, and others have paved the way for this sharing ecosystem. Bike Sharing in Worcester The yellow bikes that ofo provides bike sharing riders are excellent. They ride… Read More
Are Personal Injury Settlements Taxable in Massachusetts?
With the recently passed 2018 tax reform law in place and tax day right around the corner, you may be wondering if your personal injury settlement is subject to taxation. Prior to tax reform, personal injury awards did not qualify as taxable income. Tax law, however, is complex and confusing—and changing all the time. Can the IRS… Read More
Stay Safe This Spring Break: Avoiding Spring Break Injuries
For many students here in Worcester, Mass, getting away to a warm destination for spring break is a time-honored tradition, even a rite of passage. However, the energetic, alcohol-fueled atmosphere at many hot spring break destinations can have dangerous consequences. Read on to discover which spring break destinations are the most dangerous, how to avoid… Read More
Will 3D-Painted Crosswalks Force Worcester to Slow Down?
Around the world, a handful of innovative cities are stopping traffic—with paint. The eye-catching 3D-painted crosswalks are replacing conventional crosswalks, resulting in an optical illusion that makes motorists tap the brakes for pedestrians. From cars, the paint job looks like a roadblock; pedestrians, meanwhile, appear to be walking on air. Should you find yourself in… Read More
Falling Object Injuries in Massachussets
Falling objects can inflict serious injury, and falling object accidents can happen anywhere—at construction sites, public areas, and even the stores where we regularly shop. There are many different ways an encounter with dangerous falling objects can occur at a business or on the job: poorly maintained roofing or ceiling materials; over-stacked products or supplies;… Read More
Crane Accidents
It may seem as though Worcester is continually under construction. Cranes are a crucial tool to move heavy loads at major construction sites, but crane operation carries with it a significant hazard and risk. OSHA acknowledges that crane operation is hazardous: the administration predicts a one in 1,000 likelihood that a crane operator will become… Read More
Common Holiday Injuries & How Best to Avoid Them
The season of wintry weather and family gatherings brings with it a heightened risk of holiday injuries. Snowy slips, trips, and falls, turkey-frying fire mishaps, and weather or alcohol-related car accidents all increase over the holidays. Common Holiday Injuries In our experience, slips, fires, traveling, and pets have all been at the center of holiday… Read More