Child Support and Tax Liens on Massachusetts Personal Injury Settlements
At our office we settle many personal injury cases each and year. Every once in a while we deal with child support and/or tax liens for a client at the conclusion of a case.
The reason this happens is because all insurance companies in Massachusetts are required to conduct a Department of Revenue (DOR) check before the settlement check can be issued.
Pedestrians Deaths Are On The Rise
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) finds that in 2018, a whopping 6,227 pedestrians were killed on roadways in the United States. This is the highest number of such deaths in nearly thirty years. The number of these deaths has been on the rise since 2009.
The report attributes this alarming uptick to the increasing number of SUV vehicles, more and more distracted drivers, more people walking, intoxication, speeding, as well as other contributing causes.
How Much Car Insurance Should You Buy?
Unfortunately car accidents happen. At some point most of us at some point will have the misfortune of experiencing a car accident. The majority of people will have more than one. Regardless if the accident was your fault, or the fault of the other driver, you want to make sure you are properly insured. But how much car insurance should you buy?
How To Choose The Right Boston Car Accident Attorney
Car accidents happen all the time, especially in a congested city such as Boston. The high number of motor vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians on the streets of Boston means more and more opportunities for collisions.
If you had the misfortune of being involved in a collision, you will need a Boston car accident attorney. There are so many personal injury lawyers in Massachusetts. But how do you find the right one for your case? Here are some ways to do this.
Important Things To Know About Massachusetts Workers Compensation
Workers compensation law, like with other areas of law, is filled with a unique language that many people are unfamiliar with. If you were hurt at work, you suddenly will be hearing some words and phrases that are new to you. Here are some of the most common words and phrases you may encounter while your case is ongoing:
Average Weekly Wage – This is the gross amount of wages you earned for 52 weeks prior to your work accident. This amount is divided by 52 to arrive at your average weekly wage. This number will determine the amount of your weekly workers compensation check.
One of the most important things to do following a personal injury accident in Massachusetts is to report the accident. Having an accurate report detailing what occurred can greatly help a case. When reporting an accident, you want to provide to the appropriate party as soon as possible the details of what happened, where it happened, who witnessed it, etc.
For example, if you get injured at work you need to report to your supervisor the precise circumstances of the accident, so that information will be conveyed to the insurance company. Or, if you slip and fall in a store, you want to report to the store manager as much information as possible. Keep in mind many stores will not release the accident report, unless a lawsuit was filed. In that situation, the accident report must be provided during discovery.
Why You Are Receiving A Small Settlement Offer
Insurance claims, and in particular personal injury claims, are resolved by settlement. The injured party (or their attorney) submits a demand package. In return, the insurance company will likely present in response a settlement offer. However, insurance companies quite frequently extend settlement offers that are less than reasonable. What can be done in response? First, let us explore why settlement offers are low to begin with.
Bicyclist Struck And Killed Today In Fenway Area
Tragically a 69-year old woman was killed while bicycling Friday at around 1:30 PM when she was struck by a cement truck. This occurred at the corner of Park Drive and Brookline Avenue. Apparently the truck was branded with Boston Sand & Gravel Co., and was being driven by a 67-year old man from Salem. The bicycle was completely crushed from the impact.
The driver was interviewed by investigators and stated he was on Brookline Avenue and stopped at a light. When he proceeded forward is when the impact occurred. The crash remains under investigation.
Massachusetts Personal Injury Cases and Fraud
Unfortunately there are always some bad apples. In the world of personal injury law, some bad apples fake an accident, their injuries from an accident, or their inability to work following an accident, in order to pursue a personal injury or workers compensation claim. This type of behavior is illegal and unethical. Is it also behavior that further sullies the perception the general public has of personal injury lawyers, and of people who file personal injury claims. This is unfortunate as it impacts honest people who are legitimately injured by negligence, and the personal injury lawyers in Massachusetts who represent these deserving claimants each and every day. Here are some examples of fraud with injury cases that we see in Massachusetts:
Does Massachusetts Workers Compensation Cover Assaults?
Roughly two million people are the victims of violence at work each year. These incidents can cause injuries to innocent workers ranging from soft tissue injuries, cuts and abrasions, broken bones, to even death. Victims of assault may be forced to miss work, and incur medical expenses if the injuries are serious enough. Many of these victims may be looking to find out if workers compensation covers assaults. It generally does. As long as the attack occurred while you were acting in the course and scope of your employment, then workers compensation coverage is triggered.
Assaults may be perpetrated by an angry customer, co-worker, or mentally unstable patient at a hospital. Assault is a catchall legal term that covers many different categories of conduct, and is not only limited to physical harm that may result. For example, if a convenience store is robbed an employee, while not physically harmed, may be traumatized from the experience. In that situation, workers compensation benefits would be available for the employee. However, if the assault stems from a personal relationship outside of work, then workers compensation benefits may not be available. Each case must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to see if the claim is compensable.
Massachusetts Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation Law Blog