Auto Accidents

Can These Safety Technologies On New Vehicles Save Your Life?

January 13, 2017 | Tapalian Law

In the past, vehicles were designed to provide safety to passengers in a collision. Airbags and seat belts are examples of safety features car designers added to vehicles to help reduce the risk of serious injury and death. Today’s manufacturers and engineers are focused on preventing accidents in addition to reducing the risk of injury in an accident. Some of the latest advances in the automotive manufacturing field help save lives by providing alerts to the driver before an accident occurs. Below are four of the latest technologies you can find on new vehicle models that are focused on preventing collisions.

Adaptive Headlights

Headlights have changed over the years to improve visibility. The latest trend is a design that changes directions to increase lighting around hills and curves. Adaptive headlights also adjust the intensity of light when the vehicle is in traffic to reduce glare for the driver. The benefit for drivers is that they can see road hazards sooner and be alerted to pedestrians after night.

A 2017 New Year’s Resolution For Safe Driving

January 3, 2017 | Tapalian Law

People make all kinds of New Year’s resolutions from losing weight to improving their finances. Even though almost half of Americans admit they make New Year’s resolutions, only about eight percent of those individuals will keep their resolutions and reach their goals.

One resolution that every driver should make and keep is to become a safe driver in 2017. There are far too many motor vehicle accidents each year in the United States. Thousands of people are killed and injured each month throughout the country. If every driver would resolve to break bad driving habits, we could reduce the number of tragic car accidents. Below are several New Year’s resolutions that can help you become a safer driver in 2017.

I Resolve to Wear My Seat Belt –

Can I Sue Another Person For My Workplace Injury?

December 27, 2016 | Tapalian Law

If you are injured on the job in Massachusetts, your injury is probably covered by workers’ compensation. Under Massachusetts workers’ compensation laws, an injured employee who requires medical treatment or is out of work for more than six days receives compensation for his medical expenses and lost income. However, workers’ compensation benefits are limited. You do not receive compensation for all lost wages. You also cannot receive compensation for damages such as physical pain and emotional suffering.

However, in a personal injury lawsuit, you may be entitled to recover 100 percent of your losses and damages. Unfortunately, most employees who suffer a work-related injury are unable to sue their employer. Workers’ compensation laws protect workers by providing medical care and other benefits for a workplace injury. These same laws also protect employers from personal injury lawsuits by injured workers. The exception to this general rule is in the case of third party negligence.

Suing A Third Party for A Work-Related Injury

Preventing Underage Drinking During The Holidays

December 12, 2016 | Tapalian Law

How serious is underage drinking during the holidays? According to information from the Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 11,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years will try alcohol for the first time on any given day during December. With approximately 400 young people under the age of 21 years dying each month from alcohol-related causes, underage drinking is an extremely serious problem during the holidays and throughout the entire year.

As an experienced Massachusetts DUI accident attorney, I see the devastation caused by drinking and driving for victims and their families. This holiday season, take steps to prevent drinking and driving by protecting your teen driver from underage drinking.

Talk to Your Teenager About Underage Drinking

Watch Out For Fatigued Driving This Holiday Season!

December 7, 2016 | Tapalian Law

Are you busy decorating your home for the holidays? Does it seem you are always on the road running errands or shopping? Do you feel as if you are simply dragging because you are exhausted? If so, you could be at risk for a fatigued driving accident this holiday season.

If you are involved in a car accident, remember the Martha’s Vineyard car accident attorneys are always here to answer questions and help protect your best interests. Call

401-552-5000

or use our online

contact form

What Happens When There Is Road Debris In Your Way?

November 30, 2016 | Tapalian Law

As a driver, you face many hazards on the roads. From other drivers and traffic congestion to weather and road debris, road conditions can quickly cause a motor vehicle accident. When road debris causes a collision with injury and damages, who is responsible for the compensating the accident victims?

Actions You Take When Encountering Road Debris

First, we need to look at how the crash occurred. When you encounter road debris, it is easy to panic. Your first reaction may be to jerk the steering wheel as you swerve to miss the debris. There are actually a few actions you can take when you encounter debris on the road.

What Are Considered Catastrophic Injuries In A Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Accident?

November 26, 2016 | Tapalian Law

A catastrophic injury can happen in any motor vehicle accident, but they are especially common in truck accidents. The difference in size and weight between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle leaves the occupants of the passenger vehicle at a very high risk for catastrophic injuries. Sadly, catastrophic injuries have devastating consequences that impact a person’s life forever. As an experienced Massachusetts truck accident attorney, I have seen this in many commercial truck accident cases.

Categorizing Catastrophic Injuries

Not every severe injury is categorized as catastrophic. Catastrophic injuries are usually defined as injuries that impact a person’s quality of life. In most cases, a catastrophic injury has a permanent impact and the conditions associated with this type of injury are irreversible. Catastrophic injuries can also be fatal.

Rhode Island DUI Accidents During The Holidays

November 18, 2016 | Tapalian Law

Although traffic-related fatalities have decreased in Rhode Island over the past five years, impaired driving traffic fatalities still account for one-third of the deaths on Rhode Island roads each year. With the upcoming holiday season, many people are concerned about a potential increase in DUI accidents throughout the country. While we hope the deaths on Rhode Island roads continue to decrease, it is important to know the facts about DUI accidents during the holidays.

We also want anyone injured in a traffic accident during the holidays to know that our Rhode Island car accident attorneys are working hard throughout the holiday season to protect the rights of accident victims and their families.

Don’t hesitate to contact our office by calling

401-552-5000

Multi-car Accidents: Who is at fault?

November 9, 2016 | Tapalian Law

Multi-car Accidents in Rhode Island & Massachusetts: Who is at fault?

Car accidents are not always clear cut. Especially in accidents involving multiple vehicles, its not always easy to tell who is at fault. If two or more vehicles are involved, how much fault is each responsible for? What happens if a truck hits a vehicle three cars behind you causing the cars directly behind you to crash into your car? Who is at fault? The car behind you? The truck who caused the accident? It’s not often easy to determine yet it is very important. Whomever is at fault will be responsible for paying damages. If multiple vehicles are involved, it will also depend on which state you are in. Different states have different laws and you need an experienced car accident lawyer to help you sift through the details. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind if you’ve been involved in a multi car accident in RI or MA.

Multi-car accidents in Rhode Island

Hanson Man Killed In Lakeville Motorcycle Accident

November 4, 2016 | Tapalian Law

According to a story reported by Wicked Local, a motorcyclist was killed, and three other people were transported to Rhode Island Hospital after a crash in Lakeville. The crash, which is still under investigation, involved two motorcycles and a 2007 Toyota Highlander SUV. The state police are reconstructing the Lakeville motorcycle accident in an attempt to determine what caused the tragic traffic accident.

The motorcycle accident occurred on Route 18 near Tamarack Park around 10 a.m. on October 21. The man who died was driving one of the motorcycles. His passenger and the other motorcyclist were transported to the hospital along with the driver of the SUV.

Motorcycling In Rhode Island and Massachusetts

Adaptive Headlights

Suing A Third Party for A Work-Related Injury

Talk to Your Teenager About Underage Drinking

Actions You Take When Encountering Road Debris

Categorizing Catastrophic Injuries

Multi-car Accidents in Rhode Island & Massachusetts: Who is at fault?

Multi-car accidents in Rhode Island

Motorcycling In Rhode Island and Massachusetts