Nashua Personal Injury Law Blog

Auto accidents: Car vs. wheelchair crash kills 1 in New Hampshire

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC posted in auto accidents on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

Incidents that cause injury can happen anywhere and at any time, including to pedestrians. Wheelchair users are at an even higher risk when they have to cross busy city streets. Such auto accidents can cause traumatic injuries, and in some cases, they could be fatal. One such accident recently claimed the life of a New Hampshire woman.

According to a report by the New Hampshire State Police, a woman in Lancaster was navigating her motorized wheelchair across Route 3 when a vehicle struck her. Authorities say the 76-year-old woman was hit while she was in a crosswalk. The victim was rushed to a medical facility, but she succumbed to her injuries.

Workers' compensation death benefits for all work-related deaths

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC posted in workers' compensation on Monday, July 23, 2018.

All industries in New Hampshire and other states pose occupational hazards, and the goal of most employers is to provide safe work environments. In many cases, achieving workplace safety is easier said than done. However, workers' compensation benefits claims continue to come from a wide variety of industries.

A Time magazine compilation of the most hazardous jobs in the U.S. indicates that the leading cause of on-the-job deaths in 2016 was transportation accidents. Truck drivers, farmers and groundskeepers were some of the victims who lost their lives in job-related vehicle accidents. Slips, trips and falls used to be second on the list of most frequent causes of fatalities, but workplace violence is now number two on the list. While most people might think disgruntled colleagues are responsible for such deaths, most workplace violence cases involve customers assaulting workers as well as armed robberies.

2 auto accidents in 2 months claim lives on Route 106

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC posted in auto accidents on Wednesday, July 11, 2018.

A driver, passenger and a dog perished in a July 4th crash on Route 106 in New Hampshire. Two auto accidents have occurred on this route in as many months, and investigators have not even completed their investigation into a June 11 fatal collision. They are now also trying to determine the cause of the recent wreck.

According to a preliminary accident report, based on eyewitnesses and evidence found at the crash scene, an SUV veered across the center line and hit a sedan on the driver's side. This caused the SUV to spin before smashing head-on into a pickup truck. Reportedly, hydraulic equipment had to be used to get the SUV driver, passenger and a dog out of the crumpled vehicle. The passenger was declared dead at the crash scene, and the driver and the dog both died later.

Insurance tricks that seem like treats may leave you feeling sick

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC on Friday, June 29, 2018.

Having insurance can often make you feel as if you have someone on your side in the event of an emergency. Car insurance in particular can play an important role as accidents happen every day. Of course, if someone else causes an accident that leaves your vehicle damaged and you injured, you may want to remember that, in fact, the insurance company is not on your side.

Though the purpose of car insurance policies is to cover damages in the event of a crash, insurance companies also work to make a profit. Therefore, they will often try to give injured parties the lowest payout possible, even if more money may be warranted. In hopes of avoiding being cheated out of due compensation, you may want to remain aware of common tactics that could leave you with less than you deserve.

Construction accidents cause many fall-related injuries

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC posted in construction accidents on Monday, June 25, 2018.

Falls make up a significant percentage of all the workplace fatalities in New Hampshire. Although falls can occur in any setting, from an office to an oil rig, many lives are lost due to falls in construction accidents. Climbing a ladder can be as hazardous as working at an elevation of 80 feet. The Bureau of Labor Statistics published data that indicates fall-related days off work involved both falls to lower levels and on same levels.

Safety authorities say fatal falls occur most frequently in construction, while other sectors have the highest numbers of nonfatal fall injuries. Most of these occur in the wholesale, retail and health services industries. However, many falls are associated with these occupations such as building and maintenance cleaning, health care support, material moving and transport along with extraction and construction occupations.

Construction accidents and other disasters need emergency plans

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC posted in construction accidents on Thursday, June 14, 2018.

In June of each year, the National Safety Council asks businesses nationwide, including in New Hampshire, to focus on their overall preparedness to deal with emergencies. This means that a construction company must look beyond construction accidents, and ensure the safety of employees in situations such as flooding, wildfires, mudslides, equipment malfunctions, chemical leaks, building fires and more. Every business must have an established evacuation plan, which must be practiced at least once every year.

Employees must know who can order an evacuation, and how they will be alerted. A chain of command must be established to ensure that designated staff members will be there to assist others. Everyone should know where and how to exit the building, and at which points to gather to check that everybody got out safely.

More vehicles, more hours behind the wheel, more auto accidents

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC posted in auto accidents on Tuesday, May 29, 2018.

The numbers of vehicles on the roads and the hours spent driving in New Hampshire and other states are steadily rising. For this reason, it is essential for drivers to follow the laws and practice safe driving. This could prevent auto accidents that often result in injuries or death. Sadly, many drivers disregard road safety, putting themselves and other road users at risk.

Common road safety issues include disobeying road signs, traffic lights and other traffic laws. Speeding is dangerous, and following too closely behind other vehicles can cause serious rear-end collisions. Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs -- or even prescription medication -- must be avoided. Falling asleep while driving is far too common for people who drive through the night, or at any time when they are drowsy, often resulting in fatal car accidents.

Victims of dog bite injuries can pursue financial relief

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC posted in general personal injury on Friday, May 18, 2018.

Dog bite laws differ from state to state, but those in New Hampshire are more favorable to victims than most other jurisdictions. However, the dog owner cannot be held liable if the person who suffered dog bite injuries was committing a civil wrong or trespassing at the time of the attack. Nevertheless, specific questions need answers before the filing of a civil lawsuit.

For a dog bite lawsuit to be viable, there must be serious injuries or other damage caused. When documenting damages, lost income and emotional trauma can be included along with medical expenses. To bring such a lawsuit, the owner of the dog will have to be identified. If that information is not available, such as in a case when the dog was a stray, there may be no one to sue.

Do victims of slip-and-fall accidents have grounds for a claim?

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC on Friday, May 4, 2018.

New Hampshire readers know slip-and-fall accidents can happen for a variety of reasons in a variety of places. Victims of these types of accidents are often unsure of their legal options because they often assume the accident was at least partially their fault or they do not think they have grounds for a claim.

If you are the victim of an accident that happened due to dangerous property conditions, you have options. You have the right to seek financial compensation through a civil claim, but you may find it helpful to have guidance for the entirety of the process. As a victim, you do not have to walk through the aftermath on your own.

Many workers' compensation claims filed despite OSH Act control

On behalf of Attorney Mark Rufo PC posted in workers' compensation on Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

In 1971, the Occupational Safety and Health Act became effective, and, although accurate injury or fatality records were not kept at that time, Congress set out to improve safety in workplaces nationwide. On Workers' Memorial Day every year on April 28, the passing of the OSH Act is celebrated, and the lives lost in Occupational accidents are commemorated in New Hampshire and other states. Unfortunately, despite all these efforts, countless numbers of workers' compensation claims are filed for workplace injuries every year.

The New Hampshire Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health spent a week recognizing both male and female workers for the contributions they made to the economy and society while rededicating the agency to promote healthy and safe workplaces. NHCOSH said 11 workers lost their lives while working last year, and the sad fact is that some of those deaths could have been prevented had the employers complied with safety regulations. The agency says several employers failed to provide adequate safety training and the necessary safety equipment.

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