BWG Project KidSafe 2016: 10,000+ Bicycle Helmets Donated to Children

Breakstone, White & Gluck has completed its 2016 Project KidSafe campaign, donating nearly 5,000 helmets to children in Massachusetts this year. With help from local bicycle committees, police departments, schools and community groups, we have now donated more than 10,000 bicycle helmets over four years to help children ride safely.

Our partners, Marc L. Breakstone, David W. White and Ronald E. Gluck, thank everyone who has helped us and embraced our goal: to keep children and families safe and encourage them to wear a helmet every time they ride to prevent serious head injuries.

 

Our Partners:
Boston Bikes, Roll It Forward
CYCLE Kids
Bikes Not Bombs
Arlington iCan Shine Camp
Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee
Ashland Farmers Market
Bicyclecentro of East Boston
Bike Milton
Commonwheels Bicycle Collective
Dedham Bike Rodeo
East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition
Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition
Framingham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Friends of Lexington Bikeways
Groundwork Somerville
Haynes Early Education Center in Roxbury
Massachusetts Safe Routes to School
Northbridge Public Schools
Somerville Kiwanis Club
Somerville Public Schools
The Home for Little Wanderers
Tierney Learning Center of South Boston
Up Academy Dorchester
Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee
Westborough Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee
Windsor Street Care Center of Cambridge
Worcester Earn-a-Bike

Our Police Department Partners:
Cambridge Police
Dedham Police
Everett Police
Randolph Police
Norwood Police
Waltham Police
Marlborough Police
Malden Police
Tewksbury Police
Somerville Police
Framingham Police
Lexington Police

Cycling Clubs and Bicycle Organizations:
We were also pleased to support safe riding in other ways, by sponsoring the Boston Cyclists Union, MassBike, Northeast Bicycle Club, Charles River Wheelmen, New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), CYCLE Kids and Bikes Not Bombs. We are also sponsoring the Boston Bikes #BeBrilliant campaign again in 2016.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Supports Local Police Departments in 2016 Project KidSafe Campaign

Breakstone, White & Gluck was proud to partner with more than a dozen police departments in the Boston area during our 2016 Project KidSafe campaign. During the first three years of our campaign, police departments provided critical support in helping us give away children’s bicycle helmets. This year, we expanded our police donations to help protect more children and reach more families. Our partners, Marc L. Breakstone, David W. White and Ronald E. Gluck, thank police departments for helping us give away more than 1,500 helmets in 2016. Our attorneys have now donated over 10,000 helmets to children since 2013 and we owe much to the support of local police officers and departments.

The police departments did a great job this year. Some departments organized bike rodeos and gave away bike helmets. Others gave helmets away one at a time to children who needed one. Others, like Framingham, Lexington and Somerville, dispatched officers to help fit helmets at community events. For several years now, Somerville Police Officer Marianne Manfra has participated in two events in June. With her help, we reached more than 400 children in less than two weeks last Spring. Read about our Somerville bike helmet donations.

Cambridge Police Department incorporated the donation into their National Bike Safety Month activities, by announcing a helmet voucher program. Please check out our photo album and read more about our 2016 Project KidSafe campaign.

Our 2016 Police Partners:

Boston Police
Cambridge Police
Dedham Police
Everett Police
Randolph Police
Norwood Police
Waltham Police
Marlborough Police
Malden Police
Tewksbury Police
Somerville Police
Framingham Police
Lexington Police

A little farther west, we thank Easthampton Police for supporting us.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Partners With Schools During 2016 Project KidSafe Campaign

As part of our commitment to keep children safe, Breakstone, White & Gluck donated bicycle helmets to several schools and safety programs during our 2016 Project KidSafe campaign. We made donations to schools in the Boston area and across the state.

We made our largest donation of 400 helmets to Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, which works with schools, communities, students and families to increase biking and walking among elementary and middle school students. Safe Routes to School offers safety education and organizes bicycle rodeos in more than 50 percent of communities in Massachusetts.

This is the second year our law firm has partnered with Safe Routes to School. In 2016, Breakstone, White & Gluck donated helmets to support Safe Routes to School’s work at schools, including:

  • Brayton Elementary School in North Adams
  • Arlington Elementary School in Lawrence
  • Gibbons Elementary in Stoughton

Last Spring, Massachusetts Safe Routes to School also gave out helmets from our Project KidSafe campaign at a bike rodeo at the South Boston Neighborhood House. Attorney David W. White fit helmets for the kids and participated:

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Left: Attorney White with Moss Lynch and Jana Linhart of Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, Maren Tober of South Boston Healthy Community Champions and Mary Picard Walsh from the South Boston Neighborhood House. Next: Attorney White helping a young cyclist. Next: Group shot of kids with Jana Linhart, Safe Routes to School outreach coordinator and Attorney White. Last: Young cyclist takes to the obstacle course.

In 2015, Breakstone, White & Gluck donated helmets to support Safe Routes to School’s work at:

  • Lawrence Bike Program, Lawrence
  • Avon Bike Rodeo, Avon
  • Reingold School Bike Rodeo, Fitchburg
  • Bike & Trike Parade, Salem
  • Newman School Festival, Needham
  • Greenfield Bike Rodeo at Greenfield Middle School, Greenfield
  • Salem Farmers’ Market, Salem
  • Milton Rodeo at Pierce Middle School, Milton
  • Williams Elementary Bike Rodeo, Pittsfield
  • Ciclovia, Lawrence
  • Springfield Library Bike Rodeo, Springfield
  • Foncesca Bike Summer Session, Fall River

Other Donations to Schools
Through our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 10,000 helmets to children in Boston and across Massachusetts since 2013. Our other donations to schools and education centers during our 2016 campaign include:

Somerville Public Schools and CYCLE Kids
In Somerville, we donated 300 helmets to Somerville Public Schools and CYCLE Kids. The helmets were given to fifth graders who completed the CYCLE Kids curriculum as part of their physical education classes. The curriculum teaches students how to ride a bicycle, bicycle safety and nutrition basics. This is the third year we have made this donation. Attorney Marc L. Breakstone joined Somerville Police Officer Marianne Manfra, Physical Education Teacher Kris Savage in handing out the helmets to students at the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School last June. Read our blog.

Arlington Public Schools

In Arlington, we made a donation to the Arlington Public Schools for the third year. We donated 170 helmets to support the Walk to School Day events for elementary school students. These events focus on encouraging children to safely walk and ride bicycles to school. Our Project KidSafe bicycle helmets were donated to children who needed one during these events. The donation was coordinated through the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center
For the second year, Breakstone White & Gluck donated bicycle helmets to the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston. Attorney David W. White fit helmets for the children at the center’s summer party in July.

A boy receiving a new bicycle helmet. 20160707-IMG_1261 20160707-IMG_1351 20160707-IMG_1242  Attorney David White with a young cyclist in South Boston. 20160707-IMG_1293

Haynes Early Education Center
In Roxbury, we donated 75 helmets to the Haynes Early Education Center, which is part of the Boston public school system. The school gave the helmets to children who needed one at its Healthy Families Event. Read our blog.

Photos: Arlington Public Schools left, then the Haynes Early Education Center.

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Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition and Easthampton Public Schools
In Easthampton, we donated 140 bicycle helmets to children at the Event to Celebrate Bike Safety in May. The event was sponsored by the Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition, Easthampton Police, Easthampton Public Schools and the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. Attorney David W. White attended to help fit helmets for the children. Read our blog.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Children’s Bicycle Helmets in Milton and Westwood

milton-2016-2Breakstone, White & Gluck cares about bicycle safety in Boston and across Massachusetts. Over the past four years, our attorneys have donated brand-new bicycle helmets to children who need one through our Project KidSafe campaign.

Wearing a helmet is the most effective step a cyclist can take to prevent a brain injury in a car accident or fall on a bicycle. While important for all cyclists, wearing a helmet is especially important for children, who are still growing and in development.

Breakstone, White & Gluck is nearing the end of the fourth year of our Project KidSafe campaign. Since 2013, our campaign has donated over 10,000 new bicycle helmets to children who needed one. Along the way, over 40 community groups, bicycles safety organizations, police departments and schools have pitched in to help us protect children. Many of these groups help us year in and year out.

We had our busiest year yet in 2016, donating over 4,000 children’s bicycle helmets. Here are a few of our recent donations. We thank our partners Bike Milton and the Westwood Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Committee.

Bike Milton
Breakstone, White & Gluck recently donated 100 children’s bicycle helmets to Bike Milton, the town of Milton’s bicycle committee (photo above).

On Oct. 2, the Bike Milton distributed bicycle helmets to children at Celebrate Milton, and showed children and parents how to properly fit the helmets. Bike Milton also gave away free bike maps and shared information about the town’s new bike lanes. The Neponset River Greenway extension is also opening soon, which will allow cyclists to ride safely on a protected path. The path runs through Milton, Dorchester and other communities near Boston.

Bike Milton is an active partner of the Safe Routes to School program, which works in schools across the state to teach children how to ride bikes and walk to school safely (Breakstone, White & Gluck is also a supporter of Safe Routes).

Bike Milton is an advocate for safety and has campaigned to make the intersection of Neponset Valley Parkway, Brush Hill Road and Milton Street safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The intersection had no crosswalks and saw 34 reported accidents over an 8-month period. Visit their website to learn more.

Westwood Pedestrian & Bicycle Committee

For the third year, Breakstone, White & Gluck donated bicycle helmets to keep the children of Westwood safe. Our thanks to the Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee, which distributed helmets to children at Westwood Town Day on September 24th. Committee members also spoke to families about the importance of wearing a helmet on every bicycle ride.

Attorney David White of Breakstone, White & Gluck is a member of the Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee, but was unable to attend this year. The committee said all still went smoothly and they distributed over 100 helmets in three hours.

Tips for Fitting a Bicycle Helmet
Questions about bicycle helmets? Visit our bicycle safety page.

About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck, a Boston personal injury law firm, is committed to the safety of all bicyclists in Massachusetts. We have over 100 years combined experience representing bicyclists injured by the negligence of others. If you, or a member of your family, has been injured in a bicycle incident, please feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. Thank you and RIDE SAFE!

Breakstone, White & Gluck Makes Helmet Donations in Arlington and Watertown

arlington-elementary-schools-2016-editAs part of our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck recently donated children’s bicycle helmets in Arlington and Watertown.

We donated 300 helmets in Arlington, where we have partnered with the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee and donated helmets for the past three years.

On September 17th, the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee distributed 70 of our Project KidSafe helmets at Arlington Town Day.

“Town Day is always a highlight of the year for us and it is great to be able to help people out with the helmets and vests,” Chairman Chris Tonkin wrote us.

The committee also coordinated our donation of 170 helmets to the Arlington Public Schools last Spring. Our Project KidSafe bicycle helmets were donated to children who needed one during Walk to School Day events for elementary school students.  In April, Breakstone, White & Gluck also made a donation to the iCan Shine Bike Camp. The camp meets during April school vacation and teaches individuals with disabilities age 8 and older how to ride a bicycle. We have partnered with the camp to make this donation for the past three years.

arlington-town-day-2016-editOn September 24th, the Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee donated 100 helmets to children at the Watertown Faire on the Square. This was the third year we have partnered with the committee.

We thank the committee members in both communities for taking time to fit the helmets and answer questions about safety.

Breakstone, White & Gluck cares about the safety of cyclists in Massachusetts and actively supports cycling safety in the Boston area. We launched our Project KidSafe campaign in 2013 to protect children. Our goal was to give children access to a safe bicycle helmet, which properly fits and help them understand the importance of wearing one every time they ride. Read more about our 2016 Project KidSafe campaign.

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Photos: Top, students in Arlington Public Schools receive new helmets during a Walk to School Day event. Middle, Chris Tonkin of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee talks about bicycle safety at Arlington Town Day in 2016. Bottom, children at the Watertown Faire on the Square give a thumbs up for our Project KidSafe bicycle helmets.

Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 100 Bicycle Helmets to The Home for Little Wanderers

Home for Little Wanderers, Boston, Massachusetts

With a donation from Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign, children at The Home for Little Wanderers are ready for safe riding.

We made a special donation of 100 bicycle helmets to The Home this week, for children and young adults in The Home’s residential and special education programs in Roxbury Crossing, Plymouth and Walpole. The Home serves children and young adults who need family support because of abuse, neglect or other reasons. For more than 200 years, it has filled a critical need in the Boston area, keeping children safe and helping them transition into foster care, adoption or independent living as adults. The Home provides the basic necessities of food, shelter and clothing for children, as well as mental health services, counseling, special education and many other services.

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Photo:  Attorney David White stopped at The Home for Little Wanderers this week and delivered bicycle helmets from Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign. He was greeted by (left) Paige Oldaker, Leadership Gifts Officer; Johanna Lauer, Volunteer Mentor; and Taryn Marino, Manager of Volunteer and Mentor Programs. (next to David).

Breakstone, White & Gluck is committed to keeping children safe through our Project KidSafe campaign. Since 2013, our law firm has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children who need one in Massachusetts. Our goal is to encourage children to wear bicycle helmets every time they ride to prevent serious head injuries in bicycle accidents or falls.

We learned about The Home’s need for new helmets from a volunteer. She told us children at The Harrington House in Roxbury Crossing were wearing old and worn-down helmets. Then we learned about the need at the other programs and were told the children and young adults love to ride bikes. We saw an opportunity to help.

“We were very pleased to make this donation, especially since the children really enjoy riding bikes,” Attorney David White said. “The Home for Little Wanderers is a lifeline for many children who have been neglected or abused in Massachusetts. While receiving services, the children should have the opportunity to ride bicycles, play and just be kids for a few minutes each day. We hope with brand-new bicycle helmets, they can ride safely and have a little fun.”

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Attorney Ronald Gluck Reaches $1.25 Million Settlement for Injured Motorcyclist

Boston Personal Injury Attorney Ronald E. Gluck

Boston Personal Injury Attorney Ronald E. GluckAttorney Ronald E. Gluck recently reached a $1.25 million dollar settlement in a case involving serious injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident which occurred in Massachusetts.

Attorney Gluck, who has successfully represented seriously injured motorcyclists for over thirty five years, obtained the full insurance liability policy limits for our client from the defendant’s insurance company.

The motorcycle accident occurred when the offending driver of a sedan made a sudden left turn in front of our client’s motorcycle, cutting off his path of travel and leaving him no room to stop. As a result he crashed into the side of the sedan, and suffered life altering injuries.

Our client, who was obeying traffic laws and was wearing proper motorcycle clothing, suffered severe injuries, including multiple fractures of his pelvis, fractures of his lower leg and an injury to his peroneal nerve which caused significant foot drop. During surgery to repair the fractures, he suffered a complication resulting in major loss of blood among other injuries. Doctors used heroic measures to stop the bleeding and save his life.

The client was hospitalized for weeks and required extensive post hospitalization inpatient rehabilitation. Due to his injuries he was unable to work for several months. When he returned to his employment as an executive at a national company, he remained on crutches and then a cane for several more months. Long distance travel was a struggle for an extended period of time.

The injury to our client’s peroneal nerve remains a lasting injury and he is required to wear a brace in his shoe to enable him to walk steadily on many surfaces. He is also unable to participate in activities such as golf and basketball as he had in the past.

Read the trial report.

This case was reported in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly on December 1, 2016.


Our Experience: Previous Motorcycle Accident Settlements

Attorney Gluck has extensive experience representing motorcyclists. His experience includes a $3.75 million settlement for an injured motorcyclist in 2012, which was reported as among the state’s largest verdicts and settlements that year by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

In that case, the motorcyclist was critically injured when a Lexus cut into his traffic lane, causing the rider to slam into the vehicle. The motorcyclist suffered major facial fractures, a concussion, blindness in one eye and orthopedic injuries.

The client was rendered unable to work as a result of his injuries. The proof of his loss of earning capacity by use of expert testimony was critical to Attorney Gluck’s successful resolution of the case for $3.75 million. The loss of earning capacity amount claimed by our client was disputed by the insurance company’s expert, but was proven to be accurate. The case was settled at the end of an all-day mediation, which took place two weeks before the scheduled trial date.

Breakstone, White & Gluck has over 100 years combined experience representing those who have been injured by negligence in auto accidents, truck accidents, bus accidents and motorcycle accidents.

Motorcycle accidents are not the same as other traffic accidents and if you have been injured, it is important to find an attorney who has specific experience obtaining compensation for motorcyclists.

About Attorney Ronald E. Gluck

Ronald E. Gluck is a Boston personal injury attorney who has been practicing law for over 35 years and has obtained multi-million dollar awards for individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries and damages from acts of negligence. Attorney Gluck has been consistently recognized as one of the top lawyers in the state and has been selected to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list each year since 2005. Read more about Attorney Gluck.

About Breakstone, White & Gluck

The Boston personal injury attorneys at Breakstone, White & Gluck have over 100 years combined experience handling motor vehicle accident cases resulting in serious personal injury or wrongful death. If you have been injured, it is important to learn your rights. For a free legal consultation, contact us at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.

Attorney Marc Breakstone Reaches $1.375 Million Settlement for Pedestrian Struck and Seriously Injured by MBTA Bus

breakstone_150Attorney Marc Breakstone recently reached a $1.375 million settlement for an elderly man who was hit by an MBTA bus in a pedestrian crash while crossing Dudley Street in Roxbury. The man suffered a traumatic brain injury and bone fractures.

The on-board bus video showed the pedestrian bus accident was preventable. The plaintiff was clearly visible to the operator, who did not respond for several seconds. The investigation revealed the bus driver was traveling above the speed limit.

The video also confirmed the bus driver gave a false account to MBTA Police. The driver said the man had run out from behind parked vehicles. But the video showed there were no parked vehicles obstructing the view and the victim was not running.

The case was settled at mediation in May 2016 and later reported in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Read the case report.

Our Experience: One of the Largest Bus Accident Verdicts in Massachusetts
The attorneys of Breakstone, White & Gluck have over 100 years combined experience representing those who have been injured by the negligence of others in car, truck and bus accidents. Bus accident cases are complex and many attorneys do not have experience investigating these cases or representing those who have been injured or killed. But our attorneys have this unique experience; we have handled motor vehicle and bus accident cases from the insurance claims level through trial and appeal.

Many cases can be settled prior to trial, but not every case. In 2008, Attorney Marc Breakstone took a client’s case against the MBTA to Suffolk Superior Court. After a two-week trial, his client was awarded $5.4 million, including interest. It was believed to be one of the largest verdicts ever in Massachusetts for an injury of its kind.

The MBTA filed a motion for a new trial and was denied. It then appealed the case. The state’s Appeals Court affirmed the judgment and the Supreme Judicial Court denied a petition for further review. By the time the MBTA had exhausted its options, the judgment rose to $7.1 million, with interest and medical expenses and lost earning capacity. Read about this case.

About Attorney Marc Breakstone
Marc L. Breakstone has more than 30 years of experience practicing law in Boston. He has been selected as one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in New England and Top 100 Super Lawyers in Massachusetts. He has also been selected by his peers as one of the top medical malpractice plaintiff’s lawyers in the Super Lawyer balloting. In 2002, Attorney Breakstone was honored as one of ten “Lawyers of the Year” by Massachusetts Lawyers WeeklyMore on Marc Breakstone.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 120 Children’s Bicycle Helmets to Dedham Police and Dedham Bike Rodeo

Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate 120 children’s bicycle helmets to the Dedham Police Department and the Dedham Bike Rodeo this year. This was our fourth year participating  in the rodeo and Attorney Reza Breakstone was on hand to fit children for new helmets and answer questions about bicycle safety.

20160727-P1130939The Dedham Police Department and the Dedham Parks & Recreation Department organize the annual rodeo, which is always held at the Endicott Estate. We always expect warm weather, but this year was especially hot and we were worried children may not come out. There was no cause for concern. We still had many parents and grandparents bring children, and children from local childcare programs stop in. Attorney Breakstone still fit about 75 children ages 4 to 10 for new bicycle helmets. Dedham police officers will give the rest to children who need one.

Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the bicycle helmets through our Project KidSafe campaign, which has now donated over 10,000 helmets to children in eastern Massachusetts. We started our safety campaign in 2013. The Dedham Bike Rodeo was one of our first events and it is always rewarding to return each year.

bike-safety-pageHow to Fit Your Child’s Bicycle Helmet
If you or your child need help fitting a helmet, we want to share this video. Putting a bicycle helmet on your child is a critical step in protecting them from a serious head injury. By wearing a helmet, cyclists reduce their chance for head injury by 50 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Other studies have shown it provides even more protection so it is important for all cyclists to wear one, every time they ride. Read More

Bicycle Helmet Giveaway at the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston

Attorney David White visited the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston on July 7th and fit over 60 children and teenagers for brand-new bicycle helmets donated by Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign. We set up our Project KidSafe tent as part of the center’s summer party, which was a lot of fun, with a DJ playing music, water balloon tosses and other summer games.

This is the second year Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated bicycle helmets to families served by the Tierney Center, which provides educational support and programming to youth and families in South Boston. The center’s goal is to leverage its neighborhood resources to ensure that each individual who walks through its doors has the tools to achieve his or her highest potential both in the classroom and within the community. To that end, it works with more than 30 other Boston agencies to bring resources to its residents. Nearly 60 percent of the households served by the center are non-native English speakers and 90 percent are single-parent households.

Boys wearing bicycle helmets at Tierney Center in South Boston

A boy receiving a new bicycle helmet.

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Attorney David White with a young cyclist in South Boston.

A child riding a bicycle wearing a bicycle helmet.

Attorney David White and Claire Kaiser, with the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston

Claire Kaiser, the teen programs coordinator for the Tierney Learning Center and Attorney David White of Breakstone, White & Gluck.

To learn more about bicycle safety, fitting a helmet and the laws in Massachusetts, visit our bike safety page.

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