Posts Tagged ‘“personal injury lawyers”’
Dedham Times Features Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Bike Helmet Donation for Kids
Breakstone, White & Gluck of Boston was recently mentioned in a Dedham Times article about the Dedham Bike Rodeo in August. Breakstone, White & Gluck and our Project KidSafe campaign participated for the seventh year and donated more than 100 helmets to the kids. Breakstone, White & Gluck is committed to helping children ride safely on bikes and protect against head injuries. Founded in 1992, our firm specializes in personal injury and medical malpractice cases across Massachusetts.
Article courtesy of The Dedham Times. Click link for full 2-page article.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Selected to Best Lawyers in America© 2020
From left: Attorney Ronald E. Gluck, Attorney Marc L. Breakstone and Attorney David W. White of Breakstone, White & Gluck. Our Boston law firm specializes in personal injury and medical malpractice representation for plaintiffs.
Breakstone, White & Gluck today announces that Attorney Marc L. Breakstone, Attorney David W. White and Attorney Ronald E. Gluck have earned rankings in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020. This marks the 10th year our personal injury attorneys have been recognized for our results for clients in the Boston area.
Best Lawyers© is the oldest and most respected attorney ranking service in the world, publishing its attorney listings in partnership with U.S. News & World Report and other media partners. The rankings are intended to help those who need legal services identify highly respected attorneys.
Best Lawyers© recognizes lawyers through a peer-review process. Members of the public, clients and other attorneys first provide nominations. Attorneys are then asked to evaluate other attorneys on their legal abilities in their practice areas.
Marc L. Breakstone was selected for recognition in the specialties of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, and Professional Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs.
David W. White was selected for recognition in the specialties of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Insurance Law and Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs.
Ronald E. Gluck was selected for recognition in the specialty of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Founded in 1992, Breakstone, White & Gluck has earned a reputation for superb results for our clients. With more than 100 years combined experience, our attorneys have won leading verdicts and settlements in negligence, medical malpractice, product liability and construction accident cases. We represent clients in Boston, Cambridge and surrounding communities, and across Massachusetts.
Recognition
Attorney Breakstone, Attorney White and Attorney Gluck have been consistently recognized individually and as a firm. For the past 15 years, Super Lawyers has featured our attorneys in its annual rankings published in Boston Magazine. Our attorneys have also received selection to the Top 100 New England Super Lawyers and the Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers.
Personal Injury Experience
Breakstone, White & Gluck is committed to assisting individuals and families who have suffered catastrophic injuries or death as a result of someone else’s negligence. Our attorneys provide representation after injuries arising from motor vehicle accidents, transportation accidents, construction accidents, premises liability accidents, defective products and dog bites, along with other injuries. Our partners have practiced together for nearly 30 years – and each has more than 35 years of experience handling personal injury and medical malpractice cases in Massachusetts.
Read about our personal injury case results for clients.
Car Accidents and Transportation Accidents
Car accidents are one area of our expertise. Breakstone, White & Gluck represents those injured in all types of motor vehicle accidents, including car accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle crashes and large truck collisions. Our attorneys are highly experienced in investigating cases involving drunk driving injuries and time and again, have held drivers, restaurants and bars responsible for the injuries they have caused. Our car accident case results for clients.
The firm offers special expertise in handling cases involving pedestrian injuries in MBTA bus accidents and subway accidents. Our MBTA bus accident case results for clients.
Medical Malpractice Experience
Breakstone, White & Gluck has represented hundreds of clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of medical malpractice, at the doctor’s office, hospital, nursing home or in an ambulance. When medical malpractice leads to death, we represent families who have lost loved ones in wrongful death claims, pursuing answers about what happened, then obtaining compensation to help cope with emotional, physical and financial losses. Our attorneys’ medical malpractice awards for clients.
Construction Accident Experience
Our attorneys are known for their thorough and skilled investigation of construction accidents as well as our aggressive pursuit of the best financial reward for our clients and their families. When accidents happen, construction companies sometimes maneuver to limit or avoid financial responsibility. Our attorneys have stopped companies from taking these deceptive steps to protect the best interests our clients. Read about our work, including our $7.5 million settlement for the victim of a fatal propane gas explosion on a condo construction site and our $1.375 million settlement for a family who lost a son in a crane collapse.
Boston Personal Injury Lawyers – Free Legal Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured, learn your legal rights for seeking compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. For a free legal consultation, contact Breakstone, White & Gluck today at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. You can also learn more about our work from our past clients.
Grilling Safety at Summer Picnics and BBQs in Massachusetts
The first rule of grill safety: never leave your BBQ unattended.
As we approach the Fourth of July, many of us have grilling on our minds, and all the delights of summer BBQs. If you plan to grill, we hope you enjoy, but please remember to follow the rules of safety at all times.
This is the time to plan, because as we enjoy friends and family, July is the peak month for grill fires, the weeks when nearly 20 percent of all grill fires across the U.S. happen, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). August is another high risk month, accounting for 12 percent of grill fires.
Though these fires are devastating and life-changing events, they don’t always make the news. But according to the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s office, there were 474 fires involving grills, hibachis and barbecues between 2014 and 2018. Nineteen civilians were injured and seven firefighters were hurt in the wreckage. Property damage totaled $3.8 million in losses.
Across the 50 states, firefighters responded to 10,200 home fires involving grills, hibachis and barbecues each year from 2013 to 2017. Ten civilians were killed and 160 were injured. Property damage resulted in $123 million in losses.
Grilling Safety Tips
Compiled From the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and Other Sources
- Only use propane and charcoal grills outdoors.
- Never leave your grill unattended.
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Grills should be set up at least 10 feet away from the house or deck railings.
- Gas grills can be used on first-floor decks and patios, but they must be located on the ground level or have an outdoor stairway leading to the ground.
- Grills should never be set up under a roof overhang or low-hanging tree branches.
- Grills should not be used on fire escapes.
- Take additional precautions around children. Keep matches and lighters out of their reach. Create a circle of safety, keeping children and pets at least three feet away (more space is better).
- Do your grilling at least three feet away from tables and furniture. Fold grill covers and remove them from the cooking area.
Safe Handling of Propane Tanks
- Never smoke while handling or cooking with a propane cylinder.
- Keep propane tanks outdoors at all times, at least 10 feet distance from doors and other building openings. This includes windows and dryer vents.
- Keep propane tanks at least 20 feet from air intake vents and ignition sources.
- Propane cylinders should be stored outdoors in shady areas. Cylinders should not be used or kept in high temperatures.
- Replace propane cylinders that are aging, rusting or showing other wear and tear.
Charcoal Grills
- As with other grills, only use charcoal grills outdoors.
- When using charcoal grills, only use charcoal starter fluid. Never use gasoline or kerosene.
- Never add lighter fluid to hot coals. This can cause a flash fire, causing serious skin burns.
- Use charcoal grills in open outdoor decks and patios, just as you would gas grills. Be aware that charcoal briquettes emit carbon monoxide, a clear, odor-free gas which can accumulate in spaces and be deadly. Charcoal grills should never be placed in close quarters near an open window.
- Allow the grill to cool. After 48 hours pass, you can safely dispose of coals.
- If you cannot wait 48 hours, soak the coals in water, then place them in a metal container.
Maintaining Grills
- Review the product manual and instructions that come with your grill.
- Start by opening your grill to see if there is any animal activity or unexpected conditions.
- Next, check that your propane tank is safe for use. Dab soapy water on your propane tank and turn it on for a moment. If there is bubbling, you may have a potential leak. This should be done carefully. Before you try, watch a National Fire Protection Association video.
- Check that connections are tight before you turn the gas on.
- Clean the grease trap every time you grill.
Rooftop Grilling
Rooftop grilling is against the law in Massachusetts. When someone tries to grill on a rooftop, the damage can be deadly and exponential. Some may still remember the 2010 gas grill fire explosion that exploded and lit up the sky over Charlestown. Starting the fire was an illegal propane tank which exploded on a residential building’s rooftop. Soon after, three other illegal gas tanks burst nearby, igniting a 4-alarm blaze which move through several buildings.
Firefighters – 125 in all – battled the fire on a 100-degree Boston day. Nine firefighters and two civilians were treated for heat exhaustion injuries.
Maintain Safe Decks and Porches
Grill fires can happen when someone makes a mistake while cooking, when a child gets too close to the grill or if the grill has a product defect. Landlords may be held responsible in certain grill fires if they keep a defective grill or fail to meet building codes and illegally close off access ways. In Massachusetts, most residential properties are also required to have working smoke alarms on each floor of floor, including inside bedrooms and other areas. They must also have working carbon monoxide detectors.
You cannot always prevent negligence in these situations. But you may be able to minimize many injuries by providing yourself a little more room to work and taking it slow. Keep the grill area and walkways leading there open and clear. When you take grill covers off, set them in safe areas away from the grill. Finally, tell everyone in your home you are grilling and ask another adult to watch children.
Sources for this blog include:
Grilling Safety, Mass.gov
Getting Fired Up for Grilling Safety, Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office
National Fire Protection Association
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm with expertise in premises liability and product liability cases. With more than 100 years combined experience, our attorneys have been recognized as top-rated personal injury lawyers in Massachusetts. Through our Project KidSafe campaign, we also work to bring safety information to individuals and families to help them make safe choices.
If you have been seriously injured by the negligence of someone else, learn your legal rights for seeking compensation. For a free legal consultation, contact us at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Receives Tier 1 Personal Injury Ranking from U.S. News – Best Lawyers® 2019 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
Breakstone, White & Gluck was recognized with a 2019 Tier 1 ranking in the specialty of personal injury litigation for plaintiffs in Boston.
We are pleased to announce that Breakstone, White & Gluck of Boston has received a Tier 1 ranking from the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® 2019 edition of “Best Law Firms.” The firm received the Tier 1 ranking in the specialty of personal injury litigation for plaintiffs in Boston.
Breakstone, White & Gluck and our attorneys have been selected for U.S. News – Best Lawyers® and “Best Law Firms” rankings this year and in the past. In this year’s Best Lawyers ratings, Marc L. Breakstone, David W. White and Ronald E. Gluck were selected for individual recognition in various areas of our practice, including personal injury litigation – plaintiffs, insurance law, medical malpractice and professional malpractice.
The “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes client and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews from other attorneys and other information provided by law firms.
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a top-rated Boston personal injury law firm with over 100 years combined experience and record-setting awards and settlements. Across Massachusetts and New England, our lawyers are known for our unwavering commitment to reach the best financial outcome for every client. We have earned recognition from “Best Law Firms” and Best Lawyers, along with Top 100 New England Super Lawyers and Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers. Our attorneys hold top professional and ethical ratings from Martindale-Hubbell.
Our Attorneys
Our Practice
Our firm specializes in personal injury and medical malpractice cases, including those involving catastrophic injuries and traumatic brain injury, including:
- Personal Injury Law
- Medical Malpractice
- Wrongful Death
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Construction Site Accidents
- MBTA Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Gas Explosions
- Dog Bites
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Premises Liability Accidents
- Product Liability
Free Legal Consultation
Boston Personal Injury Lawyers – Worcester Personal Injury Lawyers
If you have been injured, it is important to consult an experienced Boston personal injury lawyer or Worcester personal injury lawyer to learn your rights. You may have the right to obtain financial compensation for your injuries. Our attorneys represent those injured across Massachusetts, including in Boston, Waltham, Framingham, Cape Cod, Brockton, Plymouth, Worcester, the North Shore, the South Shore and Western Massachusetts.
For a free legal consultation, call our firm at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Project KidSafe Update: Breakstone, White & Gluck Supports Ashland Farmers Market and Tewksbury Police
Our Project KidSafe campaign recently stopped in Ashland and Tewksbury, to donate bicycle helmets to kids at fun events geared toward safety.
On June 5th, the Tewksbury Police Department hosted its Annual Bike Safety Rodeo at Tewksbury Memorial High School. Children came out to ride despite some rain early in the morning. They circled the parking lot, ran an obstacle course and enjoyed time with other kids – and the Lowell Spinners mascot, Canaligator. Cyclists of all ages were offered free bicycle safety inspections.
Children who needed a new helmet were offered one from Breakstone, White & Gluck and the Project KidSafe campaign. Tewksbury police officers partnered with us on the donation and fit the helmets for the kids.
“Please thank the attorneys for us for helping to keep our community safe!” Tewksbury police wrote us.
The Tewksbury Police Department actively works to protect cyclists of all ages with an annual Helmet Reward program. If an officer spots you riding a bicycle and wearing a helmet, you may just win tickets to a Lowell Spinners game. Local businesses provide support for the initiative.
Wearing a bicycle helmet is required for riders 16 years old or younger in Massachusetts, but it is good practice for anyone riding a bicycle. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce the risk for a serious head injury by 50 percent. Other studies have reported it offers even more protection.
On June 18th, the Ashland Farmers Market celebrated its 5th anniversary. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 75 children’s bicycle helmets for the event. We thank students and members of the community who took time to distribute and fit helmets for the kids.
The Ashland Farmers Market is organized by volunteers, with a goal of providing local farmers and small businesses a venue to sell goods to the community. Visitors can get produce and food there, as well as nutrition tips and suggestions on environmentally friendly practices for home and commuting. The committee has made bicycle safety a priority and this is the third year we have donated bicycle helmets.
About Project KidSafe
Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children in Massachusetts through our Project KidSafe campaign. We launched our campaign in 2013, with a simple goal: to help children ride safely and prevent head injuries. This year, we are proud to donate helmets to children at community events in Boston, Cambridge, Arlington, Somerville, Dedham, Worcester and other communities. We are also making donations to more than 10 local police departments.
Dietary Supplements Are Not a Cure for Concussions, FDA Says
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning parents and others concerned about sports concussions that certain dietary supplement makers are making false claims.
The FDA issued a Dec. 31 warning, advising consumers to avoid dietary supplements claiming to prevent or treat concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The common claim is the dietary supplements promote faster healing times after a head injury. But the FDA said there is no scientific evidence to support this claim and it has the potential to cause serious injury. Athletes who return to play too soon because they believe they are cured risk long term health consequences. Repeated injuries which do not fully heal can cause brain swelling, permanent brain damage and long-term disability. They can also be fatal.
Over the past several years, many states have passed legislation to protect student athletes and professional sports leagues have made changes to protect players. In August, the National Football League (NFL) reached a $765 million settlement with 4,500 former players who suffered long-term injuries from concussions. Some of the money will help fund new research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This condition, which causes mental impairment, aggression and dementia, is linked to repeated hits to the head. But it can currently only be diagnosed after death.
In its recent update, the FDA also broadly warned consumers about all products labeled as dietary supplements which are marketed to cure, mitigate, treat or prevent disease. Dietary supplements are regulated differently than other food products and drugs.
There are over 85,000 supplements available today, but they require no approval before going to market. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Educational Act, the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring a product is safe before going to market and the FDA can take action against any unsafe product after it starts being sold.
Dietary Supplement Companies
In this case, the FDA acted on a tip from the U.S. Department of Defense and conducted market surveillance. It found two companies making improper claims: PruTect Rx of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and Trinity Sports Group Inc. of Plano, Texas. It issued warning letters in September 2012 and both companies changed their websites and labeling.
But in December 2013, the FDA had to warn a third company, Star Scientific, Inc. for marketing a product called Anatabloc with claims to treat TBIs.
Consumer Warning
The FDA said consumers may come across these dietary supplements on the Internet, social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter and retail outlets. They often promise to heal TBIs with ingredients such as turmeric, an Indian spice, and high levels of omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish oil.
Related:
Can a Dietary Supplement Treat a Concussion? No., FDA Update.
Dietary Supplements, FDA.
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Donate Old Bicycles to Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward Program
If you have old bicycles you no longer need, consider donating them to a worthy cause this holiday season.
You can donate your old bikes to Boston Bikes and the Roll It Forward program. Boston Bikes manages the city of Boston’s cycling programs, such as the popular Hubway bike share.
Roll It Forward is one of its projects, which repairs and distributes bikes to low-income Boston residents and children who may not otherwise have access to a bike. To date, the program has distributed over 2,400 bicycles.
In 2013, we had the pleasure of contributing to Boston Bikes and Roll It Forward. We donated bike helmets for their youth bike giveaways. We also attended some of the events to help fit helmets, and we got to see first-hand how much the children love seeing those bikes!
We encourage you to consider this organization if you have a bike you are not using. Donating is easy. You can choose among several locations in Greater Boston. Landry Bicycles is collecting bikes at its Boston, Natick, Norwood and Westwood stores in December.
In addition, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Landry’s Bicycles in Natick is hosting a meet and greet reception for bike donors. It will celebrate local bicycle-recycling efforts in the area by Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward, the Worcester Earn-A-Bike and Bikes Not Bombs, another group that, among other things, does great work teaching Boston children how to ride and repair bicycles (and another fine organization that we support!).
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Use Space Heaters and Home Heating Equipment Safely
Home heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in Massachusetts. Because half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February, now is the time to consider if you are heating your home safely.
The most important step is to make sure your smoke alarm has working batteries. Also, have your home heating equipment checked and serviced by a qualified professional each year. They can identify problems and clear any debris in your chimney or vents. Any obstruction increases the chance of fire and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal. Other ways to protect your family and home:
Space Heaters
Space heaters cause 33 percent of all home heating fires and 81 percent of home heating fire deaths, according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). If you have an older model, consider purchasing a new one with an automatic shut-off feature. Also, search for your model on the Internet to make sure it has not been recalled. The best resource is the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.
Use space heaters on even surfaces and always keep them three feet away from combustibles, such as bed spreads and clothing. Also keep children and pets at least this far away.
Do not use an extension cord and use space heaters on a flat surface where they will not tip over. Remember to turn it off before you go to sleep or if you leave the room.
No Overloaded Electrical Outlets
Be careful not to overload electrical outlets. Space heaters draw a large amount of electricity. Shift around appliances if you think you may be overloading an outlet.
Keep Vents Clear
Monitor your indoor and outdoor heating vents throughout the winter. When it snows, clear your outside heating vents even before you shovel your driveway.
Wood, Coal and Pellet Stoves
In Massachusetts, you need a building permit to install wood, pellet or coal burning stoves and fireplaces. They must be inspected by a local building inspector prior to use.
Last year, there were over 800 fire incidents in Massachusetts involving chimneys, fireplaces and woodstoves. Many result from a build-up of creosote, a by-product of burning wood.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use your heating equipment. Do not use flammable liquids to start a fire. For fireplaces, check that the damper is open before starting a fire so there is not a build-up of smoke and carbon monoxide.
Use the fireplace screen to prevent flames and sparks from moving outside the fireplace and causing burns and injuries. Do not close the damper until the fire is fully out.
When finished, dispose of ashes in a metal ash can and keep it outside your home and garage. Also keep it away from porches and decks.
Cooking
Make sure you have proper ventilation before you start cooking. Do not use grills inside your home.
Related:
Heating fire safety: Wood Stoves, Space Heaters and Fireplaces, U.S. Fire Administration.
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Breakstone, White & Gluck Selected for New England and Massachusetts Super Lawyers Lists; 10th Year Honored
We are pleased to announce our lawyers have been honored as Super Lawyers for 2013.
Partners Marc L. Breakstone, David W. White and Ronald E. Gluck were selected for inclusion to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers for 2013 list. Associate Samuel A. Segal was also selected to Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2013. The honors will be printed in a supplement of November’s edition of Boston Magazine.
Breakstone, White & Gluck’s lawyers have been recognized by Super Lawyers for 10 years, first in 2004. Super Lawyers is a publication of Thomson Reuters. It rates lawyers across the country and recognizes no more than the top 5 percent of lawyers in each state. Attorneys are selected using a rigorous, multiphase process that includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
Rising Stars uses the same selection process, except candidates must be 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. Only 2.5 percent of lawyers in each state are recognized as Rising Stars.
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone was selected as one of the Top 100 New England Super Lawyers for 2013, a Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyer for 2013 and a Massachusetts Super Lawyer for 2013. This is Breakstone’s fourth time being selected as a Top 100 New England Super Lawyer. He has been selected to the Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyer seven times and a Massachusetts Super Lawyer for ten years. Breakstone, a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, has been practicing law in Boston for over 25 years and specializes in personal injury cases involving wrongful death, medical malpractice, gas explosions, construction accidents and transportation accidents. Read more about Marc.
Attorney David W. White was selected as a Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyer for 2013 and a Massachusetts Super Lawyer for 2013. It is White’s fifth time on the Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyer list and tenth year on the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list. He has also been named to the Top 100 New England Super Lawyers list twice. White, a graduate of the Northeastern University School of Law, is a past president of the Massachusetts Bar Association and has been practicing law in Boston for over 25 years. He specializes in personal injury, wrongful death, insurance bad faith, bicycle accident and motor vehicle accident claims. Read more about David.
Attorney Ronald E. Gluck was selected as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer for 2013 for the ninth year and a New England Super Lawyer for the seventh time. Gluck has been practicing law in Boston for over 30 years and serves on the Board of Governors for the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. Gluck specializes in personal injury cases involving wrongful death, car accidents, head injuries, motorcycle accidents, liquor law liability, premises liability, defective medical devices and pharmaceutical product liability. He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Read more about Ron.
Attorney Samuel A. Segal was selected as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2013. Segal joined Breakstone, White & Gluck as an associate in early 2010 and has handled cases involving personal injury, auto accidents, dog bites, gas explosions and medical malpractice. Segal is an active member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Massachusetts Bar Association and volunteers as an attorney-coach for the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Mock Trial Team in Cambridge. He is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law.
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ATV Accidents: Resources and Safety Tips for Avoiding Them
The all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have returned for summer. If you ride, remember the state of Massachusetts has specialized rules for your operation designed to protect you and others.
ATV riding comes with risks. Each year from 2004 to 2010, the U.S. saw an average of nearly 700 ATV-related deaths and about 136, 000 emergency department-treated injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). So far in 2012, the CPSC has received reports of 130 adults and 28 children under age 16 who have died in ATV accidents. The agency received reports 17 adults and children died in accidents over Memorial Day weekend.
Riders can benefit from taking a safety course and reviewing the laws. The Boston personal injury lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck offer these guidelines and resources:
Safety Course. The Massachusetts Environmental Police offer training classes.
Helmets. Wear a protective helmet specifically designed for ATV riding. Make sure the helmet is approved by the Snell Memorial Foundation or the Department of Transportation (DOT) testing labs.
Register Your Vehicle. You must register your ATV with the Massachusetts Environmental Police if you operate it on private or public property. You must carry proof of registration when riding. Click for more information.
Passengers. If your ATV is a single-operator model, do not carry passengers. For all other ATVs, limit yourself to the passenger capacity.
Public Roads. Do not operate on a public way, unless it is marked and approved for recreational vehicles.
Paved Roads. ATVs are not designed for use on paved roads and their solid rear axles increase the chance of tipping over when you turn.
Young Riders. Sean’s Law took effect in Massachusetts in 2010, banning children under 14 from operating ATVs. If you let your children operate, learn the specialized rules in Massachusetts. But also consider having them wait. The CPSC advises that children under age 16 lack the developmental skills to operate.
Training for Riders Under 18. These riders must complete an approved training course on safety. They must carry certification of this course when riding.
Youth on ATVs. Children should never ride an ATV designed for an adult. This is how 90 percent of injuries to children occur.
No Alcohol. Drinking and driving increases your chance of causing an accident and like motor vehicle drivers, it is against the law for ATV drivers.
Safe Riding Areas. Massachusetts offers state forests and parks designated for ATVs and off-road-vehicles. Click here for the list.
Accidents.You are required to report all accidents resulting in injuries, death or $50 or greater in damage to the Massachusetts Environmental Police.
Related:
- Snapshot: ATVs per Massachusetts Community, Boston Globe
- Does the new Massachusetts child-ATV ban go too far?, Boston Globe
- Annual Rise in Summer ATV Deaths Prompts CPSC to Urge Safety on the Trails, Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Massachusetts Environmental Police Urge Safe Off-Highway Vehicle Use