Massachusetts Personal Injury Blog

Researchers from Brown University recently found that nursing homes may be overprescribing unnecessary antibiotics to elderly residents with suspected urinary tract infections (UTI). The infection, which occurs when bacteria enters the urethra and then the bladder, is common in nursing homes, and affects nearly half the residents, according to researchers.

Over a period of six months, researchers followed 172 patients with possible UTIs from two Rhode Island nursing homes and found that only 26 met the criteria for antibiotic treatment, while 70 patients who did not qualify also received antibiotics anyway.

Dr. David Dosa of Brown University observed that one out of seven patients who received inappropriate treatment then went on to develop gastrointestinal infections, which causes diarrhea, cramps, and potentially fatal inflammation of the colon.

Researchers are concerned that, despite existing guidelines, the fear of under-treating patients may actually lead doctors to prescribe excessive dosages of antibiotics, increasing the risk of other life-threatening infections that are more difficult to treat.

The study helps shed light on one form of nursing home neglect that often goes overlooked. Elderly patients can suffer serious consequences when doctors and caregivers fail to adequately diagnose and treat even common illnesses.

The Kiley Law Group, a Boston medical malpractice law firm, specializes in holding negligent healthcare professionals accountable for their actions. If you believe your loved one has been wrongfully injured or misdiagnosed as a result of medical negligence, call us for a free consultation at (888) 208-1695.

During May, also known as Bike Safety Month and National Bicycle Month, the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) is encouraging cyclists all over the state to go out and bike in the nice weather, but also keep their safety in mind at all times.

Bicycle safety is important for adults and children alike. Serious injuries can occur when a bicycle crashes, with head trauma being one of the most dangerous injuries to be dealt with. According to BIA-MA Manager of Prevention Programs BJ Williams, “more than 50,000 bike-related head injuries and 630 deaths occur in the U.S. each year.”

Some accidents are avoidable and many injuries are preventable, so adults and children are encouraged to take every precaution while riding a bike. The most obvious safety precaution is wearing a bike helmet, even when going on short rides. Helmets protect the head and face from injury, but there is more to exercising safety than just wearing a helmet.  Preventing an accident is even more important.  Paying attention to traffic signals, other vehicles on the road, and the road itself is crucial.

So, in short, responsible cyclists follow these steps to make sure they do not get injured in an accident:

• Wear a helmet at all times.
• Do not ride against traffic.
• Follow lane markings and traffic signals.
• Use hand signals and make eye contact with other drivers and pedestrians.
• Look for road hazards.
• When riding at night, wear a light on the helmet or the bike, and wear reflective clothing.

With these things in mind, we wish you a pleasant and safe bicycle ride in Boston and the rest of Massachusetts.

The Boston personal injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group have over 30 years experience in personal injury and wrongful death stemming from auto accidents, child injury accidents, medical malpractice, and work related accidents. If you or your family has been injured by someone’s negligent actions, call today to see if you have a case. Free consultations: 1-888-208-1695.

An early morning crash in Peabody, MA claimed the life of a front seat passenger and resulted in drunken driving and motor vehicle homicide charges for the driver. The accident occurred shortly after midnight when the driver, a Peabody man, drove his car into a parked truck.

The victim, a 31-year-old Peabody man, was sitting in the front seat and died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

The driver who was charged in this accident was operating a 2010 Hyundai sedan. After the crash, he reportedly ran from the scene and was then caught by police a short distance away.

His charges include:

• Motor vehicle homicide while drunk
• Driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense
• Leaving the scene of a personal injury with death resulting

Drunken Driving Claims Lives

Operating under the influence of alcohol (OUI) is a major cause of auto accidents. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly a third of all fatal auto accidents involve drunken drivers.

Victims of such accidents are entitled to compensation for their injuries, damages to their vehicles, and other related expenses. The families of people killed in drunken driving accidents have the right to seek wrongful death claims. To find out how to do that and win your case, consult with an experienced attorney specializing in personal injury and wrongful death.

Call 1-888-208-1695 to receive a FREE consultation with a Boston car accident lawyer today.

Chrysler is recalling 469,000 Jeep SUVs globally due to electrical fault in the transfer case, that is, the vehicles can shift into neutral gear without warning on startup.

According to U.S. safety regulators, cracks in a circuit board that turns the four-wheel drive on and off can cause a faulty signal, causing them to shift into neutral gear. Once in neutral, the vehicles can roll away.

The problem has already caused 26 crashes, Chrysler said, and two injuries.

The recall, which will start next month, will affect approximately 295,000 vehicles in the U.S., 28,500 in Canada, and 4,200 in Mexico. Models affected by the recall include Grand Cherokees manufactured 2005 to 2010, as well as 2006 to 2010 Cherokees.

Chrysler is notifying owners and dealers will update the software to take care of the problem.

The Michigan-based auto manufacturer will also recall around 5,440 Jeep Wranglers from 2008 to 2010 worldwide, which have right hand drive, because of issues with the airbags preventing them from deploying on the frontal driver’s side. No Jeep Wranglers in the U.S. will be affected in this recall.

A third recall will involve around 500 of the 2013 Ram 1500 pickup trucks because of windshield defroster problems. Issues with the coolant valve may prevent the defrosting and defogging systems from functioning properly. Dealers will replace coolant valves that may stick and prevent the coolant from flowing into the heater core.

Owners of recalled vehicles can call Chrysler at (800) 247-9753.

These recalls were disclosed in three separate filings with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Kiley Law Group, LLC is a personal injury law firm in the Boston, Massachusetts area, specializing in auto defects cases. If you or a loved one has recently suffered a serious injury in a Massachusetts car accident, call us today to find out how we can help you win your case. FREE Consultations: 1-888-208-1695.

Millions of vehicles by Toyota, Nissan, and Honda are being recalled around the world due to airbags that are at risk of catching fire and injuring passengers during deployment. The airbags were supplied by Takata Corp, the world’s largest supplier of airbags and seat belts.

According to Reuters, the recall involving 3.4 million vehicles is the largest airbag recall for Takata Corp. This is also the largest recall since Toyota recalled around 7 million vehicles in October for faulty power window switches.

The new recall is prompted by problems with the deployment of the front passenger airbag, posing a risk of fire and injury.  Namely, a manufacturing defect in the propellant used in the airbag inflator may prevent the front passenger seat airbag from inflating properly. If this happens, there is a risk of the airbag catching fire or metal fragments shooting upward to the windshield or downward to the passenger’s foot, causing injury to passengers.

There have been no reported injuries due to the defective airbags, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda report.

According to Takata and documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the company first became aware of the problem from an automaker after an airbag deployment in Japan in October 2011. The next month, the company learned of a Honda vehicle accident in Puerto Rico. For a few months in 2012, Takata could not reproduce the problem in testing, but it was alerted of three additional accidents that occurred in the fall of 2012.

The recall will affect 1.3 million vehicles in the U.S. All of the recalled vehicles were manufactured in or after 2000.

Brought to you by Kiley Law Group, LLC. The Boston auto defects attorneys at Kiley Law specialize in personal injury or wrongful death caused by defective auto parts. If you, or a loved one, have recently been injured in a Massachusetts car accident, call us today to find out how we can help you win your case. FREE Consultations: 1-888-208-1695.

Dialysates are used by patients with acute or chronic kidney failure and who must undergo dialysis, a process that filters the patient’s blood and helps restore the electrolyte balance and filter out waste or excess water. Dialysis acts as a replacement for normal kidney functions. In March 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class I recall of Fresenius’ dialysate products Granuflo Acid Concentrate and Naturalyte Liquid due to an increased risk of serious injuries or death for patients who use the products.

Both of these dialysates were linked to a significant rise of bicarbonate in patients’ blood due to the products’ high level of acetic acid, citrate, or acetate, which could lead to cardiac arrhythmia, low blood pressure, heart attack, and other fatal conditions. Dialysis patients often take additional bicarbonates to help maintain a balanced level of electrolytes in the bloodstream, however, when taken in conjunction with Granuflo or Naturalyte, the high concentration of bicarbonates could become lethal.

In recent months, the FDA has issued additional advisory warnings regarding the use of all dialysates, advising healthcare professionals to examine dialysate labeling and monitor whether or not each patient is already taking bicarbonates. The FDA continues to investigate whether Fresenius was aware of the dangers of using Granuflo or Naturalyte and failed to warn doctors or patients.

After a Defective Drug Injury

While there are inherent risks associated with dialysis, pharmaceutical companies are responsible for ensuring patients’ safety. The Boston pharmaceutical error lawyers at the Kiley Law Group can help if you or a loved one has been injured by defective drugs.

To find out whether you may hold the drug manufacturer accountable for the harm they have caused, call us for a free consultation at (888) 208-1695. You can also request a consultation by filling out our online contact form.

According to recent studies conducted by American and Icelandic researchers, the connection between disrupted sleep patterns and an increased risk of prostate cancer is gaining in plausibility.

During a five year study at the Center of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, 2,102 men were surveyed about their poor sleep patterns, mainly difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night. Dr. Lara Sigurdardottir, who led the study, reported that “men with sleep disruption were at increased risk of prostate cancer, particularly advanced prostate cancer.” After five years, at least 135 of the men who participated in the study developed prostate cancer, and 26 men developed a more aggressive form of the disease.

One theory behind the findings is that disrupted sleep inhibits the brain’s natural melatonin production at night. Melatonin has been shown to help suppress the cellular growth of cancer; therefore, with less melatonin in the body, a person may be at a higher risk for developing cancer.

The research does not reflect a direct cause-effect relationship between the quality of a good night’s rest and cancer, but that insomnia may be a symptom of other stresses that may contribute to risks of cancer, such as depression, poor diet, smoking, and a weaker immune system. Researchers advise men and women that experience regular sleep disturbances to consult a doctor to help identify the root cause.

The Kiley Law Group, a Boston failure to diagnose cancer law firm specializes in holding negligent healthcare professionals accountable for their actions. If you believe you have been wrongfully injured or misdiagnosed as a result of medical negligence, call our toll-free number and schedule your consultation today. We offer FREE Consultations to injured victims and their families: 1-888-208-1695.

A Massachusetts bishop was arrested over the weekend after an alleged hit-and-run accident in Rhode Island. After the accident, the driver of the other vehicle followed the bishop and called the police who arrested him at a Narrangasett vacation home.

According to police, the bishop crashed his vehicle with another vehicle before fleeing the scene.

He was charged with drunken driving and leaving the scene of the accident. By refusing to take a blood alcohol test, he faces an additional civil charge of refusing to submit to a chemical test.

In a statement issued on Monday, the bishop said that he made a “terrible error in judgment” by driving after drinking wine with dinner.

Other Recent Hit-and-Run Accidents in the News

A few other hit and run accidents occurred on the East Coast in the last few weeks.

• A two-year-old child has been critically injured in Connecticut after being struck by a car. The child’s mother had just taken the two-year-old from a car and was standing next to the toddler when the child was struck by a passing car. The accident occurred at night, around 9 pm. The child suffered serious head trauma as a result of the accident.
• A 46-year-old man was arrested on drunk driving charges after a hit-and-run in New Bedford, MA. Local police arrested him after he fled an accident scene including several vehicles. A total of 10 parked vehicles were struck. The man’s vehicle was damaged and its license plate was left at the scene, which helped police in tracking him down. According to police, this is the fifth time he has been arrested on similar charges.
• A 25-year-old man was arrested in Vermont in a five-month-old hit-and-run accident that left another man with a serious injury. The victim was putting gas in his truck when he was struck and left at the scene. He suffered head injuries and a compound leg injury. The hit-and-run driver admitted to operating the vehicle that struck the man at a gas station. He was charged with felony leaving the scene and negligent driving.

Hit-and-runs often involve criminal charges in addition to civil charges. If you have been recently injured in a hit and run crash, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced lawyer.

Protecting the Rights of Hit-and-Run Victims

To find out how best to go about getting compensation for your injuries, call toll-free number (888) 208-1695 to schedule your FREE consultation with one of our attorneys today. The Boston personal injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group have more than 30 years of experience in fighting on the side of auto accident victims and their families.

A Lynn woman has been charged with vehicular homicide in regards to a September accident that killed a 20-year-old man and seriously injured his twin brother. Police cited “driver fatigue” in relation to the accident, local news outlets reported.

Driver fatigued was deduced from the woman’s cell phone activity in the 24-hour period prior to the accident.

According to police, the woman’s cell phone records, covering a 24-hour period, showed that her phone was actively used with only short periods of time where there was no activity, indicating that she was awake for long hours and as a result she would have been fatigued from lack of sleep.

Driver fatigue, or drowsy driving, can seriously impair a driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. This condition is fairly common and can result in serious auto accidents.

The driver’s charges in this case include motor-vehicular homicide by negligent operation and a crosswalk violation. The victims, twin brothers who suffered in the crash, were struck by a Hummer and were found lying on the pavement in front of their house. Both brothers were taken to Mass General Hospital with injuries. One brother succumbed to his injuries, while the other is recovering from injuries to his hips, ribs and a punctured lung.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), driver fatigue is responsible for roughly 40,000 injuries a year and more than 1,500 deaths.

Brought to you by Kiley Law Group, a Boston personal injury law firm specializing in auto accident cases, personal injury, child injury, defective auto parts accidents and medical malpractice. If you believe you have been wrongfully injured, call our toll-free number and schedule your consultation today. We offer FREE Consultations to injured victims and their families: 1-888-208-1695.

As of April 16, 2013, at least 176 individuals are injured and 3 killed, including an 8-year-old boy, as the result of two consecutive explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The blasts took place close to 2:45pm; approximately an hour after the first of the race’s runners – about 27,000 – crossed the finish line. The shock, chaos, and tragedy of these incidents are beyond words.

At the Kiley Law Group, we hope that you and your loved ones are safe. If you have not been able to reach a loved one yet, it is important to remain calm. Masslive.com posted the Red Cross Register or Search the Safe and Well Listings, which can be found at http://www.redcross.org/find-help/contact-family/register-safe-listing. In addition, the marathon’s official athlete tracking system is http://raceday.baa.org/individual.html. The American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts posted this message on Twitter: “If you can help us spread the word: Please let people know, whether through a call or on social media, that you’re safe.” You can follow them on Twitter at @RedCrossEastMA and the marathon’s official Twitter feed at @bostonmarathon.

According to CNN, the devastation at Copley Square near Boylston Street led to the evacuation of the Lenox Hotel. Cell phone service was shut down in Boston as a precaution in the event that activation of these devices could lead to additional explosions. Although an exact cause at this time has not been established, authorities suspect explosive devices are to blame. Officials in Boston as well as other cities in Massachusetts and in New York have enhanced security. Flights in and out of Boston may be delayed or postponed as a safeguard, and subway service into the area has been put on hold.

As more updates are released on the Boston Marathon bombing, the Kiley Law Group will keep readers posted. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and those who are recovering from serious injuries.