Boston, MA Motor Vehicle Accidents Blog

A new study by Texas A&M University's Texas Transportation Institute confirms a growing consensus regarding a major problem on our nation's roads: texting while driving.

The study's novel approach employed drivers in real-world rather than simulated conditions. Forty-two drivers, ages 16 to 54, drove an 11-mile test track while either sending or receiving text messages. Researchers measured their reaction times to flashing signals. The drivers then drove the track again with their focus only on the road.

Heart disease is a continuing problem in America; a problem that is becoming more prevalent as baby boomers reach the age of 65. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 26.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with some form of cardiovascular disease, whether it be coronary heart disease (CHD) or congestive heart failure (CHF). Health care advocates have long stated that heart disease is a disabling, yet preventable, condition that will plague our society and lead to higher medical costs in the long run.

Those currently dealing with heart disease may qualify for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI benefits) if they fit certain criteria. Essentially, the disability must be one which severely limits one's ability to perform basic living functions, such as bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed, grooming and eating. Qualifying disabilities are those that have existed (or are expected to exist) for 12 months or more.

Many people believe they will not be able to get credit after filing for bankruptcy. This is one of the many bankruptcy myths out there. While a bankruptcy will appear on your credit report, it will not be there forever. Furthermore, there are steps that you can take to improve your credit score after bankruptcy.

If you are in debt, Boston bankruptcy lawyers are ready to help you decide what your next steps should be. Bankruptcy may be the right choice to start anew and begin building your more positive financial future.

As any motorist in Massachusetts knows, many people drive while using cell phones. In fact, at any moment, 11 percent of drivers are using a cell phone on Massachusetts' roads.

Yet, the merge of technology and driving goes far beyond texting while driving and other cell phone use. A recent Detroit Free Press story noted, "Wireless technology, Smartphone apps and computer operating systems for cars have opened a virtual faucet of infotainment and well-meaning features."

Gone are the days of a radio and speedometer being the only distractions on the dashboard. Now, GPS/navigation systems with back-up cameras, Smartphones with internet connections, and display screens with DVD players can all be installed in a car.

On July 28, 2011, an SUV rollover accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike took the life of a 15-year old boy and injured four 17-year old girls. The boy was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The SUV he was riding in rolled over three times, partially ejecting the boy from the vehicle.

This Massachusetts Turnpike accident underscores multiple safety issues that SUV rollover accident lawyers often see when litigating accident cases.

Lawmakers are working on legislation that Massachusetts divorce lawyers believe will make determining alimony / spousal support easier. The proposal, termed the Alimony Reform Act of 2011, could completely alter how alimony payments are determined in the Commonwealth. The new law sets forth three categories of maintenance payments and establishes guidelines for how long such payments should last.

General term alimony would entail regular payments to an economically dependent former spouse. A distressed spouse would receive rehabilitative alimony if he or she is expected to eventually become financially independent. Finally, reimbursement alimony would be paid to a spouse in a short-term marriage, or to a spouse who helped pay for the other spouse's education.

June is National Safety month, sponsored by the National Safety Council. The month is devoted to alerting the public to safety issues, with a new issue highlighted each week. This week, the focus was on preventing slip and falls and trip and falls.

According to the National Safety Council, more than 8.6 million people are significantly injured in falls each year. Injuries span from bruises and broken bones to severe spinal cord injury, brain injury and even death. Slip-and-fall accidents / trip-and-fall accidents can happen anywhere: at a grocery store, on a construction site, at water parks, on a public sidewalk, on someone's private property, and elsewhere.

Studies demonstrate that medical debt is a significant contributor to bankruptcy, causing an estimated one-quarter to more than one-half of the nation's bankruptcies. Recently, two studies analyzed how Massachusetts' mandatory insurance law impacted medical debt and bankruptcies in the state, seeking to determine whether mandatory health insurance lowered the rate of personal bankruptcies (Chapter 7 bankruptcies and Chapter 13 bankruptcies) caused by medical debt.

Massachusetts' Health Insurance Law

In 2006, Massachusetts became the first state to mandate individual health insurance for its residents, four years before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Obama in 2010.

Changes to Massachusetts' insurance law included:

• Fines for individuals without health insurance
• Subsidized health insurance for low-income individuals
• Expanded Medicaid coverage

Health Insurance and Bankruptcy Study #1

The first study of the impact of mandatory health insurance on bankruptcies was performed by a doctorate candidate in economics at the University of Illinois, Sarah Miller. The unpublished research found that the number of personal bankruptcies declined as more Massachusetts residents obtained health insurance.

Between 2006 and 2009, Massachusetts counties with the highest rates of uninsured residents experienced a 20 percent drop in bankruptcies when compared to counties outside the state with similar rates of uninsured residents. There were no significant changes in unemployment or the number of business bankruptcies during the same period, suggesting that the reduction in personal bankruptcies was not caused by improvements in the economy.

In addition, when the number of households eligible for Medicaid increased by 10 percentage points, the number of personal bankruptcies decreased by 8 percent.

Study #2

However, the second study found no significant change in the number of bankruptcies caused by medical debt after Massachusetts' mandatory health insurance law was enacted. In their report in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers David Himmelstein, Deborah Thorne and Steffie Woolhandler wrote that health insurance reform "did little to upgrade existing coverage or reduce costs, leaving many of the insured with inadequate financial protection."

After reviewing court records and bankruptcy surveys, Himmelstein, Thorne and Woolhandler found that the number of personal bankruptcies caused by illness or medical debt actually increased in Massachusetts between 2007 and 2009. In 2007, 7,504 bankruptcies were caused by medical debt, while in 2009, 10,093 bankruptcies were caused by medical debt.

For their study, Himmelstein, Thorne and Woolhandler classified a bankruptcy as caused by medical debt if the individual who filed for bankruptcy:

• Reported that illness or medical bills caused the bankruptcy
• Reported that he or she or a spouse lost at least two weeks of income to personal illness or a family member's illness
• Had medical debt of at least $5,000 or greater than 10 percent of his or her income
• Used mortgages to pay for medical care

These studies are inconclusive as to whether Massachusetts' mandatory health insurance law has reduced the cost of medical care or decreased the number of personal bankruptcies caused by medical debt in the state.

For people struggling with overwhelming medical debt, though, filing for bankruptcy may be the key to getting back on their feet.

Source: Massachusetts, Reform and Bankruptcy