Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

Negligence is the failure to exercise the care toward others that a reasonable, prudent person would use under the same or similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another. There are four elements that must be proven to succeed in a claim of negligence: duty, breach, causation and damages. In sum, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed the plaintiff a legally recognized duty of care, and that the defendant breached that duty, causing the plaintiff harm.

Leander Stocks of D.C. was visiting the Maryland Live! Casino in Anne Arundel County back in 2013 when a night of fun and games suddenly took a turn for the worst. According to Stocks’s lawsuit, he was playing roulette around midnight on December 15, 2013 when a runaway ball struck him just above his left eye. Because the ball had been traveling at a high speed when it struck him, he suffered a sharp and immediate pain, followed by general disorientation. But he says this was only the first injury caused by casino employees that he experienced that night.

After the roulette incident, casino employees escorted Stocks to a private room where he could lay down. Without warning and without having asked for consent, a security guard began administering unidentified eye drops into Stocks’s eyes. According to Stocks’s lawsuit, this action amounted to a battery to his person and was a complete disregard for his right to be free from unwanted medical attention.

As reported by the Washington Business Journal, the unwanted eye drops caused Stocks to suffer blurred vision and increased pain. As a result, when he attempted to stand, he immediately fell forward striking his head against a hardwood door. He lost consciousness and was transported to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries. According to his lawsuit, he continues to suffer from “post-traumatic headaches.” He is seeking $150,000 in damages.

Have you or a loved one been injured as a result of the negligence of another? If so, please call 617-787-3700 today for your free and confidential consultation with one of our dedicated Massachusetts personal injury accident attorney specialists.

Personal injury accidents can arise from a number of facts and circumstances, including car accidents and slip and falls. No matter the cause, the consequences can be devastating and tragic. Personal injury victims often suffer from emotional trauma and financial burdens on top of the excruciating physical pain and suffering. Fortunately, Massachusetts personal injury law aims to compensate victims for these injuries by getting them the money they rightfully deserve.

South Haven, Michigan’s L.C. Mohr High School hosted an event on October 25, 2013 to congratulate the senior class for scoring higher on the ACT than the previous senior class. The celebratory event included a football throwing station and a sumo-wrestling station supervised by Army recruiters. In under an hour, the celebratory event turned tragic, as one student was rushed to a local hospital with a head and neck injury.

Seniors Shelby Frederick and Emma Bryzinski decided to try the sumo-wrestling station. They put on the large sumo-style suits and prepared to “wrestle” as their classmates gathered around to watch. Protective headgear came with the suits, but the Army recruiters in charge declined to use the headgear because it was “worn.” The recruiters allegedly failed to provide any instructions or warnings about how to perform the sumo-wrestling activity.

As Frederick waited for her friend to put on her suit, another classmate ran into Frederick causing her to fall off the mat. Fully suited up at the time, Frederick could not catch herself. She fell off the mat, and struck her head on the hardwood gym floor. She lost consciousness for about a minute. When she awoke, she was rushed to the South Haven Health System. There, she complained of a headache and neck pain. Doctors determined that she had suffered a skull fracture and a subdural hemorrhage.

Although Frederick was treated for her injuries, her symptoms persist even today. According to Michigan Live, Frederick has been diagnosed with anosmia, a neurological condition that results in a loss of smell and taste. As a result of her injury, Frederick has filed a lawsuit against the United States, arguing that the U.S. Army recruiters were negligent. According to her lawsuit, she will need a “smell buddy” and “food taster” for the rest of her life because of the dangers associated with loss of taste and smell. In addition, Frederick was prevented from participating in her senior year basketball season. As a college recruit, this missed opportunity has had the effect of limiting her college career prospects. She is seeking an unspecified amount in damages, as well as costs and attorney’s fees.

Injured in an accident caused by another’s negligence? Call 617-787-3700 today for your free and confidential consultation with one of our dedicated Boston, Massachusetts personal injury attorneys.