Massachusetts Personal Injury And Workers' Compensation Blog

A new OSHA rule aims to heighten transparency for work-related injuries. The agency has changed employer reporting requirements for workplace accidents.

Over the past decade, most drivers have come to recognize the significant dangers posed by distracted driving. Indeed, no matter whether someone is using his cell phone, adjusting his GPS device or chatting with passengers while behind the wheel, any activity that causes a driver to remove his attention from the road can cause serious car accidents. Despite the widespread nature of distracted driving behaviors, the general belief is that younger drivers are more likely to engage in activities that render them a hazard. New data shows, however, that the incidence of distracted driving is increasing among older drivers.

In February WPRI reported that a construction worker in Swansea needed emergency assistance after a dock collapsed on top of him. The man, who was taken to a nearby hospital, was apparently in the process of building the structure and the cause of the accident, as well as his overall condition, was unknown.

Like anywhere in the United States, distracted driving is a safety issue in Worcester County and plays a major role in car accidents and near-accidents in Worcester, Fitchburg and Boston. Even Massachusetts and many other states have laws against distracted driving behaviors, drivers continue to text and use handheld cellphones while behind the wheel. Therefore, the federal government may be getting into the mix to further encourage drivers to put their cellphones down when driving.