New Hampshire Injury Lawyer Blog

Electric Scooter and E-Bike Battery Hazards are Resulting in Many Fatalities

Published on: August 21, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

As technology develops, new products continually hit the market and increase consumer convenience. The rising popularity of electronic scooters and e-bikes has resulted in a boom in sales for such products. Unfortunately, safety regulations lag behind technological advancements, and people across the eastern seaboard are facing dangerous consequences from the lack of proper regulation. A national newspaper recently published an article discussing two deaths in New York City that have been attributed to defective or misused batteries that exploded and caused a fire in an apartment building.

According to the facts discussed in the recently published report, the scooter owner was a parks department employee who used his electric scooter to commute to work. The scooter, which he left in the doorway of his apartment to charge, apparently burst into flames and trapped the occupants. Four dogs and two people perished in the fire, and the owner of the scooter was critically injured. The article states that the housing authority has attributed the fire to the lithium-ion batteries that are used to power the scooter, and that five people have died from battery fires in NYC this year alone.

E-bikes and scooters have exploded in popularity in recent years, but consumers should be cautious when purchasing and using one. Many cheap imported models may be desirable based on the price point, but they are not always certified to be safe. If an imported scooter or bike is defective and causes some sort of harm, it may be difficult for the victim to seek recourse if it was purchased through a third party online and the manufacturer does not directly do business in the United States.

Accident Injures New Hampshire Family, Kills Son

Published on: August 14, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

Car crashes of any type can upend and disrupt families’ and victims’ lives, work, and finances. But when an entire family is killed or injured in an accident, the fallout can be catastrophic. While many families can lean on friends, family, and the community for help in this trying and devastating time, often the resulting financial strain can be too much to bear.

According to a recent article, a New Hampshire family is suffering and grieving after being involved in a three-car collision in Albany. An 8-year-old son passed away in the crash, while his 11-year old brother and both parents were seriously injured. Police are investigating the accident, and not much is publicly known. A Ford F550 collided with the Kia belonging to the family, which then collided with a Volvo. According to a GoFundMe page posted by friends of the family, the mother suffered a broken arm and pelvis, the father is recovering from nearly all of his ribs being crushed, and the surviving son suffered a broken ankle.

Navigating New Hampshire Wrongful Death Claims

Although financial damages do very little to repair grieving families, those who are injured and emotionally drained should be able to navigate this time without financial distress. Unlike other states, any person interested in the estate of the deceased may file a wrongful death claim in New Hampshire, so long as the death was caused by an individual or person acting carelessly.

Semi-Truck Driver Acquitted of Criminal Charges for Accident that Killed Seven Motorcyclists

Published on: August 11, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

The criminal trial of Volodymyr Zhukovskyy has been closely followed for the past two weeks in New Hampshire and nationwide. Mr. Zhukovskyy was charged with 7 counts of homicide after the semi-truck he was driving crashed head-on into a group of motorcyclists in June 2019 in Randolph, Rhode Island, and resulted in 7 deaths. According to a national news report, the jury released a verdict after the two-week long trial, and they found Mr. Zhukovskyy not guilty of all charges.

According to the facts discussed in the news report, prosecutors alleged that Mr. Zhukovskyy was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash and that his impairment and unsafe driving caused the crash. The defendant had one commercial driving license suspended in Connecticut two months before the crash for drunk driving. Although notice of the incident was sent to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, it had not been processed at the time, and Mr. Zhukovskyy was operating his vehicle with a valid Massachusetts commercial driving license at the time of the crash.

Defense attorneys argued that he was not impaired by any drugs at the time of the crash, and pointed to conflicting witness testimonies to place doubt on the prosecution’s theory of the case. It was unclear whether the motorcyclists for the defendant had crossed over the centerline before the crash. Because of this, the prosecution was unable to prove their case to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt, and Mr. Zhukovskyy will be released from custody.

Woman Charged with DUI After Fatal North Hampton Crash

Published on: July 29, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

People may assume that the risk presented by drunk drivers in New Hampshire is only something to be worried about at night. The truth is that intoxicated drivers can be present on our state’s roads at all hours of the day and night. A recent fatal accident involving a Massachusetts woman driving a BMW who struck and killed a motorcyclist in broad daylight appears to be alcohol-related, as the New Hampshire State Police recently announced DUI charges against the driver of the BMW.

According to a Boston-area news report discussing the accident, the woman driving the BMW failed to yield the right of way to the motorcyclist at an intersection and struck the man with her vehicle. Police and a fire department crew responded to the scene of the accident, and the motorcyclist was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead as a result of the trauma suffered in the crash. The driver of the BMW, who also had a minor in her car at the time of the crash, was arrested and charged with DUI and child endangerment crimes.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating drugs is a serious offense, and it puts the intoxicated driver, their passengers, and other motorists in real danger. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists are placed in even more danger by the nature of their vehicles. The criminal penalties for drunk driving in New Hampshire can be quite severe, especially for aggravated or subsequent offenses. Criminal punishment is not always enough to compensate an accident victim for their loss. New Hampshire drivers who choose to operate their vehicles while intoxicated open themselves up to serious civil liability in the event that they hurt someone in a crash.

Bicyclist Struck on New Hampshire Roadside and Airlifted to Local Hospital

Published on: July 26, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

New Hampshire is known for its quaint country roads and scenic drives, however many of these roads can be dangerous to drivers, and especially to pedestrians and bicyclists. The narrow, tree-lined roads that are so desirable for leisurely driving have not always been designed and maintained to maximize safety. A bicyclist traveling on Route 103 near Sunapee, NH was recently injured when he was hit by a car that veered into the breakdown lane near a curve in the road.

According to a local news report describing the crash, witnesses saw a man walking his bicycle on the side of Route 103 near Sunapee, when a vehicle approached from the rear and left the travel lane, striking the bicyclist and sending his body over a guardrail. Witnesses stopped to offer aid to the bicyclist, and authorities were called to the scene. According to the article, the bicyclist was treated at the scene and eventually airlifted to a local hospital by a medical helicopter.

Drivers who are traveling on narrow roads with limited visibility have a responsibility to use extra care when navigating corners and making other traffic maneuvers in order to prevent pedestrians and bicyclists from being injured on the roadside. A driver who fails to adjust their driving habits to road conditions could be held accountable in the event of an accident, even if they were otherwise following all of the traffic laws. If a bicyclist is traveling on the roadway or in the breakdown lane, it is the responsibility of a passing driver to ensure that they can safely execute the maneuver before starting to pass a cyclist. Any bicyclist or pedestrian who has been injured in a New Hampshire crash may have a claim for damages against the other drivers involved. The bodily injury liability auto insurance coverage that is mandatory for drivers in New Hampshire to have does cover injuries caused to bicyclists or pedestrians in accidents that are the fault of the policyholder. This means that any bicyclist or pedestrian who has been injured by an insured driver should be able to seek compensation by making a personal injury claim.

New Hampshire Car Accidents on the Fourth of July

Published on: July 10, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

The Fourth of July is a favorite summer-time holiday for many. Fireworks, BBQs, and spending time with friends and family are staples for many over the Fourth of July weekend. However, so too is drinking, which means that the roads during this time have a high concentration of drunk drivers.

In fact, the Fourth of July is one of the most dangerous holidays for drunk driving. Several studies have shown that the 4th of July sees the highest number of drunk drivers on the road. Thus, it is essential for anyone who drives over the holiday to take extra precautions and remain especially vigilant.

Of course, even the most careful drivers cannot avoid every accident. This is especially the case with New Hampshire DUI accidents. Drunk drivers are often irrational and unpredictable, meaning there may be little to no opportunity to avoid a collision. Those who are injured in a New Hampshire DUI accident can pursue a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

Damages in a New Hampshire DWI Accident

Published on: June 26, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

Drunk driving accident fatalities have steadily declined in the US over the past few decades; however, the numbers remain startlingly high. Especially concerning is that preliminary studies revealed an increase in drunk drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when fewer drivers were on the road. Despite widespread public knowledge about impaired driving, New Hampshire is one of the only states with more DUI arrests in 2019 compared to 2010.

Notwithstanding extensive efforts by safety advocates, politicians, and lobbyists, driving while intoxicated remains one of the top related factors for drivers involved in fatal accidents. The other contributing factors include speeding, failure to yield, improper lane usage, and distracted driving.

Pursuing Compensation After a New Hampshire Drunk Driving Accident

After a New Hampshire drunk driving accident, the at-fault party can face serious civil and criminal penalties. Generally, three types of damages are available after a favorable New Hampshire personal injury lawsuit. These damages include:

Economic,
Non-economic, and
Enhanced compensatory.

Escaped Convict Struck and Killed on New Hampshire Turnpike

Published on: June 20, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

Auto-pedestrian accidents are some of the most deadly types of motor vehicle incidents that occur on New Hampshire roads. Drivers may struggle to see pedestrians near the roadway, especially at night, and when pedestrians are struck by a moving vehicle, the damage can be catastrophic. A man who had walked out of a minimum-security corrections facility in New Hampshire earlier this month was struck by a car and killed while walking on a New Hampshire turnpike.

According to the facts discussed in a local news report coving the crash, the deceased man had walked away from a minimum-security transitional housing unit that was operated by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections. The man had been listed as escaped by the Department of Corrections for about a week when they received word of the crash. The man had been walking on the side of the Everett Turnpike in Nashua when he was struck by a driver and killed. The turnpike where the man was hit is not designed for pedestrian traffic, and pedestrians are not allowed to walk on the side of the road where the accident occurred.

Determining fault and financial liability for auto-pedestrian accidents can be a complicated endeavor in New Hampshire. Certain accidents are black-and-white, as one of the people involved was obviously responsible for the crash. In situations where both parties may have been negligent, New Hampshire law allows for the liability to be divided among the parties based on their portion of fault. New Hampshire practices comparative negligence law, which means that an accident victim is entitled to compensation for the proportion of the other driver’s fault. Unlike other states, this rule applies even in situations where the victim is substantially more at fault than the other driver.

Tractor-Trailer involved in Fatal Crash in New Hampshire

Published on: June 10, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

Large trucks have a history of being involved in some of the most deadly crashes across the country. Large trucks may include any medium or heavy truck with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019 there were 5,005 people killed in crashes involving large trucks. NHSTA also reported that seventy-one percent of people killed in large-truck crashes in 2019 were occupants of other vehicles.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted a large truck crash causation study that involved examining the reasons for serious crashes involving large trucks. Motor vehicle crashes are complex and various elements may influence the occurrence of a crash. These elements may include fatigue, alcohol or drug consumption, speeding, and distracted driving, to name a few. There may also be environmental factors that lead to a crash, as well as driver miscalculation and human error. The causation study found 10 top factors for large trucks and passenger vehicles (a car, pickup truck, van, or sport utility vehicle), which included: interruption of traffic flow, unfamiliarity with the roadway, inadequate surveillance, driving too fast for conditions, illegal maneuver, inattention, fatigue, illness, false assumption of other road user’s actions, and distraction by object or person inside the vehicle.

In a recent news report, one person died after a car accident involving a sedan and tractor-trailer on a highway in New Hampshire. The crash was reported around 11:30 pm on Interstate 95 in Greenland, New Hampshire. According to the news report, the sedan was parked along the right travel lane with its lights on when it was struck by the tractor-trailer. The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 25-year-old male, did not sustain any injuries as a result of the crash. The driver of the sedan had been declared dead upon arrival at the scene. No charges have been filed against the driver of the tractor-trailer, and it is not suspected that the crash was a result of speeding or alcohol.

Single-Vehicle Accident in New Hampshire Leads to Fatality

Published on: May 31, 2022 | By Peter Thompson & Associates

Many people imagine a car accident as a collision involving two or more cars. But on many occasions, car accidents may take place with only one vehicle involved, and these single-vehicle car accidents can still result in serious injury or death. There are numerous reasons why these single-vehicle accidents occur. For example, a driver may accidentally crash into an object while swerving to avoid hitting another vehicle or pedestrian. A driver may also lose control over the vehicle, or hit an object on or near the road. In some cases, what caused the single-vehicle accident may be easy to identify, while in others it may be more difficult to identify.

According to a recent news report, one woman is dead after an accident involving one vehicle. A 70-year-old driver was behind the wheel of an SUV that accelerated in reverse, ramming into the spot where a greenhouse employee was standing. The employee was killed in the car accident. At this time, the 70-year-old driver is not facing charges. Two others were injured in the crash, including a 57-year-old man and an 8-year-old girl, both of whom were taken to the hospital.

It is common for the driver to be found at fault for a single-vehicle car accident. But in some instances, the driver may not be found at fault, such as when it is found that their vehicle was defective or if the driver was attempting to avoid an accident with a reckless driver, for example. In addition, some car accidents lead to drivers facing criminal charges, and those may include (but are not limited to) when the driver is found to have been driving under the influence or driving recklessly or when there is a hit-and-run.