PERSONAL INJURIES FROM CAR, WORKSITE, DANGEROUS PRODUCT, and FIRE ACCIDENTS

We advocate for victims of automobile accidents, workplace accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and fall accidents and injuries from fires and defective products. Our clients have been fairly compensated for medical expenses, missed work, and pain and suffering resulting from back injuries, head injuries, shoulder injuries, fractures,and burn injuries.  We encourage you to review some of our cases.

"Neil was a student of mine in the criminal clinic at Antioch School of Law. He was well versed in the law, put his clients at ease, and was thoroughly prepared at trial. He won his first trial, under my direction, as a result of a shrewd cross examination of the prosecutor's witness. He won his second trial, with a full jury, after cross examining two police officers and presenting 4 witnesses. I would recommend Neil as counsel to potential clients seeking aggressive representation on important cases."

Shelley Broderick, DeanUniversity of the District of ColombiaDavid A. Clarke School of Law

PERSONAL INJURIES FROM CAR, WORKSITE, DANGEROUS PRODUCT, and FIRES ACCIDENTS : SAMPLE CASES

"Wrongful Death"

$1,500,000.00 Awarded for Wrongful Death

On February 9, 2003, Mrs. J was found dead as a result of the negligence of the defendant.  Her family retained the Law Office of Neil Burns.  We probated her estate and filed suit for wrongful death against the defendants.  As a result of the lawsuit, an award was made in the amount of $1,500,000.00 plus interest and costs.

See Essex Superior Court Civil Action Number 052227

Delivery- Man Negligence: Compensation for Back and Shoulder Injuries

Our client bought a washing machine. The delivery man arrived without a helper. He asked our client to "just guide it" around a corner step. Unfortunately, the delivery man failed to secure the machine onto the dolly and while going around the step the machine fell off the dolly and onto our client. Our client suffered a back injury and underwent microsurgery at the New England Baptist Hospital. However, he still had to undergo the surgery, so we felt he was deserving of compensation. At this point we started running into obstacles -- the appliance company went into bankruptcy, the delivery man testified that he did not remember the incident, and the insurance company considered denying coverage as the vehicle used for delivery was not a company vehicle. Determined to advocate successfully for our client we took depositions of everyone who worked at the store and the president of the company. As a result of the strong evidence secured, the case was settled, for $173,000.00 at mediation three months before trial.

See Folly v. Appliance Outlet, Norfolk Superior Court Docket Number 2001-01942.

Trolley Accident: Reimbursement for Back and Shoulder Injuries

Ms. Guerrier was a passenger on an MBTA trolly traveling from Ashmont to Mattapan Station. The trolley became dysfunctional. A second trolley came along. The driver of the second trolley, a student driver and his instructor, attempted to hook up the two trolleys, to push the first trolley into Mattapan. A third trolley came along, struck the second trolley, jolting the third trolley, knocking Ms. Guerrier onto the floor.

She was taken to the hospital by ambulance and treated for cervical and lower back pain, and contusions to the right shoulder and pelvis. She was released that night but went back to the hospital two days later with an acute urinary tract infection. Her injuries were compounded by a subsequent pregnancy. In a report certified by her doctor and entered into evidence at trial, Ms. Guerrier suffered a back sprain as a result of the trauma and required the use of a back brace.

The MBTA denied responsibility. They said they were not certain Ms. Guerrier was on the trolley. The driver of the first trolley testified that the jolt was nominal, however, on cross examination admitted that others were taken to the hospital - including the driver of the third trolley.

We won the trial for Ms. Guerrier before a District Court judge. The MBTA appealed the case to the Superior Court for a trial by jury. The jury doubled the judge's findings.

See Suffolk Superior Court Civil Action Number 886725.
See Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, July 23, 1990.

Mall Accident: Compensation for Shoulder Injury due to fall

Ms. Neves was shopping with her daughter at the North Dartmouth Mall. She tripped on an incline in the floor inside the mall, in front of Victoria Secrets, tearing the rotator cuff in her shoulder, requiring surgery. The owners of the mall refused to negotiate with her first attorney. Her second attorney filed suit but did not pursue the case. We were retained and aggressively prosecuted the case: we immediately brought in an expert. The expert, an engineer, went to the mall and measured the inclines at the locus where Ms. Neves fell. The engineer, through testing, determined that the mall floor pitched in multiple directions and was dangerous. Next, we spent days searched through all of the mall records for accidents. As a result of our focused research, we were prepared to introduce into evidence other similar incidents. The opposing attorney knew we had built a strong case, and settled on the courthouse steps on the day of trial.

See Bristol Superior Court Civil Action Number B98-0658.

Accident due to Dangerous Product: Compensation for Burn Injuries

A man in his 60's went to a neighborhood auto mechanic to have a thermostat put in his van. It was so cold the proprietor invited him in to warm up. A negligently maintained gas heater caused our client's pants to catch on fire, resulting in burns on his legs and hands. We knew that obtaining photographs of the heater was critical to the case. However, most people don't let people take photographs of their premises when they know there has been an accident. Determined to win, we aggressively sent an investigator to photograph the heater and the photographs prompted the insurance company to compensate our client within 18 months.

See Wormley v. Robinson, Suffolk Superior Court Civil Action Number 2000-03282.