On Sunday, December 15th, several store employees at Aubuchon Hardware in Cohasset, MA found themselves jumping for safety when a 51 year old woman crashed through the front window of their store. McGurl, the woman operating the vehicle, was using a homemade extender taped to the gas petal of her car which she couldn’t reach due to her height. McGurl said she had been using this homemade device (a block of wood and duct tape), for several months. While attempting to back up, McGurl hit the accelerator by accident and crashed through the front of the store into the checkout counter. There was substantial damage to the property and merchandise. Thankfully, nobody was injured in the accident, but McGurl will be summoned to court to answer to the charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
A charge of negligent operation is applied when the driver endangers any person or the public by operating the car in a reckless or unreasonable way. A person can be charged with negligent operation even if they were not involved in an accident. Even if there is no one else on the road, a driver who operates his vehicle in a way that could potentially cause an accident or endanger anyone can still be found guilty of negligent operation. Unfortunately, it is more likely that a negligent driver will be involved in an accident in Massachusetts and that someone will be injured as a result. Though the most common form of negligent operation is drunk driving, a driver does not need to be intoxicated to drive negligently. Other examples of this type of negligence include speeding, tailgating, driving while exhausted, angry, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and inattention. If you are the victim of an accident caused by a negligent driver, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages, and the resulting medical costs.
Many times, the cost of treating your injuries will far exceed the coverage you receive from your insurance. In addition, your insurance cannot pay your lost wages. You will need to file a claim for your injuries against the negligent parties. At Altman & Altman LLP, our experienced lawyers have successfully handled hundreds of claims like yours. We handle each case with personal attention and can arrange a home appointment with you if you are too injured to visit our offices. Our lawyers will investigate the accident scene, retain auto accident reconstruction experts, and examine all physical evidence. We will work with medical experts to evaluate your injuries and estimate all medical costs, and we will prepare your case for financial recovery.
To schedule your free consultation with Altman & Altman LLP, call 617. 492.3000 or 800.481.6199 (toll free), or contact us online. Our personal injury lawyers are available to speak with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our law firm is conveniently located in Cambridge, and night, weekend, home, and hospital visits are always available. We take no fee unless successful.