Richard Heartquist Faces Charges in Lawrence Hit and Run Crash

Richard Heartquist, 42, of Newburyport, faces serious charges for a hit and run accident that occurred two weeks ago in Lawrence, causing 35-year-old Michael Baglieri of Methuen to sustain head and leg injuries from the crash.

Heartquist, an attorney who has an office in North Andover, turned himself in to Lawrence Police on Monday of this week.  He was charged with obstruction of justice as well as leaving the scene of an accident that caused personal injury.  He maintained that he was not involved in the hit and run because he was with another woman when the accident occurred and not behind the wheel.

Authorities involved with the case state that Heartquist was driving his wife’s Chevrolet Avalanche when it hit Baglieri’s car on Merrimack Street in Lawrence on December 17 at about 11:30pm. 

Heartquist’s wife, Allison, told police that her husband took her vehicle to go to a Christmas party in Lawrence and that he informed her that he would be getting a ride home after it ended. 

The day following the accident, Heartquist reportedly told police that he had turned the Avalanche on in the parking lot near the party he was attending and left the keys in the ignition.  He then went to go meet up with the unidentified woman and that someone else had stolen the vehicle.  Police advised Heartquist to file a report if the vehicle was stolen.  Heartquist has not filed a stolen vehicle report.

In the police report, it was noted that Heartquist had a bruise on one of his hands and a cut above his left eye.

Heartquist was convicted of drunk driving back in Newburyport in 2005 and has had an expired driver’s license since July of this year. 

Hit and Run Statistics
Approximately 10% of car accidents that occur across the country are hit and run accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

Drivers who leave the scene of the accident may not have car insurance and believe that trying to get away will be better for them than if they face the consequences.  Another reason may be that the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol and may not even have realized they hit another car or simply don’t want to get caught.

When to Contact a Massachusetts Accident Attorney
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a hit and run accident, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire any lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Boston car accident attorneys of Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.  Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.

And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

Hairo Gomez Pleads Guilty in Fatal Staged Car Accident

Hairo Gomez, 33, formerly of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in connection to a staged car accident in which his 65-year-old grandmother, Altagracia Arias, died. Arias was a willing participant in the scheme, news reports said.

According to prosecutors, Gomez was driving one of the vehicles in the intentional crash in September 2003, as an attempt to defraud the insurance company.

Gomez will serve a sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison concurrently with a 5-year drug sentence he is serving in New Jersey. Upon his release, Gomez faces deportation to the Dominican Republic.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

Is Your Insurance Adjuster Withholding Money From Your California Injury Claim?

The following article is a guest post from the California personal injury lawyers at Bisnar & Chase.

Personal injury victims in California can become challenged with a number of stressful situations. Those who are injured may want to hire a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer. If you decide to negotiate your case, you will need to be prepared to battle it out with your insurance adjuster to receive a just settlement. 

One of the fatal misconceptions that a number of injury accident victims make is believing the insurance adjuster is on your side. This could not be further from the truth. An insurance adjuster is not on your side.  An adjuster will be awarded and in some cases promoted based on how much money he saves the company.  Every dollar an insurance company withholds from your settlement is another dollar of profit for the shareholders. 

In a perfect world, the insurance adjuster would happily give you a fair settlement for all of your damages.  Because an adjuster works on behalf of a for profit business, it is important to keep in mind that they are not there to help you. One of the adjuster's tricks is to act like they are your friend. An adjuster's act of being kind is just that, an act. 

Be careful what you tell your adjuster and how you communicate your message to him. An adjuster will sometimes record what you have said and use it against you later (sometimes out of context).

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Los Angeles car accident, it is important that you schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. A skilled lawyer can help you receive a fair settlement for your injury accident. Some of the best personal injury lawyers will offer free consultations. It is in your best interest to take full advantage of complimentary consultations offered by the knowledgeable personal injury lawyers.

This post has been provided as a public service by the personal injury lawyers at BISNAR | CHASE. If you have been catastrophically injured, in California, please contact our office for a free, no obligation consultation. We have helped more than 6,000 accident victims to recover hundreds of millions of dollars and would like to do the same for you. Contact one of our experienced Southern California personal injury lawyers by calling toll free at 1-800-561-4887.

Winter Weather Keeps Drivers Home and Off Roads

The blizzard that arrived yesterday afternoon and is still lingering in the area left us with a heavy blanket of snow to dig ourselves out of today.  Luckily, many people decided to stay at home for this storm, which resulted in few incidents and problems for the plows to face as they cleared the roadways across the state.

Just about a foot of snow has fallen in the Merrimack Valley region, with other parts of the state experiencing up to nearly 20 inches of snow. 

There was a power outage in Groveland when a tree fell on top of wires, leaving up to 300 houses without power at approximately 7:00am this morning.  Repair crews were fixing the wiring and were expected to have power back on before long.  Some homes in Boxford also experienced a power outage.

Houses in Norfolk and Plymouth counties saw significantly worse outages, leaving about 18,000 National Grid customers without power early this morning.  Around 11,000 NStar customers were also without power on the South Shore and Cape Cod.  Some coastal towns experienced flooding and affected homes were evacuated in the towns of Scituate, Quincy, and Rockport.  There still is a flood warning in effect along some of the Massachusetts coastline.

Overall, the roadways in the area of the Merrimack Valley have been kept in relatively good condition.  Back roadways and streets less traveled will require more attention from plows, but the main streets are being kept cleared. 

Governor Patrick announced yesterday that all nonessential state workers should stay at home today and private companies should try to keep their employees at home as well.  For those who are expected to report for work, they are being encouraged to take some form of public transportation for safety and to stay off of the roadways until the storm has completely moved out of the area.

Snow and ice conditions resulted in nearly 600 fatalities nationwide last year on the roadways.  Thankfully, many residents across the state decided to stay indoors during this snowstorm instead of out on the roadways. 

When Should You Contact a Massachusetts Auto Accident Attorney?
If you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts, and want to know if you have a case, call the Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group.

BEFORE you talk to an insurance adjustor, sign ANY forms or hire a lawyer, get a FREE copy of attorney Thomas M. Kiley’s Massachusetts accidents book.

For a free case evaluation call 1-800-410-2769.

Two Methuen Residents Injured in Prospect St Crash

Alain Ata, 26, and Tiffany Beeley, 25, of Methuen were injured in the single-car accident on Prospect Street around midnight.

 Police and paramedics were called to the scene after a car that had crashed into a telephone pole near 610 Prospect St.

According to police, Ata was driving Beeley’s 2001 Honda Civic south on Prospect St before it crashed into a telephone pole off the left lane.

Both occupants were found trapped in the badly damaged vehicle. Ata was rescued from the wreck relatively easy compared to Beelye’s rescue, which required a 2-hour effort and the use of the Jaws of Life.

Both victims suffered serious injuries and were taken to local hospitals. Ata was initially taken to Lawrence General Hospital and then airlifted to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, where he was listed in “good condition” this morning.

Beeley was also taken to Lawrence General Hospital at first, and then rushed by ambulance to Tufts Medical Center since weather conditions made it too dangerous to fly. She was listed in a critical condition at the ICU at Tufts.

It is not yet known what might have caused the accident.

Single Vehicle Accidents Statistics
There are more than six million motor vehicle accidents in the United States every year. Last year alone, 30,797 people lost their lives in traffic accidents, 593 in winter conditions, such as snow and sleet.

Liability Issues
In single-vehicle accidents, there could be several possible reasons for the crash. Alcohol, speeding, roadway conditions, winter conditions, or any combination of these can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle and go off the road.

This time of the year is especially dangerous, because of the ice and snow we have been seeing all across the state, limited visibility, increase in alcohol consumption due to the many holiday parties, traffic, distracted driving, driver inexperience, and so on.

While investigators are trying to determine the cause of the accident, we send our wishes for a speedy recovery to the two victims.

If you or someone in your family have been injured in a similar accident, BEFORE you sign any documents, talk to the insurance agency or hire an attorney, get this FREE BOOK about the 7 Fatal Mistakes injured victims do after their Massachusetts accident.

Call 1-800-410-2769 for a Free Legal Consultation with an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

Hit-and-Run Accidents in Massachusetts: A Troubling Trend?

This past week brought with it the first significant snowfall in Massachusetts, but it also included two prominent hit-and-run accidents. One of the accidents resulted in a fatality and the other caused the victim serious injury. Both drivers who are responsible for the separate hit and run accidents have not been identified yet by authorities.

Late last Friday night, tragedy struck a Seekonk family when their 18-year-old son, Jacob Mayo, was struck and killed by a driver on I-95 as he was walking in the breakdown lane. The driver fled the scene after striking the teenager and police are continuing to track down who is responsible for causing the fatal accident.

That same Friday night around 11:30pm, 35-year-old Michael Baglieri of Methuen was driving in Lawrence when he was struck by another vehicle and seriously injured, with a laceration to his forehead and back and leg injuries. The other driver allegedly ran out of the truck immediately after the impact and fled from the accident scene. Police in this case are working to determine who was behind the wheel when the hit and run occurred.

About 10% of all U.S. motor vehicle accidents are hit-and-run accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

One of the primary reasons drivers flee the scene of an accident that they have caused may be because they do not carry insurance. Another reason may be because they are driving drunk or under the influence of drugs and do not want to face the consequences.

In 2009 across the nation, about 4,100 pedestrians were struck and killed by a car. That same year, just under 50 pedestrians were struck and killed by a motor vehicle here in the Commonwealth.

Nearly 900 fatal accidents occurred in the U.S. last year on Friday nights, in between 9:00pm and 11:59pm.

Our thoughts are with both of the families affected by these hit-and-run accidents.

When to Contact a Massachusetts Car Accidents Lawyer
Have you been seriously injured in a Massachusetts hit-and-run accident due to someone else's recklessness? Want to know if you have a case? BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire any lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Boston personal injury law firm the Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases. Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.

And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

Tips for Safe Driving This Holiday Season

This time of year should bring us all lots of cheer, including festive parties to attend and friends and family to see. Unfortunately, alcohol can play a leading role on the roadways during these next few weeks. Throw a snowstorm in the mix and driving to and from your celebrations can take a treacherous turn. Inexperienced and elderly drivers may also have a more challenging time navigating through the snowy streets.

Last year in Massachusetts, 108 people were killed in car accidents where the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (or BAC) of more than .08. There were an additional 130 fatalities in car accidents across the state where the driver had a BAC of over .01. In the U.S. in 2009, there were approximately 600 fatal car accidents resulting from either snow or sleet. 

There were 77 people killed in Massachusetts car accidents last year, who ranged in age from 16 to 24, while 25 elderly drivers aged 74 and older died in fatal accidents in the Commonwealth the same year.

Now that the first snow has fallen in Massachusetts, it’s time to go over some tips on staying safe on the wintry roads during this holiday season.

• Be sure to check your car’s fluid levels (windshield washer fluid, anti-freeze)
• Clear your car of snow and ice as much as possible to prevent snow from flying off onto other cars
• Keep your windshield wipers completely cleared of snow and ice
• Try to keep your gas tank half-full during this season to account for heavy traffic delays
• If there are winter road advisories and you don’t have to go anywhere, try to just stay home
• Allow more space between your car and the car in front of you than you would under normal conditions
• Give yourself more time to come to a safe and complete stop on slippery roads
• Posted speed limits are for dry conditions only, not for snowy and icy conditions, so take it slow
• Bridges freeze quicker than other roadways, so take extra care
• Be aware of black ice
• Make sure your cell phone is charged with each trip or have a cell phone charger for your car
• Put together an emergency kit to keep in your car. This should include jumper cables, a spare tire, a shovel, flashlight, a heavy blanket, an ice scraper, and flares to warn other drivers
• Always choose a designated driver before your night begins

With these in mind, you should be well on your way to having a very merry holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

When to Contact a Massachusetts Car Accidents Lawyer
If you’ve been in a car accident during the holidays in Massachusetts due to someone else's recklessness, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire any lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Boston personal injury law firm the Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.  Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.

And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.