Londonderry Law Blog

The impact of attractiveness on relationship stability

On behalf of Solomon Law Firm posted in divorce on Friday, January 11, 2019.

Couples in New Hampshire in which one person is more attractive than the other may face a higher likelihood of divorce. An article in "Psychology Today" reports that according to multiple studies, disparity in attractiveness between couples can lead to a number of problems in the relationship.

One of those potential problems is the less attractive partner's jealousy toward the more attractive partner. Another study found that when women perceive themselves as more attractive than their partners, they are more likely to flirt and are less committed to the relationship. Despite this, yet another study reported that men who are in relationships with more attractive wives are happier than other men in relationships. They are also reportedly more engaged with their wives in helping them solve problems.

Children are more likely than adults to be bitten by a dog

On behalf of Solomon Law Firm on Sunday, January 6, 2019.

Late in 2018, a New Hampshire man was arrested after his dog, which was not properly licensed or vaccinated, bit a 13-year-old girl in the face while she visited the man’s apartment with her aunt. A local newspaper reported that the man was charged with having a nuisance animal, a misdemeanor offense, and was arrested for not cooperating with police. The injury did cause the teen to bleed, and she was taken to a local hospital, but the newspaper did not indicate if the injury will have permanent effects.

Children are especially vulnerable to dog bites

Real estate mistakes to avoid when getting divorced

On behalf of Solomon Law Firm posted in divorce on Friday, December 28, 2018.

New Hampshire residents who are facing divorce should remember there are several common real estate mistakes of which they should be mindful. For example, choosing not to sell the house right away can result in legal headaches further down the road.

Many couples try to put off selling their house because they know it will clue in nosy neighbors. Others put it off because of emotional attachments to the home or because they do not want to uproot their children. Some couples try to avoid these problems by having one person stay in the house. However, one individual keeping the home has its drawbacks. For example, the house may not be as affordable to someone with a single income. If the other spouse eventually wants to sell the home, the person living in it may be unwilling to move. If a divorce agreement does not carefully outline the responsibility of property and shared ownership, the spouse who leaves the house should be removed from the deed to prevent all future financial or legal liability in the event his or her ex has problems affording the home.

Reducing car occupant injury with external airbags

On behalf of Solomon Law Firm posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, December 14, 2018.

Car manufacturers, insurance companies, drivers and passengers are all interested in improving car safety and reducing occupant injury. This is one of the reasons why New Hampshire residents may be interested in learning about steps that auto manufacturers are taking in adding external air bags to vehicles.

The safety benefits that come from having internal airbags in vehicles have been well-documented. However, when traditional airbags were introduced to vehicles, there were some glitches that needed to be worked out. From time to time, airbags would activate without there being an automobile accident. Manufacturers are doing additional tests on external airbags to minimize the chances of this happening.

What is social host liability?

On behalf of Solomon Law Firm on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

When you attend a party at someone else’s house, you may wonder who is responsible if something goes wrong. In New Hampshire, social hosts have a duty to pay attention to how much alcohol a guest is drinking, and make sure that the person is old enough to drink under New Hampshire state law. The New Hampshire Supreme Court established this duty, called social host liability in the case Hickingbotham v. Burke. Peter M. Solomon and Thomas J. Corcoran successfully argued the case before the court in 1995.

Survey finds gap between doctors, nurses on capping hours

On behalf of Solomon Law Firm posted in medical malpractice on Monday, December 3, 2018.

Nurses and doctors in New Hampshire may have different opinions on whether surgeons and others giving operating room care should have their hours capped. A poll conducted by Medscape found that just 57 percent of physicians agreed with capping hours as a way to reduce the likelihood of medical errors. On the other hand, 87 percent of nurses believed that capping hours was a good idea. Similarly, 89 percent of nurses said that hours in the operating room for other medical professionals should also be capped, but only 62 percent of physicians agreed.

An editorial in favor of caps appeared in the Journal of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. The author of that editorial argued that transportation professionals who were responsible for the safety of others, such as train drivers and pilots, had their hours capped and that the same principle should be applied to physicians. However, physicians who resisted said that it was not possible to compare the professions. For example, pilots have copilots who can take over, but there may not be a physician available to take over in the operating room.

How to stay safe during winter construction work

On behalf of Solomon Law Firm posted in workers' compensation on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

Construction sites can become problematic in the winter months. New Hampshire companies and others should take steps to make them as safe as possible once the weather turns colder. For instance, it is a good idea to mark any areas that could not be filled in prior to the arrival of ice and snow. Any inclines should be covered with dirt, sand or other material to make them less slippery in the winter.

Scaffolding, ladders and other objects that a person may walk or climb on can become dangerous to use if covered by ice. If it is not possible to remove snow and ice, these objects should be considered off-limits to workers. Any restricted areas should be clearly marked to ensure that workers don't get hurt. If a person is expected to manually clear ice or snow, that person should be healthy enough to do so.

Number of states booting handheld devices in cars grows

On behalf of Solomon Law Firm on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

Everybody knows that texting and driving is unsafe. Years of public service announcements, news reports and statistics on accidents have resoundingly informed virtually the entire driving public of that fact. Nevertheless, many people still check their phones and other handheld devices while driving. However, new sets of laws are looking to quell that behavior even further.

Georgia has embraced a new ban on all handheld devices being used in cars. This differs from most states' positions, which ban texting alone. This statewide ban is expected to drop the number of accidents due to distracted driving significantly.

“Unintentional injury” is the nation’s leading cause of death

On behalf of Solomon Law Firm on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.

Conventional wisdom says that making better eating choices, exercising and maintaining a positive attitude are simple ways individuals can keep their bodies in working order. While this may keep a person healthy, it is not the biggest danger adults and young adults are facing.

It has been publicized for years that ailments like heart disease, diabetes and illnesses are the leading causes of death in The United States. While these are certainly national concerns, new data shows that avoidable illness is no longer the greatest danger in the nation; unintentional injury is.