Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A Boston bus accident sent 15 people to the hospital on Saturday night, the Boston Herald reported.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Morton Street and Gallivan Boulevard when authorities say a van collided with the MBTA bus. Police say the van's driver will be cited for failure to observe traffic signals.

Four people in the van -- including an adult and three children -- were among the injured. While 11 people on the bus, including the driver, were transported to the hospital with injuries.

The accident occurred in front of the Boston Firehouse at about 6:30 p.m.

Emergency workers said the injuries included broken bones, neck and back pain and cuts, bumps and bruises.

ABC5 reported the minivan's driver was cited after colliding with the side of the bus.

An emergency responder told Channel 7 News that the intersection is confusing and the frequent site of Boston car accidents.

Continue reading "Boston bus accident sends 15 to the hospital " »

Authorities are urging motorists to use caution and practice safe driving habits in an effort to reduce serious and fatal Massachusetts car accidents over the long Memorial Day weekend.

Holiday travel is expected to increase this weekend, despite higher gas prices, Mass Live reported. AAA expects nearly 1.5 million New Englanders will hit the road over the Memorial Day weekend, up from the 1.37 million travelers on the roads last year.

Nationwide, 32.1 million motorists are expected to make a trip at least 50 miles from home, compared to 30.5 million a year ago. Gas prices are at $2.82 a gallon, compared to $2.39 a gallon last year. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation reports the heaviest traffic is expected in the late afternoon and early evening on Thursday, Friday and Monday.

While New Year's often gets the attention when it comes to serious and fatal accidents, the trio of summer holidays -- Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day -- are often among the most fatal.

Of particular concern will be preventing Massachusetts drunk driving accidents over the holiday weekend and law enforcement will be out in force looking for drunk drivers and other violations. Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of fatal Massachusetts car accidents. In 2008, nearly 4 in every 10 fatal accidents in Massachusetts involved a drunk driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 153 of the state's 363 traffic fatalities involved a driver under the influence.

Nationwide fatal Holiday traffic accidents

New Year's: 141

Memorial Day: 370

Fourth of July: 437

Labor Day: 423

Thanksgiving: 439

Christmas: 364

Continue reading "Memorial Day weekend a dangerous time for Massachusetts car accidents" »

Over the coming weeks, the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Glassman will look at some of the most common causes of serious and fatal Massachusetts car accidents and traffic accidents nationwide.

In truth, few accidents are really accidents. Distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and other poor driving habits usually contribute to serious or fatal car accidents in Massachusetts. As a veteran Massachusetts injury lawyer and Boston wrongful death attorney, Jeffrey S. Glassman is frequently called to represent families who are struggling to cope in the wake of a serious or fatal traffic accident.

We hope you will take some time to review safe driving habits with your family, particularly young drivers, and that you will check back often for updates.

-Massachusetts drunk driving accidents killed 153 of the 363 motorists who died on our roads in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

-Ten people were killed in Massachusetts bicycle accidents, although the Boston Globe recently reported more than 800 are injured each year.

-Forty-one people died in Massachusetts motorcycle accidents.

-Seventy-five people were killed in Massachusetts pedestrian accidents.

In the coming weeks we will review some of the common causes of accidents in Massachusetts, including:

-Distracted Driving
-Drunk Driving
-Aggressive Driving
-Speeding
-Intersection Crashes
-Rear-end Collisions
-Drowsy Driving
-Motorcycle Accidents
-Pedestrian Accidents
-Bicycle Accidents
-Trucking Accidents
-Red-light Violations
-Driving in inclement weather
-Teen Driving
-Elderly Drivers
-Driving in Parking Lots
-Commuting and Freeway Driving

Together, we can reduce the chances that you and your family will face the struggles that often accompany a serious traffic accident.

Continue reading "Safe driving series to examine common causes of Massachusetts traffic accidents" »

A Cape Cod teenager accused in connection with a fatal hit-and-run Massachusetts car accident that killed a woman in a wheelchair, appeared in court in handcuffs on Monday, ABC5 reported.

The girl was captured by police at the Rosewood Motel in Wareham on Saturday, where police say she had been hiding since walking away from Barnstable District Court on Friday.

As we reported recently on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, authorities continue to battle serious and fatal car accidents involving teenagers.

In this case, the young woman was charged with motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. She is being held on $500,000 bail. She is accused of striking and fatally injuring a 47-year-old woman crossing the street in a motorized wheelchair.

The defendant will be back in court on June 9. Two other defendants were charged with helping the teenager escape. The girl fled from her initial court arraignment on Friday.

The Boston Globe reported that police found the teen's car at the Rosewood Motel, where she reportedly ran into the woods.

Police searched the woods using K-9 dogs for about half an hour before spotting the defendant near a golf course. She attempted to flee again but was quickly taken into custody.

CNN reports that cities named by Bicycle Magazine as some of the most bike-friendly in the nation are also among the metropolitan areas experiencing the biggest challenges in the relationship between cyclists and motorists.

As we reported last month on our Boston Injury Attorney Blog, the high number of Boston bicycle accidents continues to trouble authorities. The Boston Globe reported there were 700 bicycle accidents in the city in 2008. Boston ranked 8th on Bicycle Magazine's top cycling cities in America.

Nationwide, more than 700 cyclists were killed and 52,000 injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

CNN points to differences in attitude even within the Boston area, where motorists in Brookline and Cambridge are typically more considerate of cyclists, while the South Boston attitude stops just short of war.

Cyclists see the Critical Mass rides -- which occur the last Friday of each month -- as riders coming together to promote cycling rights and awareness.

Some drivers, as CNN reports, see them as "nothing more than spandex wearing, stop-sign-running Lance Armstrong wannabes who slow traffic."

But it's important to note that attempting to teach a cyclist a lesson is a very bad idea. Most riders are responsible and are very aware of how dangerous cycling can be. Massachusetts cycling accidents frequently lead to very serious or fatal injuries for the cyclist and serious civil liability and even criminal charges for an at-fault motorist.

The popularity of cycling continues to increase. More than 18 million bikes are sold each year, according to the National Sporting Goods Association and about 1 in 4 adults ride at least once each summer. More than 6 percent of commuters ride to work -- up 600 percent from the 1 percent reported a decade ago.

Continue reading "Boston bicycle accidents an ongoing concern as city named on of America's best cycling locations" »

As summer enters full swing, reviewing safe and defensive driving habits as a family can help reduce Massachusetts car accidents and help ensure you and your loved ones have a safe, enjoyable summer.

Massachusetts traffic accidents caused 363 fatalities in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accident statistics for last year will be released in the coming weeks. Through the summer months, the Boston personal injury and wrongful death law firm of Jeffrey S. Glassman will look at safe driving habits and some of the leading causes of serious and fatal traffic accidents.

But before we do, we encourage you to visit Road Trip America's 70 Rules of Defensive Driving, an excellent Internet resource which takes a sometimes humorous look at the serious business of driving safety.

Through the coming weeks, we will take a closer look at some of the driving habits that are the most dangerous, as well as some of the accident trends more specific to Massachusetts.

25 of Road Trip America's 70 Rules of Defensive Driving:

1) Pay Attention
2) Don't Trust (Anybody)!
3) Yield Anyway
4) Don't Speed
5) Don't Drive Impaired
6) Wear Your Seat Belt
7) Buy and Use Safety Devices
8) Motorcyclist, Protect Thyself
9) Don't Run Red
10) Drive Precisely
11) Chill Out
12) Look Down the Road
13) Create Space
14) Drive to Communicate
15) Drive Predictably
16) Always Signal Your Intentions
17) Know Your Blind Spots
18) Avoid Distractions
19) Avoid Backing Up
20) Beware of Intersections
21) Be a Freeway Pro
22) Know how to Stop
23) Know when to use your Headlights
24) Slow down in Rain or Snow
25) Maintain your Tires

Sometimes accidents are unavoidable. But frequently they involve poor driving choices, such as distracted driving, speeding or disobeying red lights or other traffic control devices. By practicing safe driving habits, and by learning some of the defensive driving habits that can help keep you safe, motorists can sometimes reduce the risk of being involved in a serious or fatal Massachusetts traffic accident.

Continue reading "Safe driving habits can help prevent Massachusetts car accidents" »

Boston car accidents have been attributed to drivers who are rude, foulmouthed and reckless. But the city has apparently caught a break in the new list of the 10 Most Dangerous Cities compiled by Insurance.com ... if only because Massachusetts drivers don't use the company's service to purchase insurance.

Saying Boston residents are "world-renowned for their demolition derby driving style," the company said Boston drivers might consider Baltimore "wicked scary."

Baltimore topped the list of the most dangerous driving cities, with 36.5 percent of drivers who received a quote from the company admitting to a prior accident.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities for Drivers

Baltimore: 36.5 percent
Johnstown, Pa.: 34.5 percent
Portland, Maine: 33.4 percent
Des Moines, Iowa: 33.2 percent
Erie, Pa.: 33.1 percent
Bangor, Maine: 32.9 percent
Birmingham, Ala.: 32.4 percent
Austin, Texas: 32.3 percent
Manchester, N.H.: 32.2 percent
Lincoln, Neb.: 31.8 percent

Top 10 Safest Cities by percentage of people who reported a car accident
Yuma, Ariz: 17.2 percent
Flint, Mich.: 18.2 percent
Traverse City, Mich.: 18.9 percent
Detroit, Mich.: 18.9 percent
Grand Rapids, Mich.: 20.7 percent
Harlingen, Texas: 20.7 percent
Albany, Ga.: 20.8 percent
Lansing, Mich.: 21.3 percent
Bakersfield, Calif.: 21.6 percent
Fresno, Calif.: 21.8 percent.

Boston wasn't included because the survey only used areas where at least 500 quotes for insurance were requested through Insurance.com in a six-month period.

Here in Boston, there is always "Wild in the Streets: the Boston Driver's Handbook"

In 2007, Boston was ranked #3 for rude drivers.

Last year, AutoVantage ranked the city 9th most courteous, after having been ranked among the most discourteous in 2008, according to the Boston Business Journal.

Continue reading "Technicality may have omitted Boston from Top 10 most dangerous driving cities" »

A 9-year-old boy is dead after a Waltham car accident reportedly involving a teenager delivering for Domino's pizza, the Boston Herald reported.

Contacting a Boston wrongful death attorney is critical when a fatal accident involves someone driving a vehicle as part of their job. The death of a small child is always a tragedy. But in this case the family may be able to recover damages from the driver and his insurance policy as well as the employer.

The Globe reported the teen delivering pizzas had been involved in a previous Massachusetts car accident. As we reported last month on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, teen drivers are already at high-risk for car accidents. While teens represent less than 10 percent of drivers, they account for up to 20 percent of all accidents. In fact, car accidents are the leading cause of death for all teenagers ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In this case, the Herald reports that the teen was found more than 50 percent at fault for a March accident less than 8 weeks before last week's deadly crash. He also had a previous driver's license suspension on his record. He was reportedly behind the wheel of a Mazda Protege, when he collided at an intersection with a Jeep Cherokee.

The Jeep's driver was the mother of the 9-year-old boy killed in the crash. The Daily News Tribune reported that the boy was ejected from the Jeep and his mother was pinned beneath the vehicle with serious injuries.

ABC 5 reported that the accident occurred when the teenager ran the stop sign while making a delivery for a Dominos franchise in Waltham. A co-owner of the pizza shop told Channel 5 that she was unaware of the teen's previous accident or his driving record when he was hired.

A 60-year-old woman was seriously injured in a Massachusetts pedestrian accident on Monday, while crossing Route 9 with her dog, the Boston Globe reported.

Police found the woman lying in the median strip on Route 16 when they arrived about 3:30 p.m. Authorities believe she was struck by a Jeep traveling west on Route 9. The woman was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with a head injury. The driver of the Jeep was unhurt; the dog was taken to an animal hospital with minor injuries.

Cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Also on Monday, a Sharon pedestrian accident claimed the life of a man on Route 1. The man was struck and killed by a pickup truck, according to ABC 5.

Massachusetts State Police responded to the scene at about 8:45 a.m. after the 1998 Chevy truck, driven by a 51-year-old Dedham man, struck and killed the pedestrian.

Witnesses said the man walked into the path of the truck; cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Spring and summer is a dangerous time for Massachusetts pedestrian accidents. Statewide, 75 people were killed and 363 seriously injured as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2008, accounting for 20 percent of all Massachusetts traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic safety Administration.

Continue reading "Authorities investigating a pair of Massachusetts pedestrian accidents" »

A new survey shows drunk driving remains a serious problem among teenagers, despite efforts to educate kids about the dangers during Prom Season, the USA Today reports.

Everyone at the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Glassman encourages parents to have a frank conversation with teenagers about the dangers of drunk driving and other deadly driving habits as we enter the heart of prom and graduation season.

Massachusetts car accidents involving young drivers killed 68 teenagers in 2008. Nationwide, almost 6,000 were killed and more than a quarter million were injured. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to a nationwide survey of more than 2,500 11th and 12 graders, 90 percent believe fellow teenagers are more likely to drink and drive on Prom Night. Nearly 80 percent think the same is true on graduation night. Nationwide, one-third of young people killed in car accidents had alcohol in their system at the time of the accident.

"Newspapers, television, YouTube and Facebook are rife with tales of tragedy from reckless driving on prom and graduation nights, yet an 'it won't happen to me' attitude continues to be so pervasive among our teens," said Dave Melton, of Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, which sponsored the study. "Add to the alcohol factor distractions like texting or talking on the cellphone while driving, or the greater likelihood of multiple people in the car, and the crash potential is very real."

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is promoting "The Power of Parents: It's Your Influence," in an effort to encourage parents to talk to their teenagers.

Parents can help their teenagers make the right decisions during Prom and graduation season:

- Monitor your child's activities and set clear rules and consequences for underage drinking.

-Acknowledge that the decision to avoid drugs and alcohol takes courage and can be difficult.

-If allowing children to ride in a limo, parents and passengers should sign a contract permitting the driver to notify parents if alcohol is present.

-Only allow registered passengers to be transported in a limo.

-Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age of 21.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month as officials kick off the annual campaign to remind motorists about the summer bike season in an effort to reduce Massachusetts motorcycle accidents and serious and fatal motorcycle crashes nationwide.

As we reported last month on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, spring is a dangerous time for motorcycle accidents as new riders take to the streets and veteran riders hit the road. In Massachusetts, 41 riders were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2008. Nationwide, 5,178 riders died and nearly 100,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Boston Globe reported that orange "Motorcycles are Everywhere" bumper stickers have been spotted throughout the Boston area as the weather clears and riding season begins. Last year, poor weather kept many riders off the roads until mid-summer.

"There are more bikes out on the road early this spring," Newburyport motorcycle shop owner Tim Smith told The Globe. The stickers, which also proclaim "Check twice -- save a life," were the creation of Bob Doiron, who lived in Somerville when he first started making the stickers in 1982. Doiron was one of the founders of what is now the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association.

The association successfully pushed for a 2002 law that proclaims the last week of March and all of April be dedicated to motorcycle awareness as well as the month of May, which is recognized nationwide. Today the stickers are in the hands of Paul Cote, of Amesbury, who is a spokesperson and advocate for motorcycle rights throughout Massachusetts.

Cote urges cyclists to make sure they are carrying sufficient insurance under Part 3 (bodily injury cased by an uninsured motorist), Part 5 (optional bodily injury to others) and Part 12 (bodily injury cases by an underinsured auto), noting it only costs about $40 to carry an extra $100,000 in coverage.

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles reports that a motorcycle accident is most likely to occur:

- When a motorist is making a left turn in front of a motorcycle rider.

- When a motorcycle is riding in a vehicle's blind spot.

- When hazardous road conditions are present, including potholes, railroad tracks, wet leaves or other obstructions.

- In vehicles that have an obstructed line of sight, such as cases where an SUV, delivery van, bus, or large truck is blocking sight of a motorcycle.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Awareness Month aims to reduce number of Massachusetts motorcycle accidents" »

Federal lawmakers are pushing for a nationwide graduated driver's license law aimed at reducing serious and fatal accidents involving teenagers, the USAToday reported.

As we reported recently on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, 68 young people were killed in Massachusetts car accidents in 2008. Nationwide, 2,739 were killed and more than 228,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fatal Massachusetts car accidents involving teenagers declined 75 percent in the three years following the state's implementation of tough driving standards for young motorists, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Only North Dakota lacks a staged licensing program for teen drivers. But the government contends passing a nationwide law would replace a patchwork of state legislation aimed at young drivers. The strongest teen-driving programs at the state level currently restrict nighttime driving, limit the number of teen passengers and require a minimum age of 16 before getting a learner's permit.

The Senate proposal, dubbed the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STAND UP) act, would outline the process for new drivers under 21:

-Require a three-stage process, beginning with a learner's permit and then continuing on to an intermediate stage before granting an unrestricted driver's license.

-Prohibit unsupervised driving at night until the unrestricted license is obtained.

-Forbid non-emergency use of cell phones and other communication devices while driving.

The government would hold federal funding hostage for states that do not comply within three years.

The Insurance Institute claims that increasing the minimum age for learner's permits nationwide would reduce crashes involving teen drivers by 13 percent.

Continue reading "Massachusetts car accidents reduced by teen driver program; nationwide law proposed " »

At least three people died in weekend Massachusetts car accidents involving rollover crashes that ejected passengers.

On Sunday, a 23-year-old Brockton man was killed and five others seriously injured in a rollover crash on Route 24, the Enterprise News reported.

The Stoughton car accident occurred about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Police report that the driver lost control of the 2002 Jeep, which crossed onto the northbound side of the road and rolled over, ejecting three of the six passengers.

It was one of two fatal car accidents on Route 24 over the weekend. A 25-year-old East Bridgewater man was killed Saturday afternoon after his vehicle rolled over while attempting to exit onto Route 44.

A driver faces vehicular homicide charges after a Massachusetts car accident on Friday killed a 21-year-old man and sent seven others to the hospital. The 2 a.m. accident happened in I-95 in Norwood, according to the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.

Troopers report a 22-year-old man was driving a 2001 Acura MDX in the left lane when the SUV struck a guardrail, veered across all three lanes, and came to rest about 100 feet into the woods on the right side of the road.

Seven North Shore men were in the Acura and all were transported to Norwood Hospital with serious injuries. The 21-year-old Lynn man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say alcohol and speed may have contributed to the accident.

The driver was charged with motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol causing serious injury, speeding and marked lane violations.

Massachusetts State Police continue to investigate the accident using state police analysis reconstruction section, crime scene services and the Medical Examiner's Office. The Norwood Fire Department, Walpole Fire Department and the Department of Transportation were also called to the scene.

The right travel lanes of I-95 were closed to traffic during the investigation.

MIT students are being enlisted by the federal government to help solve the problem of distracted driving, according to the Boston Herald.

As we reported last week on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, state and federal authorities have become increasingly vocal about the dangers of distracted driving. Of particular concern is the use of cell phones by drivers and drivers who text message while behind the wheel. Significant numbers of Massachusetts car accidents are being blamed on distracted driving. Nationwide, 6,000 traffic fatalities a year are caused by distracted driving.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was scheduled to appear on the Cambridge campus Monday, to challenge students to develop technology aimed at reducing distracted driving accidents.

LaHood was accompanied by Massachusetts resident Jerry Cibley, whose son was killed in a distracted driving accident. His speech kicks off MIT's transportation and energy lecture series.

Jordan Cibley was killed on Mother's Day 2007, one day after his high school prom, while driving two blocks from home and talking an a cell phone with his father. Authorities believe he drove into a tree at 30 mph after dropping the phone and unfastening his seat belt to retrieve it from the floor, according to the Taunton Gazette. He died as a result of a traumatic brain injury.

Continue reading "MIT enlisted in fight to reduce distracted driving, Massachusetts car accidents" »