Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

We've talked about the risks that newly-licensed drivers have for car accidents in Boston and elsewhere. We've talked about their inexperience behind the wheel and some of their dangerous driving habits. Well, now we're going to narrow that down even more and talk about some of the most dominant factors in teen accidents. A new study was released and determined sharp turns and screeching halts may be some of the best indicators into a teen's risks for an accident. As a matter of fact, these driving habits were used to predict a teen's chance of having an accident or a near accident after the study. Researchers always assumed that drivers who participate in risky behavior behind the wheel have a higher risk for an accident, but now there's even more detailed data to show exactly why that's the case, according to Reuters.

"A lot of us have ridden with drivers who drive in a jerky way and start too fast and then have to brake hard, and it makes us uncomfortable," said Jean Shope, a researcher from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand that this study looked at the habits of drivers and the effects that these habits had on their risks for an accident. In the study, researchers used cameras and computer equipment to measure the instances of higher gravitational force (or g-force) in the car with teen drivers. It's important to point out that these devices aren't present in the vehicles of all teen drivers, but parents can monitor the same kind of information just by riding along.

In the study, Bruce Simons-Morton with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development lead researchers. They looked at 42 newly-licensed drivers in the Virginia area through recording equipment to measure g-forces from quick turns and excessive braking and acceleration. These 42 teens were studied for a year and a half. These teens took nearly 70,000 driving trips during this time and recorded nearly 40 accidents and more than 240 near accidents.

Around these accidents and near accidents, the g-force rate appeared to increase.

Simons-Morton says they're not concluding that these movements are the sole cause of the accidents but that the pattern they found with these driving techniques can be used to help predict an accident involving a young driver.

The devices used by researchers aren't widely available to consumers, but similar products can be purchased for about $500 and a monthly operational fee. Researchers have not determined if having one of these devices present can have any positive affect on a teen's driving habits or their risk for an accident.

Yes, teens are inexperienced behind the wheel and may not be able to fully comprehend the dangers of driving. However, talking with them about roadway dangers and riding along with them regularly can help to reduce these risks. Parents can serve as a personal g-force reader to monitor their teen's driving habits.

Shope says that newly-licensed drivers should try to stay on familiar roads. He says their driving abilities are probably best in these areas. He also suggests that they drive during the daytime in ideal weather until they get more experience under their belt.

Continue reading "G-Force Predicting Teen's Risks of Car Accidents in Massachusetts and Elsewhere" »

Imagine this: You are driving down Route 79 South near the Braga Bridge during the early morning hours and you see a trucking accident in Massachusetts. As that accident happens, a tractor-trailer bursts into flames right before your eyes. The truck is so close to your vehicle, you worry about the safety of yourself and the family members in your vehicle.

Sound like the beginning of a bad dream?

Unfortunately, this was a reality for a number of motorists during a recent early morning commute.

According to Wicked Local Hanson, the accident happened when a tractor-trailer slammed into the Jersey barrier at that exact location just after 6 a.m. The Massachusetts State Police say the truck swerved to the left, went up over a curb and drove along the guardrail before it slammed into a steel support. Upon collision, the wooden scaffold that was in the road construction area burst into flames. Officials believe that the fire may have caused structural damage to the steel support beams, too.

Our Boston car accident attorneys hear that the accident was so bad, the officer who was called to the scene had to park far from the accident just to avoid the intense heat. The driver was located, unconscious and draped over the barrier. The responding officer was able to save the truck driver and get him transported to the Charlton Memorial Hospital. The man was later taken to Rhode Island Hospital and was listed in serious condition.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), that area of the road is raised in two levels to accommodate heavy traffic. Officials think that the heat altered the efficiency of the road's infrastructure. The northbound lanes, the ones on the upper level, sustained most of the damage from the fiery crash. The southbound lanes were reopened that evening, the Broadway and East Street ramps will be closed for up to a week.

Massachusetts State Police are still looking into the cause of the accident and have yet to file any charges against the truck driver.

Traveling through areas of construction in the state can be extremely dangerous. Lanes are altered, speeds are reduced and workers are present. In these areas, motorists need to be extra careful to avoid an accident with another vehicle, construction machinery and even roadside workers. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers drivers some safety tips to help everyone get through these areas safely.

Driver Safety Tips:

-Move over and slow down. The Move Over Law went into effect back in March of 2009. This law requires drivers to move over when approaching either maintenance vehicles with flashing lights or emergency vehicles. If you don't, you could be fined $100.

-Be prepared in a work zone. Remember that speeds can be reduced, lanes can be changed and workers may be near the roadway. Be ready!

-Slow down. Remember that speed is one of the top causes of work zone accidents. Speeding in these zones can also result in double the fines if you're busted.

-Never tailgate. Rear-end collisions are the most common accidents in these areas.

-Read road signs. These are warnings that can help to inform you about what you can expect.

-Be ready for delays. Call 511 from your cell phone to check traffic conditions before you reach the construction area.

-Leave an ample amount of space between your vehicle and road workers and maintenance equipment.

-If you see a hazard, report it by calling 511.

-Take an alternate route if possible.

Every year, there are nearly 1,000 fatal accidents in work zones in the U.S.

Continue reading "Trucking Accident in Fall River Damages Commonly-Traveled Bridge" »

Two adults and two children were transported to local hospitals after a car-truck accident in Abington. The accident happened between an oil truck and an SUV on Route 58, according to Wicked Local Rockland. Witnesses report that the SUV swerved across the yellow-center line on Route 58 and clipped the oil truck. The driver of the truck allegedly tried to swerve out of the way to avoid the collision with the SUV and ended up crashing into a utility pole.

Emergency responders reportedly had to use the Jaws of Life to get the driver of the SUV from the vehicle. The truck driver, the driver of the SUV and its two child passengers, who were sitting in the back seat, were transported to local hospitals. There was a passenger in the oil truck who was reportedly unharmed. Route 58 was closed for a few hours following the accident. In the collision, the rear axle of the truck snapped off.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand that wasn't the only accident that happened during that time. Nearby, an Abington law enforcement officer was involved in an accident on Railroad Avenue with a pickup truck. The officer was injured in this accident. It goes to show that no one is safe on our roadways. Regardless of what you are driving - an SUV, an oil tanker or a police car - accidents are going to happen. Until drivers can slow down at the wheel and pay more attention to their surroundings, our roadways will continue to be plagued with unnecessary accidents.

Another recent accident seriously injured a well-known basketball coach from King Philip High, Foxboro High, Boston University and Boston College. He is also the former president of the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association. The coach was injured when he was driving and an alleged drunk driver slammed into his car head on as he drove down Route 53 in Hingham.

The coach was taken to the South Shore Hospital and was placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Reportedly he is suffering from unspecified head injuries, a broken leg, broken ribs and a punctured lung.

The man who slammed into the coach's vehicle is reportedly facing felony drunk driving charges. The accident involved three cars and severely injured two people.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for residents in Massachusetts and elsewhere. In 2009, there were nearly 45,500 vehicles involved in fatal accidents in the U.S. Of these vehicles, about 80 percent were passenger vehicles. In these accidents, nearly 25,000 people were killed and more than 1.95 million were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Throughout 2009, there were nearly 220 passenger vehicles involved in fatal traffic accidents in the state of Massachusetts.

Of the 220 passenger vehicles:

-More than 150 were passenger cars, accounting for about 70 percent of the vehicles.

-There were 20 pickups, accounting for nearly 10 percent.

-There were nearly 40 SUVs, accounting for more than 15 percent.

-Nearly 10 were vans, accounting for less than 5 percent.

Continue reading "Car Accidents in Massachusetts a Frightening Trend" »

Drivers in the state could soon be banned from using hand-held cell phones at the wheel under a recently-approved bill. The bill was recently unanimously green-lighted by the Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee. This passage is an important step, advocates say, according to the Boston Globe. Previous attempts at getting lawmakers to prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones for drivers have been unsuccessful.

Those who support the ban say they're trying to finish what they started with the Safe Driving Law of 2010. This new law would make the state of Massachusetts the 10th state in the country to prohibit all drivers from using a hand-held cell phone behind the wheel. Advocates hope that such a law can help to significantly reduce the risks of distraction-related car accidents in Boston and elsewhere.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that the 2010 law made it illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use a hand-held cell phone while driving and illegal for all drivers to text. But government officials fell short of banning hand-held cell phone use for all drivers. Under that law, enforcement was difficult because officers had a hard time differentiating texting from dialing phone numbers for these young drivers.

During the first year of the 2010 law, officers wrote more than 1,000 tickets, reports MassDOT. This means they wrote about three a day, or about one for every 200 tickets that were issued for speeding. The state of Massachusetts has nearly 5 million licensed drivers.

Those who support the new, tougher hand-held ban first estimated that only a few tickets would be written with only an anti-texting law, said Senator Mark C. Montigny. He's almost positive that a ban on hand-held call phones will soon be the law in Massachusetts.

According to the House sponsor, drivers would still be able to use phones with Bluetooth hookups. He says that the Bluetooth technology is not only safer, it's becoming much more affordable. He says the banning of hand-held cell phones is just common sense, adding that it's an obvious life-saving solution. He's surprised a similar law hasn't passed yet.

This ban has been to the state House floor twice already and has passed with overwhelming support. It's the Senate that's having trouble pushing it through. The Senate first rejected the measure in 2010.

Those who oppose this law say hands-free phones will give drivers a false sense of safety, saying they're still not protected from the distractions that come with cell phone conversations behind the wheel.

Continue reading "Cell Phone Ban Aims to Curb Boston Car Accidents" »

As we recently reported on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is pulling out all the stops in an attempt to reduce the risks of car accidents for teens. Recently, MassDOT created a new guide for parents to help teach our young drivers. This guide includes tips to help parents to offer the best advice for teens who are currently in the process of collecting their 40 hours of supervised driving time.

According to FOX6, car accidents continue to be the No. 1 killer of teens in the country. The Governors Highway Safety Association says that fatalities among 16- and 17-year-olds was up more than 10 percent during the first six months of 2011 compared to the same part of the year in 2010.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that Massachusetts was one of the states that didn't see an increase during this time, which means we may be doing something right. According to a recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, a large number of teenagers nationwide are behind the wheel with absolutely no formal driver's education under their belt. That's another trend officials here in Massachusetts are fighting. According to the Register of Motor Vehicles, more teens applied for and received a Driver's Education Certificate in 2011 compared to the number awarded in 2010.

"Their attitude is they are a bit more humble. I need to do this right, I need to take the lessons and they know that there are a lot of things for the road test," said Paul Santos of Untied Driving School in Springfield.

Teens are also warned that receiving traffic violations when holding a Junior License can have some severe penalties. If they get a ticket for speeding during this time, they are going to have their license revoked for 90 days. They're also going to have to dish out more than $500 to get the license back. These young drivers should know this, which is why many officials believe the risks for accidents among this age group aren't increasing.

Nationwide statistics reveal that new drivers are nearly five times more likely to get into a car accident and almost 15 times more likely to be injured in these accidents than any other age group of drivers.

The main causes of teen car accidents:

-Speed.

-Inexperience.

-Failure to buckle up.

-Alcohol.

-Distractions.

-Sleepiness.

Officials in the state try to stop these problems before they arise by limiting the number of passengers a teen can drive with, increasing supervised driving requirements and limiting the times of day they can be behind the wheel. Still, you can't rely on law enforcement to parent your child all the time. To keep up the good stats in the state, we're asking parents to continue to stay on top on their teen's driving progress.

Continue reading "Restrictions Paying Off in Fight against Teen Car Accidents in Massachusetts" »

Seniors in Massachusetts can land a discount on their auto insurance policy and reduce their risks of a car accident in Boston , according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). What we're talking about is the AARP Driver Safety Program.

We're never too old to learn something new, no matter how long we've been behind the wheel. Drivers can always continue to learn, constantly improving skills and refining safe driving habits. Cars are built differently nowadays, often equipped with new technology, and roadway regulations are frequently updated by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Through these safe driving courses, drivers can learn all about new driving information.

Driving is just not the same as it used to be. Our Boston car accident attorneys have noticed through the years the change in traffic volumes, the introduction of new road laws and the advancements in vehicle technology. It's important to stay on top of these advancements and changes, especially for older drivers, to help increase our safety behind the wheel. The AARP Driver Safety Program and AAA's Driver Quiz are both excellent ways to help us more mature drivers to stay safe at the wheel, especially when traveling on the hectic roadways of Boston.

It's important for drivers to keep themselves in good health and to stay flexible to continue driving safely. The AARP course will fill you in on some simple tips to do just that.

Not sure if the driving course is for you? While its targeted audience is in fact elderly drivers, all ages are invited to join. You can never be too prepared behind the wheel.

So what will the safe driving class teach me?

-You'll learn how to better handle your vehicle's blind spots.

-You will learn how to keep a safe distance between you and other vehicles.

-You'll learn all about your vehicle's capabilities, such as how to correctly use the seat belts and how the anti-lock brakes and other technologies are used.

-You will learn how to monitor your skills behind the wheel and how to recognize when you're in danger. You'll also be trained to help keep an eye on your aging loved ones, to make sure they're not putting themselves at risk behind the wheel.

-You will learn all about the side effects that your medications can cause and how those side effects can be dangerous to your driving.

-You will see how distractions can affect you behind the wheel.

Learning how to make your car fit you is another important lesson you'll take with you from this course. Even though senior drivers have the highest rate of seat belt use and the lowest percentage of alcohol-related crashes, this age group is more likely to be killed or seriously injured in the event of an accident. How can that be? It's simple. The older our bodies are, the less resilient they are in withstanding the impact of a car accident. For that reason, the course offers tips to help seniors to better "fit" their car.

No matter what your age, no matter what you driving record is and no matter how comfortable you feel behind the wheel, everyone can benefit from a safe driving course. Keep your driving skills in shape and keep your risks for an accident low. Sign up for a safe driving course (even if it's just for the insurance discount).

Continue reading "Elderly Drivers and One Simple Way to Reduce Their Risks of Car Accidents in Massachusetts" »

Driving isn't the same as it used to be. There are more cars on our roadways, our cars are more advanced, the roads have changed and some of the laws are different now, too. Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that driving skills need to be taught and tested periodically to help to ensure roadway safety for all.

For that reason, drivers over the age of 60 are encouraged to brush up on their driving skills to make sure that they're fully equipped to handle modern-day risks of the road. According to AARP, drivers of this age group should consider enrolling in a driver safety course to brush up on the new rules of the road, how to operate today's cars effectively, defensive driving techniques and how to accommodate and manage age-related changes. Some of these age-related changes can hinder reaction time, hearing, vision, etc. Don't be ashamed. We're all going through it. Let's just make sure that we've conditioned to handle these changes to avoid a potentially fatal car accident in Massachusetts.

What else does a driving course have to offer?:

-How to minimize effects of dangerous blind spots.

-How to travel while maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles.

-The safest and most effective ways to make turns on busy roadways at hectic intersections.

-How new seat belts, anti-lock brakes, air bags and new-model car technologies work.

-How to keep an eye on your own driving skills and the capabilities and skills of the ones you love.

-How medications affect your driving.

-The importance of ditching distractions, including cell phones, smoking, eating and drinking.

Once you've completed the course, you'll have a greater appreciation of techniques to avoid potential accidents. You will be equipped with effective ways to keep you, your passengers and other motorists safe in a variety of driving scenarios.

You can take the AARP Driver Safety Course online by calling 888-AARP-NOW (888-227-7669) to take it in an actual classroom or you can take it online. Upon completion, you could be eligible to get a discount on your auto insurance policy and on roadside assistance plans.

Although the course targets drivers who are 50-years-old and older, drivers of all ages are welcome to join. The course started back in 1979 and has been helping to make drivers safe ever since. You don't need to be an AARP member to take the course and there aren't any tests. To take it in a classroom it's $12 for members and $14 for those who aren't members. To take it online, it's $15.95 for members and $19.95 for everyone else.

Once you complete the course, you'll get a completion certificate that you can hand over to your insurance company to inquire about a safe driver discount. Ultimately, you're better equipped to avoid a potentially fatal accident on our roadways. What could be more rewarding than that?

Continue reading "New AARP Course to Help Reduce Risks of Car Accidents in Massachusetts, Nation" »

As we recently reported on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, teenagers face some of the highest risks for accidents on our roadways.

Teens are behind the wheel with minimal driving experience. That's why the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is offering parents a guide to help teach their teenagers safe and effective driving habits. The new guide, "The Parent's Supervised Driving Guide," will be given to teens once they get their hands on an learner's license. The guide is aiming to help reduce the risks of car accidents in Massachusetts.

Our Boston car accident lawyers have gone through the same thing that other Massachusetts parents are going through. It's about teaching your teen beneficial driving habits to help to ensure their safety behind the wheel. With higher accident rates, parents need to focus attention on their young drivers to help give them the skills they need to last a lifetime. Without the proper education, training and practice, fatal teen car accidents result.

Take the recent car accident in New Bedford for example. On Route 140, a popular high school student and athlete was killed. The car accident happened on Route 140 as the 17-year-old student and some of his buddies made their way to school. The star athlete was killed, the teenage driver of the car and a passenger were treated for injuries at the hospital, according to the Boston Globe.

The student who was killed in the accident attended the Greater New Bedford Vocational-Technical High School where he was captain of both the baseball and the football team. He also ran track. He was enrolled in the school's plumbing program and had plans to pursue a business management degree at American International College. All of those dreams are now lost.

Officers report that the star student was in the back seat of the vehicle when the accident occurred. The cause of the crash is still being investigated.

In the state of Massachusetts, there are passenger restrictions to help keep our younger teenage drivers safe at the wheel. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, drivers are eligible for a learner's permit once they turn 16. Once they've graduated to an intermediate driver's license, they're allowed to drive without a licensed passenger over the age of 21. However, these young drivers are not allowed to have any passengers under the age of 18 during their first 6 months of this driving stage.

When a driver turns 17, their passenger restrictions are lifted. When a driver turns 18, their nighttime driving restrictions are lifted. Parents are urged to stay involved in their child's driving career long after they've received their unrestricted driver's license. Parent involvement can help to shape our young ones into safe and effective drivers.

Continue reading "Star Athlete Killed in New Bedford Car Accident" »

It's always frightening to drive next to a big rig or a tractor-trailer on the highway. Driving next to one of these big vehicles leaves drivers of passenger vehicles at risk of a serious or fatal accident. Unfortunately, accidents are typically life-threatening. A recent trucking accident in Foxboro killed an innocent driver, according to NECN.

The fatal trucking accident happened in the southbound lanes of Route 1 and North Street when a cement truck collided with a passenger vehicle. The accident was so severe that roadways in both directions were closed for over 2 hours as officials with the Massachusetts state police investigated.

Our Boston trucking accident attorneys get that feeling too, that anxious feeling when traveling next to large semis and tractor-trailers. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles has the ability to do some serious damage in the event of an accident. Oftentimes, accidents involving these large vehicles can be deadly. Luckily, with driver awareness and caution, we can all do our part to minimize these catastrophic collisions.

To no one's surprise, there have been many more traffic accidents involving these big rigs over recent weeks. Recently, a trucking accident that happened in Erving left roads closed for hours after a trailer truck flipped on its side on Route 2. This accident happened just before 10:00 a.m. right by Christina's Restaurant. State officers say that the 62-year-old driver of the truck was okay and that heavy duty wreckers were called to the scene to remove the truck from the roadway, according to 22News.

Trucking accidents can happen for a number of reasons, for both passenger vehicle driver and truck driver fault.

Trucking Accidents Can Be Caused By:

-Head-on, rear-end accidents and jackknives.

-Poor trucking maintenance, including brakes and tires.

-Sleepy and fatigued drivers.

-Dangerous road conditions.

-Poor weather conditions.

-Unsecured cargo or loads.

-Improper lane changes.

-Aggressive driving habits.

-Drug use.

-DWI.

-Lack of reflectors and poor visibility.

-Non-compliance with federal regulations.

-Driver inattention.

In all of these scenarios involving truck drivers, the drivers of passenger vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians are at an extreme disadvantage. Accidents involving big rigs, tractor-trailers, cement trucks, garbage trucks, 18-wheelers, etc. can all lead to catastrophic personal injury, death and damages. Equip yourself with safe driving habits to help to minimize these risks. Steer clear of these large vehicles when possible. Be safe, not sorry.

Trucking accidents are a common sight on our hectic Massachusetts roadways. It's estimated that about 5,000 people die each year in the U.S. because of accidents involving large trucks. In 2009, there were more than 440 vehicles involved in fatal car accidents in the state of Massachusetts. During this time, more than 20 of these vehicles were large trucks.

Continue reading "BEWARE: Trucking Accidents in Foxboro, Erving and Elsewhere in Massachusetts!" »

Car accidents in Boston and elsewhere are the leading killer of teenagers nationwide. Some of these fatalities can be prevented with just a little supervision and education. Parents have the power to help to mold their children into the best drivers they can be. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, there's a new guide available to help parents and guardians to do just that. The new guide is being offered to help parents to optimize the 40-hours of supervised driving that our young drivers are required to complete before receiving an unrestricted driver's license.

Take the recent car accident that happened in New Bedford. A high school student was killed while making his way to school at around 7:30 a.m. According to WPRI, the teen's vehicle was full with student passengers when it flipped and rolled several times. The teenage driver was thrown from the vehicle. When emergency responders arrived on scene, he was pronounced dead.

To help to prevent accidents like this, teenage drivers who are in line to get their learner's permit will be given a copy of the new guide, "The Parent's Supervised Driving Guide" at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). As parents of teenage drivers, our Boston car accident attorneys will be reviewing this booklet and using it to better train our children to become safer drivers. We urge parents throughout the state to do the same. As we've said before, teaching teens safe driving habits early on will help to reduce their risks of being involved in an accident for the rest of their lives.

In Dover, another teen driver was killed while heading down Route 16. He reportedly lost control of his truck, which flipped, ran into a guard rail and was sent tumbling into the Cocheco River. According to WMUR, a crane had to be called to the accident site to help get the truck out of the river.

The guide is offered for free. It's provided to everyone through a team effort between Safe Roads Alliance and the guides sponsor, Safety Insurance.

According to Registrar of Motor Vehicles' Rachel Kaprielian, driving is a privilege and a huge responsibility. This guide will help prepare parents to raise safer drivers.

Parents have the ability to make the biggest impact on their teen drivers. This program helps ensure parents have the right tools to teach their teen safe driving habits. The new guide encourages parents to expose their teen driver to a number of driving conditions, including daytime, nighttime, rural, heavy traffic etc., to make sure that they're equipped with the knowledge and skills to do it on their own when the time comes.

In the U.S., nearly 50 percent of newly-licensed drivers will be involved in an accident within their first year behind the wheel. According to George Murphy, the Vice President of Marketing with Safety Insurance, the Safety Insurance's top concern is keeping Massachusetts' roadways safety for drivers of all ages.

Continue reading "MassDot Helps Parents Prevent Fatal Teen Car Accidents in Massachusetts " »

It was a bad weekend for car accidents in Massachusetts. There was a rollover car accident that killed a man in Danvers and another that injured a number of others in Revere. According to state police officers, speed was a contributing factor in the single-car accident in Danvers that killed a 30-year-old man from Peabody. The accident happened just before 7:30 p.m., when he slammed into a guardrail on Route 128. After hitting the guard rail, he swerved across two lanes of traffic, hit a jersey barrier, sped down the ramp in Route 35, striking two more barriers and flipping the car over onto its roof. The man was wearing his seat belt, but was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The passenger of that vehicle was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries. Officers are still investigating to determine whether alcohol played a role in this accident.

Just a few hours later, four motorists were involved in a two-car accident in Revere. The accident resulted in serious injuries to those involved. The accident happened just before 12 a.m. on Revere Street and American Legion.

That's not all. There were a number of additional accidents that occurred over the weekend, including a collision in Hyde Park that took the life of a 24-year-old. Four others were injured in this accident.

Motorists weren't the only ones hurt in accidents over the weekend. There are also three pedestrians injured after being hit by a car. A mom and her two children were struck by a passing vehicle in Winthrop as they made their way to a dialysis appointment. The pedestrians and the driver of that vehicle were all taken to Emerson Hospital. The two children were later transported to Children's Hospital in Boston.

Officers believe that the 76-year-old driver may have mistaken the gas pedal for the brake pedal. The investigation is ongoing.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) hears about thousands of car accidents that occur every year in the state. To help to get drivers on board to safer roadways, they've provided drivers with some safety tips to help to prevent traffic accidents.

Safe Driving Tips:

-Always be cautious of the traffic around you, including motor vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, etc.

-Remember that turns are meant to be taken at reduced speeds.

-Always use your turn signals to alert other travelers of your intended maneuvers.

-Never eat or drink while driving.

-Remember to check intersecting streets for oncoming traffic before passing through.

-Maintain a safe following distance. Reducing the space between you and other travelers reduces the time that you have to react to potential dangers.

-Don't forget about your blind spots. Check over your shoulder to see what's going on in these areas.

-Yield to the right-of-way when necessary.

-Always wear your seat belt to help protect against injury and death in the event of an accident.

Continue reading "Deadly Weekend for Car Accidents in Massachusetts" »

While large trucks only account for 4 percent of all vehicles on the road, they are involved in more than twice that many fatal car accidents in Boston and elsewhere.

While our Boston trucking accident attorneys respect the grueling job these workers have to do, our lives are often in their hands.

The sheer size of their loads means that although the truck operators are professional drivers, when they do wreck, they are more likely than a regular passenger vehicle to cause serious injury or even death.

Taking all of this into consideration, the U.S. Department of Transportation has outlined new rules for the trucking industry to follow. These new guidelines are intended to address the most common - and one of the most deadly problems for truckers: Sleepiness.

If either the trucker or the trucking company violates these new rules, they will face heavy fines.

Here's something that might jolt you awake: the National Sleep Foundation studied the issue in 2005, and found that 60 percent - more than half, or about 168 million people - reported they had driven drowsy in the past year. What's more, 37 percent said they had actually fallen asleep at the wheel!

And the National Highway Safety Administration has figured there are about 100,0000 crashes that happen each year due to tired drivers. The actual number is likely much higher, though, because those are only those accidents the sleepiness factor is actually reported, and the issue is likely under-reported.

Drowsy drivers are often compared to drunk drivers, in terms of their reaction time and their motor skills.

This is terrifying when you consider that kind of impairment at the controls of a big rig.

That's why USDOT is enacting these new rules, which restrict the number of hours a truck driver can be on the road from about 82 hours a week down to a maximum of 70 - a 12-hour reduction.

Further, every eight hours a trucker is on the road, he or she is required to take a 30-minute break. Actually, the department encourages them to take breaks even more frequently if they need, but the 30 minutes every eight hours is the minimum.

Plus, truck drivers will now only be allowed to drive 11 hours in a single day. Any more than that, and they will be in violation.

And finally, truckers who reach that 70-hour maximum road time limit will be required to take 34 hours off. The hope is that it will give them at least two consecutive nights of rest during the hours when their body needs it most.

We hope these measures will be strictly adhered to by those within the trucking industry, and that their implementation will mean a reduced number of Boston car accidents.

For those companies that decide not to push their drivers beyond the limits of the law, they'll face steep penalties of $11,000 for each violation. For individual drivers, it could mean almost $2,800 per offense.

Continue reading "Sleepy Truckers Cause Boston Car Accidents; New Rules Enacted" »

The loss of a child is something no parent should have to endure.

According to widely-published statistics, traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for young children in the U.S. - and have been for years.

Our Boston car accident attorneys now some collisions are tragically unavoidable. But there is now a new resource for parents to tap into and educate themselves about child safety seats, which are known to prevent injuries to children involved in Boston car accidents.

It's called the Car Seat Safety for Kids website, and it's the brainchild of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, in conjunction with the Center for Injury Research and Prevention.

The new videos on the site offer parents updated information and how-to instructions on their child's car seats, which can be tricky contraptions.

It starts from the very beginning - the safest ways for expectant mothers to buckle up. This includes instructing pregnant women to wear a shoulder-and-lap belt combination, making sure the lap belt is never above the belly and that you are sitting at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel or dashboard.

It moves on from there to guide parents through the process of purchasing a car seat. They offer this simple checklist to follow for a new car seat purchase:

-Make sure the seat is rear-facing or can be used rear-facing.

-Make sure your child is going to fit with the height and weight restrictions noted on the side label of the seat.

-Make sure it's easy to install in your car.

-Make sure the seat is meets the basic federal guidelines (which can be found on the sticker on the side of the seat).

-Make sure if you have multiple cars that you have an car seat that requires a base, that you have a base for each car.

The site also advises parents of when a car seat might not be safe. That generally includes three separate scenarios:

1. Following a car accident. The recommendation is to replace the car seat after a crash, particularly if it was a serious accident.

2. In the event of a recall. Often, a manufacturing flaw will sprout up after a car seat hits the market. The maker of the seat will then issue a recall. If your seat is registered, you will be notified if this happens. If you're not registered, you can visit the website for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for more information on how to do that, and up-to-date recall information.

3. If you buy a used car seat. That's not to say used seats absolutely aren't safe, but a new seat is better. If you have to get a used one, double check to see when it was made. Look for a possible expiration date. If it was made between 6 and 10 years ago, it's best to find a newer model. Also check for any visible holes, cracks, missing parts or dents. These would be obvious indicators that the seat isn't safe. If you can't be sure whether the car seat has ever been in a crash, don't use it.

Continue reading "Car Seat Safety a Top Priority in Boston" »

Parents, take note: More than 14,200 child safety seats have been recalled due to a manufacturing flaw that could lead to injuries to children in Boston and throughout the U.S.

Our Boston car accident attorneys have learned from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the recall involves thousands of infant car seats sold in the U.S. by a company called Britax Child Safety, Inc.

As of yet, there haven't been any injuries or deaths reported as a result of the defect, but word of the recall is just now getting out.

The problem was found in the harness adjuster of the Chaperone Infant Car Seats. The safety administration reports that the flaw could result in the safety harness being rendered ineffective - putting your child at risk for serious injuries in the event of a traffic crash in Boston or elsewhere.

The recall effects four different models of the car seat, which were made between September 2010 through August 2011.

Here's what the company says is the issue: There is a rivet that is defective and could cause the adjuster of the harness to detach from the seat, meaning the straps that would keep your baby safe wouldn't work properly.

For people who purchased the seat, Britax has said it will start sending out remedy kits by early this month. In the meantime, they are replacing the defective car seats.

Owners of these car seats need to take heed and stop using it immediately and get in touch with Britax at (888) 427-4829 to either get a remedy kit or a replacement seat. This is crucial to your baby's safety.

If your child was using this type of safety seat during a Boston car accident and sustained injuries, you will need to contact an experienced law firm, who can help you navigate through the legal process and gain the compensation you and your child deserve.

Car accidents are the top cause of death for kids between the ages of 3 and 14. What's more, nearly 9,000 young lives were saved between 1975 and 2008 with proper use of child safety restraints.

The NHTSA recommends that until the age of 1, children should always be placed in a rear-facing car seat. In fact, you should try to keep your child in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible.

Once your child grows out of a rear-facing seat, they will graduate to a forward-facing car seat, which they may typically use until they are about 7. At that time, they can travel in a booster seat, but still always in the rear of the vehicle.

When a child is big enough to properly wear a seat belt, still continue to have him or her ride in the back seat - it's the safest.

For more information on future recalls, you can register your child's car seat by visiting the department of transportation's website.

Continue reading "Thousands of Child Safety Seats Recalled in U.S., Boston" »

Buying a new car is a big decision, and one you shouldn't take lightly.

Our Boston car accident attorneys aren't trying to sell you on any particular vehicle. But we do want to make sure that whichever model you choose will provide maximum safety for you, your family and anyone who shares the road with you.

A recent announcement from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates there are more choices of top-rated vehicles made in 2012 than ever before. One reason for that, according to the institute spokesman, is that more models are being made with stronger roofs.

The reason a strong roof is important is that in a roll-over crash, you need a roof that will not tear open or leave you otherwise vulnerable to striking the pavement. Vehicles that have a good rating in the roof category are found to be twice as durable as what the federal government requires they be at a minimum. A strong roof, institute officials say, can reduce the risk of a deadly injury in single-vehicle roll over crashes by about 50 percent, when compared with roofs that only meet the basic, federal requirements.

Reading between the lines, what that also means is that there are a large number of vehicles on the road that don't meet that high standard for safety. One category of vehicle that researchers noted in particular as falling short were small pick-ups. None even came close to qualifying for a top rating.

The ratings are based on how each vehicle performed in a frontal crash test at 40 miles per hour.

Last year, there were 66 vehicles that would have qualified for the institute's top rating, except that they earned less-than-stellar points for the manufacturing flaw of the roof.

While 115 vehicles made it to the list this year, it's important to note that those are only 2012 models. Further, many people don't drive brand new cars, so they may be at greater risk for injury in the event of a car accident in Boston or elsewhere.

In general, larger, heavier automobiles are going to offer better protection in a major collision, when compared to a smaller vehicle. That means even if a car has a high safety rating, it's not necessarily going to keep you safe from injury if you are involved in a crash with a sport utility vehicle or larger truck.

The models with the highest ratings included 69 cars, 38 sport utility vehicles, 5 minivans and 3 pick-up trucks.

Remember that even the safest vehicle doesn't automatically make you invincible or immune to a crash. Some crashes are inevitable, but often, they are caused by operator error and are 100 percent preventable.

What truly makes a difference is whether the people around you are practicing safe driving habits. For everyone, that means refraining from drinking or using drugs before operating a vehicle, putting down your cell phone to pay attention to the road, not speeding or driving aggressively and not taking your chances behind the wheel if you're too tired.

Continue reading "Safe Vehicles Mean Fewer Boston Car Accidents" »

It's a fact: Most people want safer roads and a decreased risk of car accidents in Boston and elsewhere.

What most people don't consider is they may be part of the problem. Increasingly, the AAA Foundation is finding that drivers have adopted this, "Do as I Say, Not as I Do," attitude when it comes to roadway safety. They want others to practice responsible driving habits, but don't feel it applies to them.

Our Boston car accident attorneys have seen the devastation that can be caused when drivers don't take safety seriously. Distracted driving, impaired driving, drowsy driving - these are all major factors in deadly crashes, and they are each 100 percent preventable.

In 2010, nearly 33,000 people were killed in automobile crashes across the country. That breaks down to one death every 16 minutes, or about four an hour.

The recent study takes a closer look at why these needless deaths continue to occur, and what drivers are doing about it. What researchers have consistently found is that drivers are critical of other motorists who drink and drive, text and drive or don't wear a seat belt.

But they don't see it as something they need to take personally.

That kind of thinking is what inevitably leads to tragedy.

Peter Kissinger, the foundation's CEO and president, says drivers really need to alter that attitude if these sad statistics are going to drop.

In looking at common factors for traffic fatalities, the researchers first looked at drinking and driving. In that case, three-fourths of drivers said anytime someone gets behind the wheel after drinking, they consider it an extreme threat to their safety. And yet, 14 percent of those same drivers admitted that at some point within the last year, they had taken that risk themselves by getting behind the wheel when they were either drunk or precariously close to being so. And of those 14 percent, more than a fifth said they had taken that chance within the last month.

It would be one thing if drunk drivers only put themselves in danger, but their actions put everyone else on the road in peril.

Next, the researchers looked at cell phone use and texting while driving. This is a huge and increasingly common factor in deadly crashes, and most people recognize that. In fact, 94 percent said other motorists who text or check their e-mail behind the wheel put their lives in jeopardy. However, this also, apparently, didn't apply to them. In fact, 68 percent reported talking on their cell phone while driving within the last month, and 35 percent admitted to reading a text or an e-mail while they were driving.

Researchers also looked into drowsy driving. Our Boston car accident attorneys know that most people find there aren't enough hours in the day. We can't seem to cut back on our other obligations, so our sleep suffers.

Most drivers recognize that driving when you're sleepy is a serious problem. In fact, 96 percent said it was unacceptable for someone to get behind the wheel when they were too tired. And yet, almost one-third said they had done it themselves in the past month.

Continue reading "Drivers Must Alter Thinking to Prevent Boston Car Accidents" »

A 45-year-old man is in critical condition following a Boston car accident in which he was struck by an unlicensed driver late last month.

According to the MetroWest Daily News, the crash happened on Rt. 126 in Framingham, as the pedestrian was crossing the street at about 7 p.m. to get to Moran's Market.

The 21-year-old driver who allegedly struck him did not have a license, police say.
Officers don't believe the young driver was speeding, but he had three others in the car with him at the time of the crash, and he told investigators he didn't see the pedestrian until he hit him.

When questioned about his lack of a license, the driver reportedly told police he didn't pass the required vision test.

Our Boston car accident attorneys unfortunately see cases like this far too often, when a driver who should never have been on the road gets behind the wheel and causes serious injury or worse.

In fact, a new study was released by the AAA Foundation on this very issue. The organization first began looking at the problem back in 2000, when they found that nearly 14 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes did not have a valid driver's license. That means those drivers either never had a license, or their privileges had been suspended, revoked, cancelled or denied.

Now, in 2011, that figure has not changed. We still have the same number of unlicensed drivers wreaking havoc on our roadways. It currently breaks down to about one out of every eight drivers you pass on your daily commute.

Crashes involving unlicensed drivers have accounted for more than 21,000 deaths in the U.S., just between 2007 and 2009.

The statistics may seem somewhat overwhelming, but consider that each and every one of those victims is someone's mother, father, sister, brother, child or friend.

What's even more troubling is that of those unlicensed drivers involved in fatal crashes, nearly half had been consuming alcohol at the time of the accident.

And those same unlicensed drivers, when they caused a crash, were more than three times as likely as properly licensed drivers to flee the scene.

In most cases, younger drivers - those between the ages of 21 and 34 - were the most likely to have suspended or revoked licenses. In fact, just like the case mentioned above, more than half of unlicensed drivers involved in fatal crashes were in this younger age group.

In the Framingham car accident case, the victim is being treated at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He's expected to undergo a CAT scan, and even if he survives - which doctors say he might - he could be facing years of intensive therapy and medical bills - likely with the added frustration of lost wages.

As he and his family look to a long road to recovery, investigators are still determining whether they will file additional charges against the driver.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Struck By Unlicensed Driver in Boston Car Accident" »