Lt. Gov. Murray’s Car Accident in Massachusetts Questioned by Public, Hidden by Officials

As we recently discussed on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, the Lt. Gov. of Massachusetts, Tim Murray, was handed a number of traffic violations and fined for a recent accident some believe his irresponsible driving habits caused. While he defends his reputation by saying he fell asleep at the wheel, the public isn’t buying it, according to The Boston Globe.
mPIXIhI.jpg
Immediately following the accident, Murray requested a sobriety test from officers knowing that the public would be interested. He wanted to avoid any public speculation that he’d been drunk at the time of the accident. While his name may have been cleared from drunk driving accusations, the spirit of forthrightness ended there. Previously, the officer denied he had been speeding in the department’s vehicle and stated the cause of the accident was in fact black ice. That’s not what the vehicle’s “black box” is saying though. The recording device kept in the vehicle is raising some questions as to whether or not weather conditions contributed to the accident. There are even further assumptions concluding that State Police suppressed and ignored vital information regarding the accident in an attempt to save face.

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that police officers initially resisted requests from the media for the information revealed from the black box, saying that they were too busy handling more serious cases to deal with this officer’s accident. The agency was hanging up their hats on the fault of black ice for the accident. The black box revealed that the vehicle was traveling at roughly 108 mph just before the accident. Our Boston lawyers understand that this is a prime example as to what can result from speeding. Whether or not the officer was speeding at the time of the accident, it’s clear that speeding is viewed as an extremely dangerous and irresponsible cause of a number of serious traffic accidents in the state of Massachusetts.

This is the third entry of a 6-part blog to discuss New Year’s resolutions that motorists in the state can take to help make our roadways safer for all travelers. In this entry we will be discussing speedy drivers. Risks for injury and death increase as the speed of the vehicle increases upon impact — the faster the travel the more likely death will be.

According to the State of Massachusetts, speeding to a top cause of traffic accidents in the state. To help reduce the risks of these accidents, speed laws are strictly enforced.

Tips to Avoid Speeding:

-Never drive so fast that it’s unsafe.

-Consider traffic conditions. Slow down when roads become more congested.

-Consider road conditions. Slow down in areas that have poor road conditions. Consider ice, snow, water, etc.

-Consider weather conditions and your visibility. If it’s difficult to see because of snow, rain or fog, slow it down.

-Slow down near bicyclists and pedestrians.

-Never drive above the posted speed limit on any road.

-Remember that posted speed limits are for ideal weather conditions. Travel below these limits in dangerous weather conditions.

-Consider minimum speeds on some Boston roadways, like the Massachusetts Turnpike which has a peed minimum of 40 mph. There’s a minimum speed of 20 mph in the Boston Harbor tunnels.

Consider speed limits and drive safely in 2012 to help avoid a potentially fatal accident. The faster you’re traveling at the time of a car accident, the higher your risks are for injury or death. Be cautious and travel wisely!

If you or someone you love has been injured in a speed-related car accident in Boston or elsewhere in Massachusetts, contact Boston Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman. Our firm offers free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call 877-617-5333.

More Blog Entries:

MassDOT Helps Travelers to Avoid Car Accidents in Boston and Elsewhere, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, December 25, 2011

Car Accidents in Boston and Elsewhere is Top Cause of Death for 4- to 34-Year-Olds, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, December 19, 2011

Contact Information