Articles Posted in Car Accidents

With the winter season upon us, so too are the dangerous risks for weather-related car accidents. With snow and ice, we’ve got some serious risks, including unseen black ice.

After snow plowing operations have finished and a roadway is left in the so-called “black and wet” condition, there is sometimes the danger of the water on the road re-freezing. This post-storm treatment of roads is typically needed at night – since temperature drops can be more dramatic than when the sun is shining, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that there were roughly 500 car accident fatalities in the U.S. during 2008 and 2009 as a result of icy roads during the winter season. There were another 500 during the 2009-2010 winter season. Accident, injury and fatality rates are much higher during freezing rain and black ice than any other type of road ice condition (including snow and sleet) due to black ice’s invisibility and element of surprise. Preparation is the best way to work to stay out of one of these dangerous and potentially fatal accidents.
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Winter may be one of the most beautiful times of the year, but it can also be one of the most dangerous.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), you not only want to make sure that you vehicle is in good-running condition during this time, but you also want to make sure that you take a moment to refresh our winter-driving skills. With snow and ice, our risks for an accident skyrocket.

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that there are close to 250,000 car accidents each and every year because of snow and sleet. In these accidents, close to 71,000 people are injured and close to 900 are killed, according to the Road Weather Management Program. Icy pavement does just about as much damage, accounting for approximately 190,000 accidents annually, with close to 63,000 injuries and 700 fatalities.

One of the biggest mistakes that drivers tend to make when driving during winter in Massachusetts is to try and out-drive weather conditions. The posted speed limits are intended for dry pavement, so adjust your speed according to the snow, freezing rain or wind. Before you leave on a trip, find out about current road conditions by calling 511 from your cell phone.
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Officials with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced the opening of all three toll lanes at the Tobin Bridge, in both directions. Officials warn that there may still be periodic lane closures until all of the lane markings and steel repair projects are complete.

The work that needs permanent lane closures will kick off again in spring of next year. This is the continuance of the three-year steel preservation and paint project that started last year. Since March, there have been a number of lane restrictions that have taken the road from three lanes down to two on both decks of the bridge.

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that transportation officials are working to minimize traffic changes throughout this project, but the changes are there and so are the risks. With road construction and lane changes, we typically see an increase in accidents. Although officials are encouraging travelers to participate in the E-ZPass system to alleviate congestion, it still may confuse a lot of travelers. With these tolls, officials hope to move to All-Electronic Tolling on the Tobin Bridge. Beginning early in 2014, motorists will no longer stop at a toll booth and pay cash for their Tobin Bridge toll. Tolls will be collected electronically through the E-ZPass transponder or via a program in which a camera captures the license plate and the vehicle’s registered owner is billed by mail.
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In honor of National Teen Driver Safety Week, officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched their “5 to Drive” campaign. This campaign is working to help to get parents talking with the teen drivers in their lives about the top risks that contribute to teen driver fatalities.

Car accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for teens across the country. And with your help, we can work to prevent these catastrophic, and preventable, tragedies. Read on and find out what you can do to help your teen stay safe on the road through the long holiday driving season.

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that the state of Massachusetts currently pushes its Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program to help to keep teen drivers safe. This program allows young drivers to safely gain driving experience before obtaining full driving privileges. The state of Massachusetts currently deploys a three-stage system with various restrictions on each stage to ensure that teens are getting the proper driving education.
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There were two separate accidents on Interstate 93 South in Andover that caused some serious traffic backups. According to 7News, two of the lanes were blocked with two three-car accidents. The backup went for about 9 miles all the way into New Hampshire. Officials also got word of a crash within the backup.

Once drivers got through the congestion at 133, the drive into Boston was relatively clear.

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that many of us don’t think about the dangers of the interstate while we’re on our daily commute. But the truth of the matter is that it’s the most dangerous part of our day. Recent statistics shows the high risk of severe damages, injuries, and deaths resulting from traffic collisions on interstate highways. A driving education aims to develop awareness on how to drive safely in interstate highways and to avoid any loss of life or damage to property. Mainly, these safety tips are anchored on the idea of defensive driving that has been taught and vigorously pushed by any driving school in your area.
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Our Boston car accident lawyers know that the risk of accidents goes up at night, especially as many state and local governments increasingly face difficulties coming up with the money to install, operate and maintain sufficient lighting along roadways. The good news is, however, that researchers are evaluating new lighting technologies for car headlights that could potentially make driving at night safer.

The research is timely as drivers enter into the most dangerous season on the roads. While one of the big risks of accidents in Boston is slippery roads due to bad winter weather, there is also another danger that drivers face in winter: daylight savings time. Research has indicated that daylight savings time increases the chance of auto accidents when the time change goes into effect.
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Every year there are more than 1.1 million deer-auto collisions. These accidents have caused over 25,000 injuries and resulted in $3.5 billion in damages. In some cases, the collisions have resulted in fatalities. While “deer crossing” signs may put drivers on notice in a heavily populated area, drivers may not be able to stop in time to prevent a collision. New technologies are being advanced to help vehicles detect animals ahead and help drivers stop before a collision.

Any accident can be a personal and financial hardship. Our Boston car accident attorneys understand the stress and costs of a vehicle collision. We are dedicated to helping victims of accidents recover compensation for these losses. Our firm is also committed to staying abreast of safety technologies and raising awareness to prevent future accidents and injuries.
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For many motorists, driving with a pet means taking your best companion along for a ride. Of course, there are also instances that require you to take your pet in the car. For most drivers this means letting the dog jump in the front seat, opening the window and letting the animal freely enjoy the ride. After thousands of accidents have cost the lives of animals, especially pet dogs, new safety products have been developed to restrain pets in a vehicle. New research is seeking to determine which pet restraints are actually safer.

While crash test dummies have been used to test the safety of features such as seat belts and car seats, up until recently there were no such tests performed on safety features for animals. Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that car accidents can be devastating. We are committed to keeping Massachusetts motorists safe and staying abreast of motor vehicles safety features for families, including pets.
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In a recent car accident on East Hartford Avenue, a driver sustained critical injuries, including burns to nearly half of his body. According to CBS Boston, it happened around 4:00 a.m. when the vehicle slammed into a telephone pole, splitting it in half. The vehicle was engulfed in flames and the driver was trapped inside. A member of the Uxbridge police force and a Good Samaritan were able to extinguish the fire. The driver was treated on scene and transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Officers are suspecting that alcohol and speed were contributors in the accident.

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that transitions associated with the start and end of daylight saving time disturb sleep patterns, and make people restless at night, which results in sleepiness the next day, even during a “Fall back” period, since when we Fall Back, we might have trouble adjusting to going to sleep “later” after the time change. One of the deadliest risks associated with these transitions are the rest for car accidents. On November 3, we will be pushing our clocks back an hour at 2:00 a.m. and gaining an extra hour or sleep. With more sleep comes darker nights, and with darker nights comes higher risks for accidents.
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We have discussed in recent posts a number of safety technology advancements including rear-view cameras, automatic brakes and new headlight systems. Another system that may be available in newer models allows vehicles to detect when a pedestrian walks in front of the car. The sensory systems aim to prevent collisions or at the very least reduce the impact in the event of an accident.

In Boston and more rural areas of Massachusetts, pedestrian accidents continue to be a serious hazard, resulting in hundreds of injuries and deaths every year. Our Massachusetts pedestrian accident attorneys are dedicated to helping victims and their families recover compensation in an accident. We will take a comprehensive approach to review the facts of your case and pursue any damages you are entitled to after an accident. Our team understands the gravity of every collision and works to prevent future injuries and accidental death.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian deaths have increased since 2011 with a total of 4,432 deaths nationwide. Many safety experts will attribute this spike to distracted driving as well as distracted walking. Those who are looking at their phone, even for a few seconds, will have less time to react to stop a pedestrian collision.
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