Articles Posted in Car Accidents

When a pregnant mother is involved in a catastrophic accident, it is not surprising that the mother and the child can be exposed to injury. However, new studies indicate that even minor car accidents that don’t cause serious injury to a mother could result in adverse birth outcomes. Many of these issues may be tied to the use of seat belts during pregnancy.

Pregnant women must take special precautions in their daily lives, whether riding in a vehicle or avoiding certain foods. According to a new study published by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, pregnant women should consider the additional risks of not wearing a seat belt when driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle. Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys are experienced in complex car accident cases and are dedicated to protecting the rights of victims. Lawyers from our firm are also abreast of medical research and studies involving car accident injuries and outcomes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6,400 adults are injured in car crashes every day. As we have been taught since we were children, wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of injury at the time of an accident. The recent reports highlight the very dangerous consequences of car accidents for mothers and their unborn babies.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it is adding rearview video systems to the list of features recommended in the agency’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The addition of rearview cameras is aimed at encouraging car companies to include this technology in more vehicles in order to prevent backover accidents.

Our Boston car accident attorneys know that backover accidents are a common cause of injury or death, with a Yahoo News article reporting that more than 13,000 kids are hurt in backover crashes annually. While new technologies could help to reduce this number, NHTSA also reminds drivers that there are steps motorists can take to reduce the danger of a backover crash even if their vehicles have not yet embraced the new safety feature.
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Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) fraternity has settled a lawsuit with the family of one of four college students killed in a fatigued driving accident. The accident caused the death of four students, resulting in a lawsuit in 2005, which settled in September.

Our Boston car accident lawyers know fatigued driving is one of the top causes of fatal auto accidents. Unfortunately, college students who are out spending time with friends and who have late nights may fall victim to injuries or even become involved in fatal accidents because they drive with an overtired driver. College students need to be very careful about who they get into a car with, and organizations such as fraternities need to take some responsibility for ensuring that young college students aren’t put at risk when being transported home from activities and special events.
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Mopeds have become an increasingly popular option for commuters, especially in light of rising gas prices. Unfortunately, the use of a moped can be extremely dangerous. In fact, ABC 10 reported that moped drivers are around 35 times more likely to die when involved in a moped accident than when involved in a car crash.

Our Boston injury lawyers know that avoiding moped accidents requires a joint effort between drivers of passenger cars and moped riders. Motorists in passenger vehicles need to be aware that there may be moped riders on the road and understand the rules while moped riders also need to follow the laws, be vigilant when riding and exercise care to prevent injury.
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Police officers are investigating a teenage driver who they believe was on his way home from football practice when he hit and killed a pedestrian and his dog. According to 7 News, the 17-year-old driver not only hit a 71-year-old man who was walking his dog on the sidewalk, but also slammed into a tree and a utility pole. Both the pedestrian and the dog were killed in the crash.

The teenager is a football player at Oliver Ames High School. Neighbors in the area where the accident happened say it’s a curvy road where they see plenty of accidents. It rained earlier in the day, and the slick roads most likely didn’t help the situation.

Our North Easton car accident lawyers know the statistics on teen motorists are both eye opening and sobering. Traffic accidents are the number one cause of death for teens both here in Massachusetts and across the nation. As a matter of fact, these newly-licensed drivers are about four times more likely to be killed in a car accident and about 14 times more likely to be injured than any other age group of driver, according to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
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The Patrick Administration is asking residents to keep their cars parked in their garages or driveways, and to get out and walk, bike or use public transit.

It’s all a part of Massachusetts Car-Free Week. The underlying theme of this awareness campaign is “Pick a Day, Commute Another Way.” During this time, the state of Massachusetts is joining more than 1,000 cities in 40 countries across the world in an effort to showcase the community, financial and environmental benefits of reducing the number of vehicles on the road with an entire week dedicated to choosing a day to commute another way, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

“Car-Free Week is also a great time to remind individuals to sign-up for NuRide to get rewards for their green commutes. It’s a free program, it’s easy to use and MassDOT is actually rewarding you for incorporating sustainability into your daily travels,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys are glad to participate in Massachusetts Car-Free Week, but are reminding residents of the risks involved with alternative transportation. Remember that when you’re walking, biking and even using public transportation, there are still risks for accidents. While traveling, regardless of how you do it, you’ve got to be aware of the others traveling around you. Defensive driving is your best defense against a collision with another traveler.
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A 19-year-old passenger from Dedham was recently identified by a state medical examiner as the teenager who was killed in a single-car crash on Route 202 on early Sunday morning. According to the Monadnock Leger-Transcript, another 19-year-old was behind the wheel when the loss control of the vehicle while heading northbound on Route 202. His vehicle crossed over into the southbound lane of the road and drove straight into the woods. The teenage passenger died of blunt force trauma. It all happened shortly after 4:30 a.m. A second passenger was treated and released.

Our Dedham car accident lawyers understand that it’s that time of year again — when teens are back in school and twenty-somethings are back on their college campus. With this comes long nights of studying and even longer nights of partying. Unfortunately, this comes with some serious risks for car accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 2,000 drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were killed in traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2011. Drivers age 20 to 25 follow at a close second.
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With the Labor Day holiday weekend approaching, families across the nation are gearing up for that much-needed vacation. Unfortunately, with the increase in traffic, officials are expecting a serious increase in the risks for accidents, injuries and fatalities.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, this is going to be one of the busiest years on our roadways, at least since the recession. According to recent studies, there are going to be more than 34 million people traveling 50 miles or more for their Labor Day holiday weekend. Close to 90 percent of these travelers will be getting to their holiday destination via motor vehicle.

Our Massachusetts car accident lawyers understand that alcohol-related auto accidents are going to be alarmingly common during this holiday weekend — as they are with most similar time periods. For this reason, the Peabody Police Department and more than 125 other law enforcement agencies across the state will be participating in a serious crackdown on intoxicated drivers through Labor Day.
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If you’ve got autumn road trip on your agenda, you might want to listen up. Make sure you go out with a plan and your plan includes preparation. According to Safecar.gov, planning and prevention are much easier than dealing with the consequences of a breakdown or, worse yet, an accident.

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that one of the first things you should consider before heading out is the maintenance on your vehicle. Have you had your car tuned up lately? Consider getting the oil changed, make sure the battery is in good shape and try getting your tires rotated. These preventative measures go a long way in helping to prevent a breakdown or traffic accident.

In fact, you should pay particular attention to your tire pressure. When tires aren’t properly inflated, you’re increasing your risks for a blowout. Don’t forget to check the spare tire, too. The hot pavement combined with low tires serves up some deadly risks.

Are the lights working? You want the emergency flashers, the turn signals, the brake lights, the headlights, your trailer lights and the interior lights to work properly. This is not only going to help you to navigate the road safer, but it’s going to help other motorists to see you better — helping to prevent an accident.
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