Articles Posted in Car Accidents

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).
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.

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 115 winners of 2012 Top Safety Pick Stronger roofs lead to another record year for award, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety