Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

While we might expect to see gators sunning themselves at roadside on some long strip of highway in the Florida Everglades, such scenes would be highly unexpected here in Massachusetts.

We do, however, have an abundance of “road gators,” as they are often called. Although not a massive reptilian, they bear a striking resemblance to such – and can be far more dangerous. “Road gators” are shreds of debris, usually steel-reinforced truck tires that can stretch anywhere from 8 to 10 feet long and weigh 70 pounds or more. This debris is often found on the highway shoulder, but sometimes found lying squarely in the middle of the road – and can cause a serious accident, particularly when on interstates with speed limits of 70 miles-per-hour.

It’s a particular problem in summer, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Hot pavement contributes to tire wear and tear, and these problems stretch well into September. Often, people swerve to avoid debris, but the chain reaction ends up being worse than if they had actually struck it. The NHTSA reports swerving to avoid roadway debris causes some 25,0009 crashes each year.

Our car accident lawyers in Massachusetts know liability in these cases can be tricky. Unless it occurs directly in front of the injured party or witnesses, it may be next to impossible to identify the truck from which the debris originated.
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According to a recent news report from ABC 40, two people were hospitalized after a four-car accident in Western Massachusetts. The accident occurred at an intersection around noon.

Emergency crews arrived to find three cars heavily damaged and one car that had sustained minor damage. One of the drivers sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital. Another driver was taken to the hospital with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.

Two other drivers and two passengers refused treatment when asked by paramedics if they needed to go the hospital. It has been reported that one of the vehicles ran a red traffic signal, and that may have been the reason for the crash.

As your Boston car accident attorney understands, you should never refuse medical attention if you have been in an automobile accident if offered by the paramedics, EMTs, police, or firefighters. You may not realize the extent of your injuries or even whether you have any injuries at all.
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According to a recent article in the Boston Herald, Jalen Saunders, a rookie wide receiver who plays for the New York Jets, was in a single vehicle crash. He is reported to be in the hospital for observation, and there has been no word on the seriousness of his injuries. He is expected to miss at least one preseason game due to his hospitalization.

As our Boston car accident attorneys understand, single vehicle accidents can pose unique challenges to an injured victim. First, it should be noted that just because there was only one vehicle that crashed, does not mean that it was the injured driver’s fault.

Often times a driver will act in a manner that causes another driver to crash without crashing his or her own vehicle. We tend to see this when a driver weaves or makes an unsafe lane change, or even drives the wrong way down a street, causing another vehicle to take evasive action. Swerving out the way may lead to running off the road and crashing into an object like a utility pole or having a rollover accident.
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As your Boston car accident lawyer can explain, insurance companies will often engage in substantial litigation to avoid paying claims.

Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. v. MMG Insurance Co. involved a car passenger who suffered severe personal injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Those injuries cost him much more than $500,000, which was the policy limit on the vehicle
The victim’s mother owned the car. The driver of the car was the sole person liable for the single-car crash.
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Our Boston car accident lawyers know defendants will file pre-trial motions to dismiss in nearly all negligence cases.

In the Estate of Edmund M. Carman v. Tinkes, the plaintiff’s car crashed into the back of the defendant’s commercial pickup truck. According to court records, the plaintiff was driving his car early one morning before dawn. He did not have his headlights on and was driving in what was described as a “quick” manner.

When the plaintiff approached a red traffic signal, he did not attempt to stop or slow down. Instead, he crashed into the back of a large commercial pickup truck driven by the defendant. The plaintiff’s car was completely destroyed in the accident, and the plaintiff was killed.
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According to a recent story from WMUR, a Massachusetts woman crashed her Honda Civic into a recreational vehicle (RV) on Route 9. The Civic was traveling on Route 9 when it allegedly crossed into the other lane and struck the RV, according to police. The RV was built in 1974 and obviously lacked some of the safety equipment found on modern vehicles.

Tragically, the driver of the Civic and her two passengers were killed in this accident. The driver of the RV was taken to a hospital to be treated for serious but non-fatal injuries. A passenger in the RV was also killed in the accident. The RV was also towing a car that was destroyed in the accident. 

While it is known that the Civic hit the RV, police have not concluded who was ultimately responsible for the deadly motor vehicle crash and are continuing to investigate.

As your Boston car accident attorney can explain, cases involving the deaths of both the plaintiff and defendant typically require extra attention. First, the plaintiff’s surviving heirs (family members) will need to open a probate estate. The probate process is designed to pay any final debts of the decedent’s estate and distribute any assets remaining in the estate.
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