Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

October 13, 2013

Preventing College Campus Pedestrian Accidents

Massachusetts is widely known for its university campuses. For decades, campuses have been swarming with pedestrians, cyclists, and cars full of students coming to and from class. Combine this busy all-day traffic with distracted drivers, pedestrians with headphones, cellphones and general distractions and you have a scene ripe for accidents. Tufts University departments are teaming up to launch an extensive campaign to improve safety for pedestrians. After a string of accidents and hundreds of on-campus accidents nationwide, other universities should consider following the lead.

Pedestrian safety on-campus can prevent accidents and injuries. Our Massachusetts pedestrian accident attorneys are dedicated to helping victims and their families recover compensation and move forward after an accident. We are also dedicated to safety and awareness campaigns that aim to prevent future accidents and injuries. In-line with the goals of Tufts, we believe that implementing regulations and raising awareness is critical in reducing the overall number of campus pedestrian accidents.

Nationwide, there has been an increasing number of pedestrian and cyclist accidents on public and private university campuses. This could be partly related to a spike in matriculation; however, it could also be related to driver and pedestrian distraction. Universities and other public health agencies are urging students, teachers and staff to remain aware of the dangers of busy, high-traffic campus intersections and to take precaution while on campus.
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October 10, 2013

Car Accidents and Adverse Birth Issues for Pregnant Women

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

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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October 8, 2013

New Vehicle Safety Features Stop Accidents Before They Happen

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Safety features have been evolving since the invention of the automobile. From new designs to seat belts and anti-lock brakes, manufacturers, legislators, and public health advocates have emphasized the importance of safety in automobiles. Now technology is playing a role and having an impact on how safe a vehicle is for passengers, as well as other vehicles sharing the road.

While older safety features focus on preventing injury in the event of an accident, safety technology focuses overall accident prevention. Safety analysts project that this is an important shift from “passive safety” features, which intend to keep passengers safe in the event of an accident, to more active technology which aims to stop accidents before they happen. Our Massachusetts car accident lawyers are dedicated to public safety and in aiming to prevent future collisions and injuries. We are also committed to staying abreast of new technology that aims to meet these goals.

According to reports, the Department of Transportation was recently sued by public interest groups for failing to pass requirements that all new cars have rear-view cameras. Safety experts assert that this technology can prevent rollovers and other accidents so that drivers can see what is behind them before they back up. This is one of many safety features installed in new vehicles, which takes a preventative approach to passenger safety.
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October 4, 2013

Eight Fatalities After Church Bus Collides with Semi-Truck

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Highways are dangerous for all motorists, especially when traveling at high speeds alongside large vehicles, including semi-trucks, buses, and SUVs. In a tragic accident, a bus traveling with a church group blew a tire and veered off the median, crashing into a sport-utility vehicle and a semi-truck. The explosive accident caused the death of eight victims.

Commercial bus lines have been under scrutiny since a number of high-proflle accidents nationwide. Inexperienced drivers and failed maintenance have routinely been the cause of a number of fatal accidents throughout the Northeast and nationwide. Our Massachusetts bus accident attorneys are dedicated to protecting victims and raising awareness to prevent future accidents and injuries.

According to reports, the bus was carrying members of a Baptist Church located approximately 140 miles east of the collision site. The members were traveling to a festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee to attend an event that featured gospel music, singing, and speakers. The church had a close-knit community and many members knew everyone on the bus that had attended the event.
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September 29, 2013

Could Boston Follow the Dutch Model to Increase Bicycle Safety?

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Our Boston bicycle accident lawyers know that many steps have been taken to make the roads safer for bicyclists in the city of Boston, but that there are still some risk factors that put bike riders in danger. The Boston Globe lists these risk factors, including “cramped streets, crowded roadways, [and] a desperate need for parking spots that leaves little room for bike lanes.”

Yet, while these factors would seem to inherently make the roads unsafe, the Globe points out that these same conditions exist in one of the most bicycle friendly places in the world: the Netherlands. Bicycling among the Dutch is one of the most common ways to get around, as there are more bikes than people and 26 percent of commuting trips there are taken by bicycle. Yet, while there are many more people on bikes, the likelihood of being injured or killed in a bike accident is five times less than in the United States and is the lowest in the world.
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September 25, 2013

NHTSA Takes Action to Prevent Backover Accidents With Technology Recommendations & Road Safety Tips

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

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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September 23, 2013

Fraternity’s Car Accident Settlement Important Reminder to College Students About The Dangers of Driving with Fatigued Drivers

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

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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September 19, 2013

Drivers on Mopeds Much More Likely to Die in An Accident- Here’s Some Tips to Help Reduce Your Risk

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

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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September 15, 2013

Teen Driver Blamed in Accident that Killed Elderly Pedestrian and Dog

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

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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September 13, 2013

Massachusetts Celebrates Car-Free Week

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

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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