Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

September 15, 2010

Fatal Massachusetts drunk driving accidents follow national trend; responsible for one-third of deaths

While our Boston injury lawyers reported on the recent historic drop in traffic accidents last year, one-third of traffic fatalities nationwide remained the fault of drunk driving, according to new statistics just released from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Alcohol-related Massachusetts car accidents were responsible for 108 of 334 fatalities in 2009, compared to 120 of the 364 traffic fatalities in 2008. Nationwide, 10,839 motorists died in alcohol-related crashes last year, compared to 11,711 in 2008. While 33 states reported a decline, alcohol involvement in 1 in 3 fatal traffic deaths is still much too high.

“We are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways, and about a third of these involve drunk driving,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “We will continue to work with our state partners to strictly enforce both seat belt use and anti-drunk driving laws across this nation, every day and every night.”

As we reported earlier this month on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, new data shows that eight percent of all motorists — or some 17 million drivers — have driven drunk in the last year, despite the fact that 80 percent say drunk driving is a major threat to the safety of their family.

Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving are vowing to redouble efforts to prevent the kind of senseless tragedy that results from drunk driving accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere.

The states with the highest percentage of drunk driving accidents last year included Connecticut (44 percent), Hawaii (48 percent), Kansas (40 percent), Rhode Island (40 percent), South Carolina (42 percent), South Dakota (40 percent) and Washington (42 percent).
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September 13, 2010

Fatal Massachusetts car accidents follow nationwide decline in 2009

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Four people an hour died on the nation’s roads last year, or almost 100 motorists a day. And more than 2 million were injured, according to new statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Still, the nation posted the fewest fatalities than at anytime since 1950. A total of 33,808 motorists were killed last year, a decrease of nearly 10 percent compared to the 37,423 who died in 2008. The number of people who were injured in auto accident declined for the 10th year in a row, dropping to 2.217 million last year from the 2.346 million reported injured in 2008.

“Today’s announcement shows that America’s roads are the safest they’ve ever been,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “But they must be safer. And we will not rest until they are.”

Fatal Massachusetts car accidents declined to 334, from the 364 reported in 2008. The 30 fewer fatalities represent a decline of 8.2 percent, slightly less than the national average. As our Boston car accident attorneys have reported, Massachusetts has been one of a dwindling number of states that have not enacted a texting and driving ban or other laws to combat distracted driving. A new law has since passed and could further reduce the number of serious and fatal accidents in the coming year.

Mass Live reports that Massachusetts did have the fewest fatal accidents per capita, at 5 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Fatalities declined across all categories, including motorcycles; the number of fatal motorcycle accidents declined by 850, the first drop in more than a decade. Still, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for those ages 3 to 34.

“Today’s numbers reflect the tangible benefits of record seat belt use and strong anti-drunk driving enforcement campaigns,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “But we are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways.”

A total of 41 states reported fewer accidents, led by Florida (422 fewer fatalities) and Texas (405 fewer).
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September 11, 2010

MADD vows to continue fight against drunk driving car accidents in Massachusetts

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A new survey found that 80 percent of Americans consider drunk driving to be a primary threat to the safety of their family, a statistic that has Mothers Against Drunk Driving vowing renewed vigilance as we head into the heart of the 2010 holiday season when motorists will be most at risk for a drunk driving accident in Boston and throughout the rest of the nation.

Despite the concern from 4 of every 5 motorists, about 8 percent of all drivers – or some 17 million motorists – admitted to driving drunk in the last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“The survey makes one thing very clear: drunk driving remains a primary threat to the American family,” said Laura Dean-Mooney, MADD National President. “This means that MADD’s work won’t be done until cars are turned into the cure, eliminating drunk driving forever.”

Still, much progress has been made: Drunk driving fatalities have declined by 44 percent since MADD was organized 30 years ago. The survey found continued support for ignition interlock devices and sobriety checkpoints, two of the cornerstones of the organization’s “Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.”

Like most poor driving habits, the survey also found that teen drivers are among the most at risk. About one-fourth of young males admitted to either driving drunk or riding in a car with a drunk driver at some point in the last year.

“We know that the younger kids start drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to become drunk drivers,” said Dean-Mooney. “This data reiterates that point and makes it clear that parents need to talk to their kids about the dangers of drinking underage early, and often.”
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September 10, 2010

Brady uninjured after Boston car accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Tom Brady claims a minivan ran a red light and caused a Boston car accident in which the star quarterback of the New England Patriots was involved on Thursday morning, the Boston Globe reported.

Brady said he was driving in Back Bay when he entered the intersection at Commonwealth Avenue while traveling on Gloucester shortly after 6:30 a.m. He said the light was green when the minivan entered the intersection from the other direction. He said he swerved to avoid the crash but ended up broadsiding the van. The 21-year-old driver of the van also claimed to have the green light when he was struck by Brady’s Audi.

Police cited the other driver for running a red light, based on information from a witness. The witness said she was walking her dogs and could confirm that Brady had the green light. The Globe reports that the other driver has had his driver’s license suspended five times since first earning the right to drive in 2006.

Brady was uninjured. However, the father of the other driver had to be extracted from the minivan by the Jaws of Life.

Records show the at-fault driver has been cited repeatedly for not wearing a seat belt and failing to properly secure children in his vehicle. His license was suspended in 2008 for having amassed seven traffic citations in three years.

The New York Daily News reports that Brady’s Thursday got better as the day went on. By Thursday night he had signed a contract extension making him the NFL’s highest paid player at $19 million a season.
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September 8, 2010

Life-saving technology being tested in Waltham; fewer Massachusetts drunk driving accidents could result

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Fewer Massachusetts drunk driving accidents could result from a system under testing in Waltham, which could prove the greatest lifesaver since the seat belt, the Boston Globe reports.

The system would test the blood-alcohol level of all drivers with just the touch of a button — before permitting a car to start — and could become as standard as seat belt or airbags in next-generation automobiles. Currently, ignition interlock devices, which conduct a breath test on drivers before permitting a car to start — are required for those convicted of two or more drunk driving offenses in Massachusetts. They have been mandated for first-time offenders in some states, including New York.

But the $10 million program backed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the first that would develop a high-tech instrument for the mass market, which could be installed as standard equipment in all new automobiles.

Safety advocates contend the devices could save 9,000 of the 11,000 people a year who are killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents. That would be a staggering achievement rivaled only by the 15,000 lives a year saved by seat belts.

The devices are currently under development at QinetiQ North America, a Waltham defense contractor with a five-year trial that ends in 2013.

A number of hurdles remain, not the least of which are the privacy concerns and implications. The prototype devices would also need to be cheaper and smaller to make them conducive to mass-market use. Prototypes are about the size of a shoe box or larger.

“MADD is very excited about this,” said Mothers Against Drunk Driving spokesman J.T. Griffin. “This could really eliminate drunk driving in America.”

In 2008, 151 of 363 fatal car accidents in Massachusetts involved alcohol.
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September 6, 2010

Teens at increased risk of distracted driving car accidents in Massachusetts

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Despite an aggressive national public service campaign and text messaging bans in 30 states, 9 out of 10 teens admit to distracted driving
Two seconds. Two seconds is the time it takes to turn off, or answer, a cell phone. For teenage drivers in Massachusetts a two-second distraction can mean the difference between life and death, between getting into a Boston car accident or avoiding one.

Despite this simple truth, a recent online survey conducted by Seventeen magazine and auto club AAA found that 86 percent of teens admit to distracted driving – including texting and talking on their cell phones – while behind the wheel, usatoday.com reports. What makes this figure more disturbing, is 84 percent of teens admit they know distracted driving is dangerous.

In an effort to reduce the number of Massachusetts car accidents, after six-years of debate state lawmakers have penned the Safe Driving Act, which goes into effect on Sept. 30. As our Boston car accident attorneys reported earlier on our Boston Car Accident Blog, the agreement, among other things, bans Massachusetts teens from using cell phones, laptops and other hand-held electronic devices while driving.

Of course, chatting or texting aren’t the only ways for teen drivers to be distracted, although according to distraction.gov, drivers using a hand-held electronic device while behind the wheel are four times more likely to be involved in a serious injury car accident. Other common distractions include: eating or drinking, applying makeup or grooming, reading (maps included), watching a video, or changing radio stations/CDs.

For more information, or to participate in the Seventeen magazine’s Two-Second Turnoff Day viral video challenge, go to http://www.seventeen.com/fun/articles/two-second-turnoff.
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September 4, 2010

Older drivers at increased risk of Boston car accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

With 78-million baby boomers edging closer to 70, when and how to address concerns about elderly driving with loved ones is a topic of conversation most families in the United States struggle to address. But having that conversation can boil down to a matter of saving lives, the Washington Post reports.

Older drivers are at increased risk of a Boston car accident, and loved ones, family and friends are increasingly the last line of defense.

One recent MIT AgeLab survey found that as drivers get older, their confidence in their driving improves as their ability to remain safe behind the wheel declines. In fact, drivers over 75 were twice as likely to say they would continue driving at 90 than their 65-74 year old counterparts.

Unfortunately, perception and reality on this issue diverge. In 2007, the Government Accountability Office found that drivers 75 and older were more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident than any other age group, including teens.

While a handful of nationally-publicized, multiple-fatality car accidents involving older drivers has led to some state-by-state tightening of motor vehicle restrictions and driver’s license renewal procedures, the conversation needs to start at home, or with the family physician. And to be effective, hopefully, it must be a carefully crafted discussion. One where respect for the older driver’s sense of freedom and control is taken into consideration and thoughtfully navigated.

In the end, of course, whether or not a driver gives up their license is a matter of ability, not age. The question asked should not be: is dad (or mom) too old to drive, but rather, are they able to drive safely and responsibly?

The Boston car accident lawyers at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, LLC, have more than 18 years experience handling personal injury and auto accident claims. Our team understands how difficult it can be to deal with the physical, emotional and financial devastation that often accompanies being injured in a Massachusetts car accident.
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September 1, 2010

Government accused of smoke in mirrors with over focus on distracted driving car accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

One of the nation’s most prominent highway safety organizations contends the government has gotten sidetracked by safety issues like texting and driving.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the highway safety arm of the insurance industry, claims the government is waging a high-profile campaign against test messaging and runaway Toyotas while doing too little to force automakers to adapt better safety features. Our Boston personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys have reported extensively on the government’s effort to combat texting and cell phone use while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 6,000 motorists are killed and more than 500,000 are injured each year in accidents caused by distracted driving, including driver cell phone use.

The IIHS reports about 100 motorists are killed each day in traffic accidents nationwide.

“You’d think from the media coverage, congressional hearings, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s focus in recent months that separating drivers from their phones would all but solve the public-health problem of crash deaths and injuries,” IIHS President Adrian Lund wrote in the agency’s August status report. “It won’t.”

As the Wall Street Journal points out, car accidents are the number one cause of accidental death in the United States. Naturally, the U.S. Department of Transportation takes issue with the notion that it has been sidetracked.

“Safety is the Department of Transportation’s number one priority, which is why we are aggressively and urgently tackling a number of risks to drivers’ safety,” the DOT said in a statement. “We are going to continue taking drunk drivers off the road, getting people to put down their phones and other distractions, making sure cars and trucks are safe to drive, and doing whatever else is necessary to keep Americans safe behind the wheel.”

While that might be true, the uproar over Toyota consumed the agency earlier this summer. And it has yet to release comprehensive accident statistics for 2009, which are typically released sometime in midsummer each year.
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August 31, 2010

Law enforcement to target drunk driving in effort to reduce Massachusetts car accidents over Labor Day weekend

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The U.S. Department of Transportation will be joining law enforcement efforts in all 50 states to crack down on drunk driving and other driving infractions through the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

Our Boston accident attorneys continue to report on the dangers of drunk driving accidents. Alcohol was involved in 151 fatal Massachusetts car accidents in 2008 — accounting for 42 percent of the state’s 363 traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” is a nationwide campaign that began Aug. 20 and runs through Labor Day weekend. Law enforcement efforts in all 50 states will be augmented by a $13 million television and radio campaign.

“Drunk driving is deadly, it’s against the law, and unfortunately, it’s still a problem,” said Secretary Ray LaHood. “With the help of law enforcement around the country, we are going to continue doing all that we can to stop drunk driving and the needless tragedies that result from this reckless behavior.”

A new study released in time for the holiday found that about 8 percent of all drivers — or 17 million motorists — have driving drunk at least once in the past year. One in 5 motorists have driven within two hours of drinking alcohol at some point in the past year. Yet 80 percent of Americans identify drunk driving as a “major threat” to the safety of their family.

“Our message is loud and clear. If you drive drunk you will be arrested and prosecuted. There will be no exceptions and no excuses,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “And if you’re below the age of 21, there is zero tolerance for any alcohol in your system whatsoever. That’s why we’re out there with law enforcement, tackling this major safety issue head on.”

The study found that young male drivers are at the highest risk. Of male drivers age 16 to 24, a full one-fourth had either driven drunk or had been a passenger in a car driven by someone who had too much to drink at some point during the past 12 months.
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August 30, 2010

Lynn car accident blamed on drunk driver; moped rider seriously injured

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A Lynn, Massachusetts drunk driving accident is being blamed for seriously injuring a man riding a moped early Saturday morning, the Item reported.

The accident happened about 1:30 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of North Street and Liberty Hill Avenue, according to Salem police.

As Labor Day approaches, it is a good time to remind friends and family members about the dangers of drinking and driving. Somewhere in the United States, a motorist is killed in a drunk driving accident every 45 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nationwide, about one-third of all fatal accidents involve alcohol, leading to 11,773 deaths in 2008.

And this was the second serious Massachusetts scooter accident in as many days. We reported on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog that an emergency room doctor was killed in a scooter accident in Boston on Friday.

In this case, the 35-year-old rider was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries. The 25-year-old driver of the Passat allegedly failed several field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest on a second offense of driving under the influence of alcohol. She also faces a felony charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol with serious bodily injury.

Police say she tested .17, over twice the legal limit. Her driver’s license was seized and destroyed by police. The moped suffered heavy front end damage and the rider was ejected as a result of the accident.
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