Investigation into the cause of a Boston subway accident that injured 65 riders back in 2009 has been concluded. Federal investigators have determined that a text messaging driver was the probable cause. That one text message caused nearly $10 million in damages, according to the Boston-Herald.
Boston personal injury lawyers urge drivers to curb all distractions while driving as driving while distracted can have some serious, and deadly, consequences. It is our civic duty to focus all of our attention on the road to increase the safety of ourselves, our families, passengers and everyone traveling through the city.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority driver reportedly attempted to call his girlfriend just minutes before the accident. He reportedly left her a voice mail message, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The message that he was sending, that ended up causing injuries to the 65 passengers and costing millions, asked his girlfriend to call him. While composing the message, he ran through both a yellow light and a red light.
The texting caused the driver to “lose his situational awareness and his focus on operating the train,” said Investigators.
The driver was fired from his job and, back in December, pleaded guilty to gross negligence by a person in control of a common carrier. He was sentenced to two years’ probation and 100 hours of community service.
Massachusetts mass transit injuries are complicated cases oftentimes involving a number of parties, including state and local governments, out-of-state companies, insurance companies and the corporate attorneys who protect them. It is critical that you contact an experienced Massachusetts personal injury lawyer in the event of a mass transit accident in Boston.
If you have been injured in a subway accident in the Boston area, contact Massachusetts Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call (617) 777-7777.