Articles Posted in Car Accidents

The fight to keep our teens safe from car accidents as they head back to school continues to make news. Teen drivers are now required to follow more driving rules than ever before. All of these new regulations aim to reduce their risks of car accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Unfortunately, car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teens.

A number of state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) across the country are enacting more strict rules on teen drivers. Connecticut for example, recently released a report on The Effectiveness of Connecticut’s Teen Driving Laws. Most of these laws were enacted back in 2008 after a number of fatal teen accidents occurred in 2007. The state experienced a near 30 percent decrease in the number of fatal accidents involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers after the new laws were passed.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that teen drivers are most at risk for an accident on our roadways simply because of their inexperience behind the wheel. To help teach our newly-licensed drivers safe and effective driving habits, the state of Massachusetts currently operates with a graduated Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program.

The Connecticut report illustrates that even though the state’s teen population has remained steady, the number of traffic accident fatalities has, in fact, decreased after enacting the new laws. One of the most influential laws, the DMV believes, prohibits the young drivers from operating a motor vehicle between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., unless driving to work or to school or for a medical or a religious reason.

“Overall, it appears that the restrictions placed on teen drivers in 2008 have been beneficial in limiting the amount of driving incidents involving police contact, such as traffic stops and accident investigations,” said Wilton Police Lt. Donald Wakeman.

Massachusetts GDL program:

-Learner’s permit: Drivers must be at least 16-years-old for this license. It must be obtained for at least six months before advancing. A driver is required to complete 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 to 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training, 4 to 6 hours as an observer to another student driver and 12 hours of supervised driving.

-Junior operator’s license: A driver with this license must be at least 16.5-years-old. This license does not allow drivers to operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00AM unless accompanied by a parent or a guardian. Drivers are also prohibited from driving with passengers for the first six months unless they’re supervised by a licensed driver that is at least 21-years-old.

-Full license: After completing the first 2 steps, a driver is eligible for a full unrestricted license at the age of 18.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 2,300 drivers aged 15- to 20-years-old that were killed in motor-vehicle accidents in the U.S. in 2009. More than 195,000 of these young drivers were injured as well. These drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves. They’re also threatening other motorists on our roadways. In 2009, more than 5,100 of these young drivers were involved in fatal accidents on our roadways.

These fatality rates can be decreased with proper teen-driver education and with the help of parents and educators. It is important to get involved in your teen’s driving experience. Discuss the risks, the responsibility and the dangers of a driver’s license. Parents may be among the most influential people in their teen driver’s driving habits.
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A woman was killed after a recent car accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike. A 62-year-old woman from Portsmouth, New Hampshire died after the tire on her Lincoln Town Car came off the vehicle around 2:00 p.m., according to the Worcester Telegram. After the tire left the vehicle, the Town Car hit a guardrail, spun out and was thrown down an embankment. The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle. She was transported to Wing Memorial Hospital in Palmer where she was later pronounced dead.

A 24-year-old passenger in the vehicle was also taken to the hospital and treated for injuries. She was reportedly wearing her seat belt at the time of the accident. The accident is currently being investigated by the State Police Crime Scene Services Section and the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. The far right westbound lane on Route 90 in Warren was shut down for about 30 minutes, causing nearly eight miles of backed up traffic.

As we recently reported on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, motorists have been urged by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to take a peek at their vehicle’s tires to help prevent a potentially fatal accident on our busy Massachusetts roadways. Although this consumer advisory was released specifically for summer travel, it’s apparent that motorists need to keep an eye on their tire conditions all year long. We may be into the beginning of the fall season, but the summer-like weather is still here and the heat increases your risks of a tire-related car accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 3,500 people died as a result of tire-related traffic accidents from 2005 to 2009. The NHTSA also estimates that more than 115,000 people were injured in these types of incidents. A great deal of these fatalities and injuries can be prevented if motorists take the proper precautionary steps to ensure the safe-condition of their vehicle’s tires.

You are urged to check out the tire pressure in all four of your tires. Low tire pressure mixed with the heat of the roadway can be a deadly combination. Accidents caused by these conditions can easily be prevented.

You’re also urged to check the condition of your tires. Old worn tires are more susceptible to serious damage during travel. You can easily check the condition of your tires by examining the sidewall. Make sure that there’s ample tread on each tire. Balding tires not only reduce your control over the vehicle, but also reduces your ability to safely navigate the roadway.

And lastly, we know that everyone wants to get as much as they can out of their vehicle and their fuel. Another reason why properly inflated tires are so important is because it helps you to get the maximum mileage from your gas tank. Under-inflated tires significantly reduce the number of miles you can get from each gallon of gas. Just a 25 percent drop in tire pressure can cause you to lose nearly 3 miles per gallon.
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Sleepy drivers produce the same dangers as drunk drivers and increase risk of car accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere just the same. According to Automotive Industry Today, being sleepy behind the wheel slows a driver’s reaction time just the same as if they had been consuming alcohol. These effects cause a driver to lose their ability to react to dangerous hazards on the roadway. Sleepy drivers are not able to process traffic movements as well as a well-rested driver.

The Centre for Sleep Research reports that a driver that has been awake for 18 hours has the same reaction abilities as a person who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05. A driver that has been awake for a full 24 hours has the same reaction time as a driver that has a BAC of 0.10. The legal BAC limit in the state of Massachusetts is a 0.08.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand how dangerous it can be to jump behind the wheel of a motor vehicle if you’re drowsy. Unfortunately, a lot of drivers do it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about five percent of drivers admit to nodding off behind the wheel at least once within the last month.

Researchers believe that the number of drivers who fall asleep at the wheel is actually much higher. The reason for this theory is because a good number of drivers neglect to inform officers about being drowsy at the time of an accident. Unfortunately, there’s no “Breathalyzer” that can detect a driver’s level of sleepiness.

The National Sleep Foundation reports that in one of its studies about a third of surveyed drivers admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel at least one time in the last month. About 15 percent of the surveyed drivers admitted to falling asleep regularly, at least once a month.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly 100,000 car accidents happen every year because of sleepy drivers. These accidents kill more than 1,500 people and injury another 71,000 people each year. The result of these accidents is about $12.5 billion in monetary losses each year.

Some studies conclude that drowsy drivers cause at least a fourth of all traffic accidents in the United States.

Fatigued driving is easily prevented with these safety tips:

-Stop if you’re feeling sleepy. Pull over to the side of the road, get out, stretch or take a nap.

-Schedule in some breaks. In addition to planning out the route to your destination, you should plan out rest spots. You’re urged to take a break from driving every 2 to 4 hours.

-Take turns. If you’re on a long road trip with another licensed driver you should take turns behind the wheel. This will allow sufficient resting time for each person to avoid drowsy driving.

-Make sure to get adequate sleep. Before venturing out on a long road trip make sure you’ve gotten plenty of well-rested nights.

-Make sure you’re eating regularly. Deprivation can add to the feeling of drowsiness. Make sure to eat well-balanced meals when on road trips.

It is important to remember that there’s no quick fix for drowsy drivers. Many motorists may believe that rolling down the windows, turning up the music of gulping down some caffeine will help to wake you up. But that’s only a temporary fix and will most likely leave you even more tired that when you started.
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More and more studies are being done on the impact of distracted-driving car accidents in Boston and elsewhere. Paul Atchlety, an expert from Car Talk, recently calculated the consequences that the nation is seeing as a result of these types of accidents. He concluded that distracted drivers contribute to approximately 30 percent of all car accidents. As technology advances, more and more drivers are expected to navigate their way through the state with distractions consuming their focus.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand just how costly distracted-driving accidents can be. According to the National Safety Council, each fatal accident results in a bill of about $1,130,000 per fatality. An accident resulting in injury costs about $61,600 for each person who is injured and an accident that results in property-damage costs about $7,500.

According to Distraction.gov, approximately 5,500 people were killed in traffic accidents in the United States that reported the involvement of a distracted driver in 2009. It is estimated that another 448,000 people were injured in these types of accidents. Distraction.gov has estimated that nearly 1,000 fatal distracted-driving accidents specifically reported the use of a cell phone as the main type of driver distraction. Cell phones contributed to nearly 20 percent of all distracted driving-related accidents. Drivers that are under the age of 20-years-old account for more than 15 percent of distraction-related accidents.

A number of recent studies that analyzed the effects and the consequences of distractions on drivers concluded that using a hand-held device while operating a motor vehicle gives a driver the same reaction time of a driver that is legally drunk, with the blood alcohol concentration of .08. These studies have also concluded that a distracted driver is about four times as likely to get into a traffic accident that is serious enough to cause injury.

Driver distractions include more than just using a cell phone. Distractions can also include:

-Eating or drinking behind the wheel.

-Talking and interacting with other passengers.

-Grooming.

-Reading maps or operating GPD devices.

-Watching videos.

-Altering your radio system, MP3 player or CD player.

-Surfing the internet on hand-held devices.

To help combat the problems related to distracted-driving car accidents, the state of Massachusetts has enacted laws prohibiting some behavior by drivers. Under state law, drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. All drivers have been banned from text messaging behind the wheel.

Drivers are asked to be cautious behind the wheel and to focus on the task at hand — driving — to avoid a potentially fatal accident. With conscious effort from drivers across the state, we can all do our part to help save lives on our roadways.
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A recent study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham concludes that about a third of all college students are using cell phone applications while they’re behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. These findings reiterate the dangers of you being involved in a car accident in Massachusetts.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that it is illegal for any driver in the state to be sending or reading text messages while they’re operating a motor vehicle. This is a primary offense and drivers can be pulled over and ticketed. These citations come with good intentions — to keep motorists safe on our roadways.

The recent study surveyed more than 90 students who owned and used a smart phone or another device that operates web-based applications at least four times a week. Nearly 40 percent of the students surveyed reported that they use the applications while they drive. Another 10 percent said that they regularly use the apps while driving.

“The participants seemed to understand that using mobile apps while driving is dangerous, and some have even experienced motor vehicle crashes while using mobile apps, but they continue to do it,” study author and psychology student Lauren McCartney.

McCartney says that she’s going to present the research to the American Psychological Association convention that’s being held this month in Washington, D.C., according to KSTC 45.

Operating a motor vehicle is a complex process. Driving requires significant cognitive and perceptual skills. Drivers are oftentimes forced to make split-second decisions. These decisions can’t be made and executed adequately if they’re distracted by cell phone apps.

“The fact that 10 percent of college students with smartphones are ‘often’ are using them while driving is astounding — the fact that 35 percent ‘sometimes’ do is equally concerning,” said David Schwebel, director of the UAB Youth Safety Lab.

To help combat the problem and to raise some awareness in these college-aged drivers, the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation is heading a project that allows young drivers to use a driving simulator. The program allows these motorists to experience the dangerous and probable outcomes of texting behind the wheel.

The program is called Distractology 101 and consists of a distracted driving simulator. The simulator is in a company van and travels from spot to spot attracting student with it’s video-arcade appearance in hopes of educating teen driver about the dangers of texting while driving, a term that the Foundation has dubbed “drexting.”

The simulator looks just like the inside of a real car, with a steering wheel, brakes and speedometers. Here’s how it works: Students have to navigate their way through three different scenarios. They make the trip twice, once without distractions and once while texting behind the wheel.

An instructor of the program, Topher Paone, sends the participants texts during their second trip through the course. They have to read the message out loud as they drive the simulator, according to Medway.

“I’ve got a lot of kids who think they’re really good at everything, and then they end up crashing,” Paone said.

There aren’t very many students that are able to get through the course without crashing while they’re reading or writing text messages. Others may not crash, but their maneuvers are in fact illegal.
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As school gets back underway, parents are urged to educate their teens in a very different way. NJ Today is urging parents help their new licensed teen with their driving education by talking to them about the rules and regulations of the state’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) program to help reduce their risks of being involved in a car accident in Boston or elsewhere in the state.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand how beneficial this program is for our young drivers. The GDL program is a three step driving program that allows teen drivers to gain driving experience and to build up their driving skills through a number of levels. The three steps include a driver’s permit, a junior operator’s license and then a basic driver’s license.

Car accidents are the number one killer for teens in Massachusetts and nationwide.

“Practice is key for building skill and ensuring that your teen is fully prepared to drive solo,” said Pam Fischer of the Teen Safe Driving Coalition. “That’s why the permit phase is the optimal time to expose your teen to every possible driving scenario.

According to Safe Roads 4 Teens, nearly 50 people were killed in traffic accidents that involved a teen driver. Over the last five years, our state has lost the lives of nearly 400 teens because of car accidents.

Massachusetts GDL program:

-Learner’s Permit: With this license, 16-year-old drivers must complete 30 hours of classroom driving education. They’ll have to complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training, at least 4 hours observing another student driving and at least 12 hours of supervised driving. A driver must hold a learner’s permit for at least 6 months.

–Junior operator’s license: A driver with this license is prohibited from driving between midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless they have a parent or guardian. For the first six months of this license, a driver is not allowed to drive with any passengers in the vehicle that are under the age of 18 unless they are driving under the supervision of a licensed driving at least 21-years-old.

–Unrestricted license: Once a driver has completed the first two stages they are eligible to receive an unrestricted license and must abide by all current road laws.

Parents are urged to discuss these stages with their teen driver. It’s also a good idea to enact a parent-teen driving contract to reinforce these rules. This contract will allow you the opportunity to add in a few of your own rules. It’s important to make sure that you and your teen are on the same page.

It’s also important to remind your teen driver about specific laws that pertain only to them. Talk with your teen about the current cell phone ban, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. All drivers that are under the age of 18 are banned from talking on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle in Massachusetts. Drivers of every age are prohibited from text messaging at the wheel.

We wish all of our students a safe and happy school year. Teens are asked to please be safe traveling to and from school this year and remember to keep safety as a top priority over the weekends. Parents are urged to get in there and to get involved with your teen’s driving career. You may be one of the most influential people to their driving habits.
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