Articles Posted in Car Accidents

We may not have flying cars by 2020, but our vehicles are expected to be pretty advanced by then. Manufacturers already have ideas in the works to equip our cars with a number of safety features that will help to reduce the risks for car accidents in Boston and elsewhere within just the next four years.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand that these new features will also help to reduce fuel needs, produce less air pollution and will include more media-related devices. But with new technology comes new problems, so consumers are urged to keep a close eye on their vehicle’s evolution.

According to MSN, these are some of the new features we can expect in new vehicles:

-Rearview cameras: These are already available in some vehicles, but will eventually be a standard feature in all cars if a proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration takes effect. Ford, Chrysler and BMW all offer this new technology is some of their newer vehicles.

-Pedestrian-detection systems: This technology is already available in some new Volvos. This is a technology that has the ability to stop a vehicle if it detects a pedestrian in its path. The problem with the current technology is that if you’re traveling faster than 20 mph then it won’t be able to stop quick enough to avoid a collision with a pedestrian just yet.

-Night-vision systems: This technology is already available in BMW and Mercedes new-model vehicles. This system allows you to see wandering pedestrians during evening hours. This current detection system doesn’t see pedestrians out of your headlights path though.

-New-age cruise control: This is a technology that allows you to hit the cruise control and allow the vehicle to do some of the thinking for you. The system will keep your vehicle a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. This will let you keep your feet off the brakes and will stop you from constantly resetting the control device. This feature is currently an option on some Audi, BMS and Ford vehicles.

-Vehicle-to-vehicle communication: This new technology would allow your car to talk to other vehicles in an attempt to avoid collisions. This technology will use Wi-Fi to allow vehicles to talk to one another and share their locations. This system will warn you if a vehicle is approaching, if a vehicle is going to speed through a red light, if one may be in your way when trying to pass another vehicle and if the vehicle in front of you has stopped short.

-Fuel control: With this feature, you’ll be allowed to control just how much fuel your vehicle uses. In an attempt to save on fuel, you can flip a button that would signal for your car to relax in heavy traffic or when you’re stopped at a light.

-Even more apps: Newer vehicles will come with even more apps with just a monthly subscription fee. You’ll be able to surf the web, update your Facebook status and even tweet while using hands-free communication techniques. These features will continue to be put in new cars despite federal government concerns about distracted driving.

Even with all of these safety features, nothing can replace good, focused driving attention.
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A number of insurance companies and federal lawmakers are considering the idea of taxing drivers per mile of travel. This system would work kind of like toll roads. Lawmakers believe this is an excellent way to keep collecting tax dollars as they continue to lose a significant amount of tax income because of fuel-efficient cars, hybrids and electric cars, according to CNBC. These taxes go towards the reconstruction of our roadways nationwide, and that fund is dwindling.

These per-mile fees, if they take effect, would be collected via GPS navigation systems in each resident’s vehicle. There could either be a flat rate that every driver would be charged per-mile traveled or it could be altered depending on how fuel-efficient your vehicle is.

Oppositional parties have multiple problems with this technology. They believe that the GPS devices will allow the government to see where you’ve been and where you’re going, and that’s none of its business. They also believe that these mile counters could contribute to the number of car accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere throughout the country. Motorists may be tempted to take more dangerous routes to their destination just to save a buck or two.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that this per-mile-fee plan is already gaining ground in the U.S. Oregon recently proposed similar legislation that would charge drivers about 0.85 cents a mile until 2015 and then jump to about $1.85 by 2018. The effort to pass this legislature and to collect more taxes per mile from drivers in Oregon has been stalled in debate. More and more states, including Minnesota and Texas, are looking into the idea, trying to make up for the diminishing tax revenue resulting from more fuel-efficient cars.

Today, cars on U.S. streets get about 25 mpg and motorists are paying about 2 cents a mile in taxes.

Roadways in Europe have become more and more crowded and local officials have become more concerned with environment-related issues in the area. For that reason, they’re also looking into charging drivers per mile to help decrease some of the fuel usage and vehicle emissions in their area. They were supposed to have instituted some sort of nationwide per-mile fuel tax by next year, but that idea was pushed aside when the new government took office last session.

A number of pilot projects that have tested out these meter systems report that one common result is that a number of drivers go on strike and park their personal cars and switch over to mass transit to avoid the tax hikes.

“The trials work well, but it’s first a psychological issue and second a political choice,” Eric-Mark Huitema who developed the system.

Advocates of the taxing system say that the GPS devices won’t keep track of where your car has specifically been.

Experts believe that this idea is here to stay. Still, J.D. Power and Associates reports that hybrid, battery-electric and plug-in vehicles will make up less than 10 percent of the entire U.S. vehicle market by 2020.

Many believe that the average mile per-gallon rating for U.S. vehicles in 2025 will be approximately 55 mph. As Americans continue to drive less as the fuel prices increase, government officials will continue to seek ways to squeeze every last tax dollar out of each one of us.
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Newer vehicles have new high-tech air bags that are designed to protect us in the event of a car accident in Massachusetts and elsewhere. These air bags are beneficial in the event of a head-on collision. New braking systems and handling systems come with new cars that help us to avoid car accidents altogether. While all of these advances in occupant protection help to keep us safe during a crash, they’re still no reason to stop wearing your seat belt.

Our Boston car accident lawyers recognize the ability that a seat belt has in saving your life during a car accident. We also understand there are cases where a seat belt cannot save a life — and even those cases in which wearing a seat belt contributes to death. But these devices, once ignored by motorists in the 1960s and the 1970s, now have to be worn by all motorists, according to Massachusetts state law.

According to current statistics, about a tenth of all drivers still refuse to buckle up. In Massachusetts, just less than 70 percent of all drivers wear their seat belts. This 2009 statistic landed drivers in the Bay State last in the nation for seat belt use, according to The Herald News.

There are a number of reasons why motorists refuse to wear a seat belt, including:

-They’re uncomfortable.

-The government doesn’t have the right to tell me what to do.

-I won’t get into an accident.

-Seat belts don’t matter if I have airbags.

-A seat belt will only hold me down during vehicle submersion.

-I’m not driving far. I won’t need it.

The truth is nothing can replace a seat belt. All of the new safety advancements that come on new vehicles are merely supplemental to the function of a seat belt. Motorists should remember that a seat belt is your primary restraint system.

Hospital costs are 50 percent higher for accident victims that aren’t wearing their seat belt. This increase in hospital costs only increases the cost of health care.

According to the National Safety Council, a seat belt can reduce the risk of death or injury to a front-seat passenger in the event of an accident by nearly 50 percent.

Many people worry that a seat belt won’t allow them to get out of a tough situation, like vehicle submersion. That’s not true. Wearing your seat belt will allow you to stabilize your body as you try to break the window or get the door open. Experts urge you to keep your seat belt on until you’ve found an escape route.

We urge you to always wear your seat belt, even on short car trips. Most traffic accidents occur within 25 miles of the driver’s home. It’s estimated that eight out of every ten accidents happen when a driver is traveling 40 mph or less. Seat belts saved more than 15,000 lives of passenger-vehicle occupants over the age of 4 in 2007 alone.

Remember, when wearing your seat belt make sure that it’s fastened snug, low and flat over your hips while the shoulder portion is worn across the shoulder and chest. You should never wear your seat belt across your neck or face or under your arm.
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A car accident in Massachusetts landed a Mashpee man in jail on a $2,500 bail after he reportedly caused the accident while driving with his wife and son. The man has been arraigned in Falmouth District Court on two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, reckless endangerment of a child and seven other criminal charges.

The accident happened when the passenger, an Army specialist, had an argument with his wife, the driver of the vehicle. Reports conclude that he grabbed the steering wheel, which caused his wife to crash into the woods off Turpentine Road on the Massachusetts Military Reservation. The enraged passenger and his wife suffered minor injuries. Their 17-month-old son was unharmed.

Our Boston car accident attorneys strongly believe that emotions should be left outside the vehicle. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, road rage is defined as any number of aggressive behaviors on the part of a driver. It can also get serious enough to include physical assault. It is estimated that the United States sees up to 1,200 reported road rage-related fatalities each year.

The man was so enraged, even after the accident, that he continually threatened the responding troopers at the scene, at the hospital and at the state police barracks, according to reports. He reportedly yelled obscenities, spit on two troopers and damaged a computer, according to the Cape Cod Times.

Enraged drivers pose serious threats to innocent motorists on our roadways. There are many ways that you can try to avoid a potentially dangerous interaction with an enraged driver.

How to avoid becoming the victim of an enraged driver:

-If another driver is becoming aggressive towards you, try not to react. You are urged to avoid making eye contact with them. Many perceive this as confrontational. Keep your driving steady. Don’t be tempted to accelerate, brake or swerve suddenly.

-If you are continuously being hassled by a single driver, or they are following you, drive to the nearest police station or busy place to get help.

-If you’re in traffic with a driver experiencing road rage, lock the car doors and keep the windows and sunroof only partly open.

-Always leave enough space to allow you to pull out from behind the car you are following if need be.

-If someone tries to get into your car, sound your horn or a personal alarm to attract attention.

Drivers most commonly express their road rage by:

-Aggressive tailgating: 62 percent. This is the most common form of road rage.

-Headlight flashing: 59 percent.

-Obscene gestures: 48 percent.

-Deliberately obstructing other vehicles: 21 percent.

-Verbal abuse: 16 percent.

-One percent of surveyed drivers reported that they had been physically assaulted by another driver.

To avoid becoming enraged behind the wheel, make sure you’ve got your trip planned out. Getting lost greatly influences aggressive driving behaviors. Think about the time you’ll be driving. Try to avoid rush hour. Make sure that your windshield is clean. Looking though a dirty windshield is a common source of stress and fatigue for drivers. Never drive for more than three hours without a break and don’t try to travel more than 300 miles in a day. During a long trip, be extra careful on the second day of driving, this is when a driver is most vulnerable to fatigue and is most irritable.

Your chances of becoming stressed behind the wheel have a lot to do with your attitude before you even get in the car. Calm down, breathe and relax.
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A new, interactive program, Distractology 101, will be used to inform newly licensed drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. This new program is being offered through Partners Insurance Group. The program will take place next in Swansea, Mass. from August 29th through September 2nd. Officials believe this program is a necessity as it can help to reduce the number of fatal car accidents in Massachusetts that report the involvement of a distracted driver. Approximately 6,000 people are killed on our roadways every year because of driver distraction, according to South Coast Today.

“Drunk driving was the first epidemic,” said chairman, president and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group, John Donohueand. “Those numbers went down because of education efforts, not just tougher laws.”

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand how many distractions drivers face on the road each day. Distractions can include cell phones, texting, other passengers, the radio and eating, just to name a few. Unfortunately, many drivers admit to texting behind the wheel. What this program would be able to teach them is that drivers who text are 23 percent more likely to get into a car accident. A number of studies have concluded that this driving behavior is equivalent to driving while legally drunk.

Don’t worry about finding your way to class because the program is held in a 36-foot-long, yellow mobile classroom. The classroom comes equipped with driving simulators that allow newly licensed drivers to get a sneak peek into the dangers of distracted driving. This technology aims at creating a new generation of safe drivers.

Distractology 101 look to put approximately 10,000 newly licensed drivers through this program.

The driving simulators were created by UMass Amherst. The simulators will be open for participants throughout a number of communities throughout the Massachusetts and Rhode Island area through 2014.

According to professor and department head at the UMass Amherst College of Engineering, Dr. Donald L. Fisher, a driver’s first month on the road is one of the most dangerous times. During this time they’re about six times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident. He and the College of Engineering teamed up in the creation of this simulator to help reduce the risks of accidents for these new drivers by nearly 40 percent.

Drivers are able to engage in three types of distractions while driving:

-Visual: When a driver takes their eyes off the road.

-Manual: When a driver takes their hands off the wheel.

-Cognitive: When a driver takes their mind off what they’re doing — driving!
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A 52-year-old United States Postal Service (USPS) worker slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer on Commerce Drive in Braintree. The Massachusetts car accident left the USPS worker pinned from the waist down. The tractor-trailer was parked on the side of the road during the evening accident, according to Boston.com.

Police report that the driver of the mail delivery truck was pinned under the dashboard and had to be extricated by firefighters. Once removed from the vehicle, he was transported to South Shore Hospital for his injuries. He was reportedly conscious and alert during the lengthy extrication. The driver of the tractor-trailer was on the side of the road, where he was parked to sleep for the night. He was was not injured in the accident.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that vehicles that are parked on the side of the road, whether they be occupied by sleeping drivers or have been disabled, pose serious threats to passing motorists. Drivers who are pulled over on the side of the road have an obligation to pull the vehicle off the travel portion of the road and onto the shoulder. There are specific statutes that apply to these types of situations.

When a vehicle is pulled over on the side of the road it should have flashers activated. It should also be on the right-hand side of the road with the direction of passing traffic. A vehicle that is stationed on a divided highway’s left side is extremely dangerous. A disabled vehicle should never be stopped in a lane of traffic.

Drivers of pulled-over vehicles should move their vehicle as far away from the road as possible. At the very least, these motorists should be able to open their door without stepping out into traffic.

Massachusetts also has a Move Over Law. This law aims to protect police, firefighters, paramedics, tow truck drivers and all other roadside emergency and maintenance professionals working at the side of the road. The Move Over Law took effect back on March 22 of 2009. Specifically, this law requires that drivers that are approaching a stationary emergency or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights move over to the next adjacent lane if it is safe to do so. They’re also asked to reduce their speed. Motorists should do this for all vehicles or workers that may be on the side of our roadways. If you fail to comply with this law you can face a fine of up to $100.

Every year, there is a large number of emergency responders across the country that are injured or killed on the job while offering emergency services on the side of the road. Just this summer, six Massachusetts state troopers were injured on our roadways under these circumstances. All motorists are asked to make a personal pledge to always move over to make our roadways safer for both drivers and those on the side of the road.
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a href=”https://www.jeffreysglassman.com/lawyer-attorney-1575402.html”>Car accidents in Boston and elsewhere in the United States are the number one killer of teens.

They outpace drugs, cancer, suicide and other high-profile dangers, according to

Drivers in Massachusetts are still texting away behind the wheel of their vehicles despite the somewhat recent passage of the ban. The ban took effect back on September 30th and between then and May the state issued more than 700 citations to drivers who were busted texting at the wheel. That’s an average of three text citations written a day.

Texting while driving significantly increases your risks for being involved in a distracted driving car accident in Boston.

In the 27 communities on the South Shore, officers issued citations to nearly 70 drivers between September 2010 and May of 2011. That’s only about nine a month. Only two of those citations were handed to drivers under the age of 18.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand the dangers that accompany distracted driving habits. According to Distraction.gov, nearly 5,500 people died on U.S. roadways in 2009 because of a traffic accident that involved a distracted driver.

While state officials are hopeful that the enforcement efforts have made an impact on drivers, they report that it’s too early to know.

“It’s a difficult law to enforce and there needs to be strengthening of the law,” said Jeff Larson, president of Safe Drivers Alliance, a group that supports laws aimed at curbing distracted driving.

While drivers are prohibited from texting behind the wheel in the state of Massachusetts, they’re still free to use the cellphone while operating a motor vehicle. Larson says that this makes it extremely difficult for officers to tell whether a driver is texting or legally dialing a phone number, according to the Patriot Ledger.

Drivers still have their tricks to get out of this one. Many of them will text below the steering wheel to conceal the phone. When a driver is busted, they’re still able to delete the text messages before the officer approaches the vehicle. The only real way an officer can prove that a driver was texting while driving is to subpoena for the driver’s cellphone records.

Larson suggests that officials enact a law that would require all drivers to use hands-free devices when talking on their cell phones. Not only would this help them to bust drivers that are texting, but it would help to decrease driver distraction as it would eliminate any excuse to hold a phone.

Under Massachusetts state law, drivers are prohibited from reading or sending text messages and emails or surfing the internet, even at a stoplight. If you’re busted, you can face fines ranging anywhere from $100 all the way up to $500. We are the 30th state to enact a statewide texting ban.

Since the law was put into effect, nearly 350 drivers have been cited. Officers have also handed over more than 40 citations to drivers under the age of 18 that were caught talking on their cellphone. Statewide, teen drivers are prohibited from using their cell phones or text messaging. One of these tickets comes with a 60-day license suspension.

“I’m encouraged by the number of citations being issued, because that would indicate officers are being vigilant in their observations,” said Wayne Sampson, director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that enforcement, not just the threat of enforcement, is the number one factor reducing the number of drivers texting behind the wheel.

In 2009, nearly 1,000 fatal traffic accidents in the United States reported the involvement of a distracted driver.
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In 2009, there were more than 33,000 traffic accident fatalities involving drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The cost of these accidents includes lives and loved ones lost, the cost of medical care, rehabilitation and long-term care and the cost of property damage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that roughly $41 billion is spent every year in medical expenses and work-loss costs because of car accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere.

Still, a number of states are passing new laws that increase the speed limit on highways to as much as 85 miles per hour, according to Automotive Industry Today. Speeding is the cause of roughly a third of all traffic accidents on our roadways.

Our Boston car accident attorneys realize that this is no time to be lifting bans, regulations, rules and laws that govern driving habits. This is a time in which we need to enforcement the current laws that already exist. While none of us like to be told what to do; it is the careless and negligent operators that ruin lives and devastate families. Putting up with a few intrusive laws is well worth the life-saving effort.

The NHTSA recommends the following safety protocols to help cut down on the number of incidents, injuries, fatalities and costs associated with car accidents:

–Step up with seat belt laws. As it stands now, 31 states currently enforce primary seat laws. A primary law means that a police officer can pull you over without the presence of any other traffic violation and give you a ticket for not wearing a seat belt. A secondary seat belt law means that an officer can only pull you over and ticket you for not wearing a seat belt only if the driver commits another traffic infraction.

–Require that all children be placed in age and size appropriate booster seats and car seats. Every state currently has a child restraint or safety belt law. State laws differentiate significantly, depending on the age of the child. Some states have varying safety requirements and penalties for failing to properly sit your child into a seat belt. Some states have implemented only secondary child restraint laws.

-Enact mandatory motorcycle helmet laws. According to the CDC, the risk of brain or head injury decreases by nearly 70 percent for motorcycle drivers who ride while wearing a helmet.

-Do not increase speed limits. Increased speed limits lead to an increased number of traffic accidents. Speeding drastically reduces a driver’s ability to react. Speeding is one of the top contributors to fatal motor-vehicle accidents in the United States.

Car accidents are the number one cause of death for those ages 5- to 34-years-old in the United State. It is estimated, by the CDC, that more than 2 million adults were treated in emergency rooms after being involved in a motor-vehicle accident in 2009.

In 2009, these accidents resulted in a total fatal accident cost in Massachusetts at nearly $400 million. Roughly $6 million went to medical costs and the other $388 million as work loss costs.
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