Car Accidents

March 17, 2011

Faulty Underride Guard Regulations Cause Increased Risk of Fatal Boston Car Accidents

Underride guards on tractor-trailers have recently been proven inadequate and unsafe in Boston car accidents. Impact in low-speed crashes often times results in deadly consequences according to recent studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Boston personal injury lawyers understand the severity of these failing underride guards and urge you to practice safe and alert driving when sharing the roads with tractor-trailers. The IIHS has estimated that more than 5,000 passenger vehicle occupants are injured every year when their vehicles collide with the back of large trucks — more than 400 people die in these accidents.

In the study conducted by the IIHS, three tractor-trailers were used: two carrying the underride guards of Canadian standards and the third meeting the U.S. standard. The results from the U.S. tractor-trailer raised questions about how and why these guards failed. The study also determined that the lower-speed accidents were the ones with the worst results.

The Canadian vehicles were able to stop the car before possible injuries reached the occupants of the passenger vehicle, while the tractor-trailers meeting U.S. standards caused damage that would have surely injured, if not killed, any font-seat occupants.

“You might be riding in a vehicle that earns top marks in frontal crash tests, but if the truck’s underride guard fails — or isn’t there at all — your chances of walking away from even a relatively low-speed crash aren’t good,” reported the IIHS.

“Damage to the cars in some of these tests was so devastating that it’s hard to watch the footage without wincing. If these had been real-world crashes, there would be no survivors,” said IIHS President Adrian Lund.
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March 15, 2011

Distracted drivers at increased risk for Boston car accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A new study by Consumer Reports found that 94 percent of all drivers regularly report seeing other drivers talking on a cell phone, as distracted drivers continue to increase the risk of Massachusetts car accidents for all motorists.

“Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on America’s roads, and teens are especially vulnerable because of their inexperience behind the wheel and, often, peer pressure,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Parent can do their part with help to help educate young drivers:

-Talk to your teen about the responsibility of driving and the dangers of distracted driving.

-Spread the word on to family and friends.

-Make safety rules. Prohibit cell phone calls and texting while driving.

-Put your own cell phone down. Set a good example.

Our Boston personal injury lawyers urge parents to emphasize the importance of driver safety. The Department of Transportation just released the “Distracted Driving Shatters Lives” guide for parents and educators.

Consumer Reports recently surveyed young Boston drivers under the age of 30 about distracted driving habits:

-63 percent admitted to having used a hand-held phone while driving.

-64 percent said they had seen other drivers texting while driving.

-58 percent had seen a dangerous driving situation because of a distracted driver.

-94 percent observed drivers talking on a cell phone while driving.

In 2009, more than 5,000 people in the United States were killed and nearly 500,000 were injured because of distracted driving. “Behind the statistics are real families who have been devastated by these tragedies,” Secretary LaHood said.

Educating young drivers can make a positive impact of the roadway safety:

-30 percent now feel it’s dangerous to use a hand-help phone while driving.

-78 percent have reduced or stopped distracted-driving related behaviors, over half of those because of distracted driving awareness.
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March 14, 2011

Rates of Boston Car Accidents Decrease – Residents Still Asked to Stay on Alert

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

“We must remain vigilant in addressing roadway safety issues where the greatest impact can be made, such as distracted and teen driving. As miles traveled start to rise again from recession lows, we want to ensure the continuance of this downward trend,” says Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council.

Boston car accidents and accidents elsewhere in 2010 are down 3 percent from the previous year. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), nearly 35,000 fatalities occurred in 2010. Experts credit the recession as a main factor for the decreased number of car accidents.

Boston personal injury lawyers encourage you to practice safe driving habits regardless of the recent statistics. Although fatalities in Boston resulting from car accidents continue to decrease, we must continue to do our part to keep our roads safe. According to NSC, Massachusetts suffered 330 car accident fatalities in 2010.

NSC points fingers at a number of variables that contribute to the decrease in fatalities. They start be crediting law enforcement — including laws and regulations regarding child passengers, distracted driving, teen driving and seat belt usage. Many say the reduction in motor vehicle accidents is largely credited to new state driving laws, such as hand-held phone and texting bans and seat belt laws.

Motor vehicles not only cause devastating injury and fatalities to vehicle occupants, they also present a large amount of cost in medical expenses, employer costs, property damage, lost wages and productivity, and administrative expenses. In 2010, the estimate cost for car accident injuries, fatalities and property damages was nearly $227 billion, also a 3 present decrease from 2009.

The Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles would like to offer you a few resources:

–Massachusetts Driver’s Handbook

–Massachusetts State Police

–DMV customer service and RMV locations.

We ask that all residents and visitors continue to practice safe driving habits on Massachusetts roads in hopes of decreasing fatality rates even more.
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March 13, 2011

Teens exceed speed limits causing increased risk in Boston car accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Teen drivers may not fully understand the severity of their actions behind the wheel and the importance of road safety rules. This is the last of a four-part blog covering the dangers of teen driving and Boston car accidents. Recently on our Boston Car Accidents Lawyers Blog we discussed the risk of drunk driving and distracted driving among Boston teenagers. As teens look forward to spring break, prom, graduation, and summer break, they will be hitting the road in large numbers.

Boston car accident lawyers can tell you that speeding is one of the main factors contributing to Massachusetts traffic accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 31 percent of fatal accidents were caused by speeding — claiming the lives of nearly 12,000 motorists last year.

Men between the ages of 15 and 20 were most likely to be involved in speeding accidents. In 2008, a total of 363 motorists were killed in Massachusetts car accidents.

The U.S. Department of Transportation sets speed limits to not only ensure the safety of our roads, but to maximize the efficiency of traffic flow as well.

Here, The NHTSA provides a brochure to help teens understand the rules of the roads and speed limits. It is important to remember that if our teens do not understand the dangers and consequences speeding may have on them and others on the road, they are less likely to obey speed laws and adjust their driving behavior to weather and traffic conditions.

If you’d like to help spread the message to your teens and others, you are encouraged to join the “Speed Shatter Life” campaign organized by the NHTSA.
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March 10, 2011

Boston car accidents caused by drunk teen drivers

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

We began discussing the dangers of teen driving habits by previously addressing the issues of distracted driving and Massachusetts teens on our Boston Car Accident Lawyers Blog. As the third part of a four-part blog we are now going to address the effects of teens and drunk driving and the risk of Boston car accidents.

Boston car accident attorneys are well aware of the severity of teen crashes and the corresponding involvement of alcohol. In 2008, one in three drivers under the age of 21 who were killed in a car accident involved an intoxicated driver. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of all drinking and driving incidents involving teens, 1 in 5 involved fatal crashes.

In a recent study conducted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 60 percent of drivers surveyed admitted to operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol at some point in time.

In 2008, nearly 14,000 people were killed in alcohol-related car accidents. Massachusetts drunk driving accidents are the leading cause of fatal Boston car accidents. The NHTSA reports that of the 417 fatal accidents in Massachusetts, alcohol was involved in nearly 200 of them. Those two hundred alcohol-related fatalities make up a staggering 42 percent of all road fatalities.

Of the total amount of fatal car accidents among teen drivers, 30 percent of those drivers did not have a valid driver license or had previous license suspensions or revocations.

The NHTSA reports that one person dies from an alcohol related driving fatality every 48 minutes, tallying nearly 11,000 lives taken by irresponsible and drunk driving.
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March 7, 2011

Distracted teen drivers at increased risk of Boston car accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Recently on our Boston Car Accidents Lawyers Blog we discussed the severity and dangers of careless teen driving. We will now look at the impact that teens and distracting driving have on the safety of everyone on the road.

According to The Boston Globe, 63 percent of teens admit to using their cell phones while driving, a proven factor in increasing the risk of Boston car accidents.

In 2009, nearly 6,000 people in Massachusetts and surrounding areas were killed as a result of distracted driving. Massachusetts has been in a six-year debate regarding our distracted driving laws. Twenty-eight states have put laws in effect banning texting while driving. Massachusetts’ law went into effect on Sept. 30.

Distracted driving is not only defined as texting while driving. It also includes fiddling with a GPS, applying makeup, driving with multiple passengers, listening to loud music, and eating behind the wheel.

“Clearly, distracted driving is a problem,” says Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “What is not clear is how best to address it,”

Tips to avoid distracted driving:

– Drink with a lid on your cup to avoid spillage.

– Park to eat or go inside.

– Keep safe driving as the top priority.

– Be well rested when driving.

– Don’t store items on your lap or in between your legs.

– Silence/put away all electronic devices when in route.

– Use proper restraints for pets.

A two-page brochure by the U.S. Department of Transportation is available for you to download at www.distraction.gov.

“Behind the statistics are real families who have been devastated by these tragedies,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
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March 5, 2011

Teens at increased risk of Boston car accidents as school winds down

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

As the school year winds down in Massachusetts, students will be at increased risk of Boston car accidents. This is the first entry of a four-blog series covering the impact of distracted driving, drunk driving, and speeding among teen drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that car accidents are the leading cause of death among teens between the ages of 15 and 20. With prom, spring break, graduation, and the summer drawing near, our Boston personal injury lawyers remind parents that teen drivers are at increased risk of car accidents and injuries caused by distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, seat belt violations, and cell phone use while driving. These activities pose a threat to young drivers as well as other motorists on the road.

The NHTSA also reports that, mile for mile, teens are involved in three times more Boston car accidents than all other drivers. Massachusetts car accidents involving young drivers killed 68 motorists in 2008, according to government statistics.

Lay out rules to keep your teen safe from a Massachusetts car accident:

– Set a passenger limit.

– Remind teens to always buckle up.

– No cell phone while driving.

– Absolutely no alcohol.

– Obey all speed limit restrictions.

– Develop a curfew.

– Spell our repercussions for broken rules.

Here you can find a Massachusetts parent-teen safe driving contract, courtesy of Distraction.gov.
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March 3, 2011

Intersections a deadly place for Boston car accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Intersections are a planned point of conflict to drivers according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Our Boston personal injury lawyers agree that motorists should consider intersections the single most complex traffic situation a driver will encounter.

Despite increased traffic engineering measures over the past 25 years, the numbers of crashes at intersections remains basically unchanged. Almost 21% of the total traffic fatalities in the U.S. were intersection-related in 2009.

Resources devoted to intersection safety are coming from a variety of organizations, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), FHWA, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and AAA.

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System reported in 2009 over 4,500 fatal crashes nationally at intersections with traffic signals or stop signs.

Over the last 5 years Massachusetts has seen a decline in fatal crashes at intersections. We had 92 crashes in 2005 and reported 78 crashes in 2009.
Although total fatal crashes and intersection crashes are down, the percentage of intersection crashes remains basically the same. Meaning, over the last 5 years, an average of 21% of the total fatal crashes happened at Massachusetts intersections.

We can all agree that intersections are tricky places. But if approached with caution they can be less daunting. Remember to always come to a complete stop at a stop sign. Oncoming traffic has the right of way. Motorists should yield to oncoming traffic when making a left turn. If you are first in line, watch for vehicles that may run through the red light. Appropriately use your turn signals so other drivers know what you are doing. Stop at a yellow traffic light unless it is unsafe to do so.

The 100 most dangerous intersections in southeastern Massachusetts are listed in the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) report for 2006 to 2008. The report indicated that there were 618 red-light-running crashes in the previous report covering the time span of 2002 to 2004. In the 2006 to 2008 report, red light running crashes almost doubled totaling 1,287.

Intersections have been proven deadly in Massachusetts. Motorists are reminded to slow down and use caution as they enter and go through an intersection in order to avoid a serious motor vehicle crash.
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March 1, 2011

ROAD TRIP! Safest route may help avoid Massachusetts car accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

When planning your next road trip, wouldn’t it be helpful to know the safest roads to take? We can already choose the shortest route or one that avoids highways. The option to choose the safest roadway is a welcomed alternative.

USA Today is reporting on how the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has started a pilot program to map the safest roads in 8 states. Hoping to add more states the foundation is currently working with Illinois, Kentucky, New Mexico, Utah, Florida, Iowa, Michigan and New Jersey.

Our Boston personal injury lawyers know that even the safest roads can still lead to a Boston car accident if motorists aren’t careful.

Suppose you are planning the family vacation to Disney World. You would log into a website and enter Boston to Orlando. The website would indicate the roads with the most traffic injuries and deaths and those roads with the highest ratings due to their engineering features.

Public interest is high for this data; a recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey indicated that 73% of drivers would use this information, especially in unfamiliar areas. It is estimated that it will take 2 to 3 years to gather the information.

Road trips are a lot of fun, making your own schedule allows for flexibility and the scenery while driving can be amazing.

Here are some safety tips to make your next road trip as enjoyable as possible:

-Get your vehicle to the mechanic for a quick tune up.

-Plan your route.

-Plan your stops for meals and bathroom breaks or just to stretch your legs.

-Plan your driving time accounting for delays.

-Make sure everyone and everything is secured. Passengers and pets should be properly restrained and all luggage needs to be properly secured.

-Wear comfortable shoes and clothes for driving.

-Have all necessary items, like money for tolls or sunglasses, within easy reach.

-Don’t adjust the car’s controls while you are driving.

-Passengers should help with directions.

-Stop if you get tired even if it is before a scheduled stop.

-Plan for changing road conditions like snow, heavy rain or fog.

-Prepare for a for a vehicle break down by having a charged cell phone at all times.
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February 27, 2011

Defective child-safety seats increase risk of injury in Boston car accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Dorel Juvenile Group is recalling almost 800,000 child safety seats according to a recent announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Our Boston personal injury lawyers aggressively protect consumers who have been wrongfully injured by a faulty product. In this situation, we remind parents to check their car seats for a possible recall for a defective harness that could leave them more susceptible to a serious or fatal injury in the event of an accident.

The NHTSA began the formal investigation of Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) back in May of 2010. Further investigation has indicated that the child safety seats need recalled because the harness locking and release button is defective. The button does not always return to its locked position, which can allow the harness adjustment strap to move undesirably through the adjuster. A child moving around in the seat can suffer severe injury during a motor vehicle crash with a loose harness.

DJG concluded the defective products were manufactured from the first of May 2008 through the last day of April 2009. Restraint systems sold with a “Center Front Adjuster” are causing the problem. The harness can be found on infant, convertible, and booster child restraint seats mass-produced during this time period. Consumers may have purchased this product as a part of a travel system or stand-alone set.

Consumers are being instructed by DJG to obtain a remedy kit which will fix the malfunction in the locking and release button. Instructions on how to apply the lubricant in the kit are provided along with a repair label that should be placed on the seat once the repair is done. Consumers who purchased the seat can continue to use but should make sure the harness is secure and the lock-release button locks into the correct position.

Safercar.gov is an excellent resource for parents who want to stay informed on child passenger safety. It is recommended that all children 12 and under sit in rear seats. The following are 4 steps to consider as your child grows and can change seat positions in your vehicle:

-Infants should be kept in rear-facing child safety seats at minimum up to 1 year old and at least 20 pounds.

-Toddlers ages 1-4 (20-40 lbs.) can be moved to a forward-facing child safety seat which is secured in the back seat of the vehicle.

-Children ages 4 to 8 should ride in booster seats contained in the back seat of the vehicle.

-At age 8 and older children can use the vehicle seat belt located in the back seat of the car. It is extremely important that the belt works properly before having your child graduate to this method. Proper fitting is considered when the lap belt lays across their upper thighs and the shoulder belt lays across their chest.

For a complete list of models being recalled by Dorel Juvenile Group visit www.safercar.org. And always read the instructions that come with your child-safety seat.
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