Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Vibrating car seats could soon warn drivers of an impending Massachusetts car accident.

MSNBC reports the seats are the latest safety feature that could begin appearing in new cars. Recent years have seen a host of new safety features, including curtain airbags, backup warning sensors and rearview cameras. While our Boston accident lawyers applaud the focus on safety, we have concerns about the extent to which such systems take the focus on safety out of the hands of drivers. For instance, drivers in cars with backup sensors are at higher risk for an accident when driving a car not equipped with the sensors. Their reliance upon a vehicle’s safety features has reduced their own awareness.

The new seats will alert drivers to cars in a vehicle’s blind spot or other hard-to-see spots around the rear of a vehicle. After wearing a seat belt, situational awareness remains the second most important safe driving virtue. However, as motorists zone out on the road, checking a car’s blind spot becomes the first safe-driving habit to go, MSNBC reports.

The vibrating, or “touch” system, has advantages over video or audio warning systems, according to the seat’s inventor, John Morrell of Yale University. Existing audio and visual warning systems just add to driver distraction while a touch cue can transmit location of the danger without requiring a driver to turn their head.

The seat’s vibration corresponds to the area of the car where the danger arises, so that a car pulling along the rear-right side will trigger sensors in the lower right seat back.

No question the increased safety of modern vehicles has helped reduce the number of serious and fatal car accidents. Fatal accidents have declined nationwide, from 41,501 in 1998 to 37,261 in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To the extent that motorists use such safety systems to augment their awareness, we think they are welcome improvements. It’s when they become a crutch for inattention that a motorist could face the increased risk of being involved in a serious or fatal car accident.
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The texting craze has apparently captivated older generations as a study released by the Pew Research Center indicates adults are just as likely as teenagers to text while driving.

Our Boston accident attorneys frequently report on the dangers of texting while driving. As we reported earlier this month on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, lawmakers just sent a proposed law to the governor that would make it illegal to text while driving in Massachusetts.

CNN reports that the research by the Pew Center found that nearly half (47 percent) of adults admitted to sending or receiving text messages while driving.

By comparison, 34 percent of teenagers admitted to texting while driving, according to a Pew Center report released last fall.

A similar percentage of adults (27 percent) and teens (26 percent) said they had sent text messages while behind the wheel. The statistics come as a bit of a surprise, as previous studies have suggested teenagers and young adults are most at risk of being involved in an accident while texting and driving.

“Adults may be the ones sounding the alarm on the dangers of distracted driving, but they don’t always set the best example themselves,” Mary Madden, a senior research specialist at Pew, said in a statement.

Overall, the study did find that those ages 18 to 34 were more likely to text and drive than other age groups. That holds with information from the federal government, which suggests that those under 20 have the highest proportion of distracted driving accidents.

Nationwide, more than 6,000 people are killed and 500,000 are injured each year in distracted driving accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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State lawmakers have reached a tentative agreement on a new law that would ban motorists from texting while driving. The effort is aimed at reducing the number of Massachusetts car accidents caused by distracted driving.

As we reported recently on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, state leaders were taken to task in a report issued by the Governors Highway Safety Association, which found that Massachusetts lags being most of the rest of the states in the nation for efforts aimed at reducing distracted driving.

After six years of debate, the agreement would also ban young drivers under the age of 18 from using a cell phone while driving, the Boston Globe reported. Drivers over the age of 75 would be required to have their vision tested and would need to renew their license in person, rather than online.

Once passed, the Safe Driving Act will head to the governor’s office, where a spokesperson said he would review it. The effort would make Massachusetts the 29th state to ban texting while driving and the 29th to ban cell phone use for drivers under 18.

The texting ban would also cover e-mailing, Internet searches and other non-calling activities on phones, laptops and handheld devices by drivers. Texting, or phone calls by those under 18, would be allowed in an emergency or when a car is parked.

“If you’re behind the wheel and you’re texting and law enforcement sees you, you will be pulled over, you will be cited, and you will be paying a substantial fine,” said Sen. Steven Baddour.

The law would also make it easier for police officers and doctors to alert the Registry of Motor Vehicles regarding the driving fitness of older motorists. Massachusetts has more than 300,000 drivers over the age of 75 and about 170,000 drivers within five years of turning 75. Nearly 50,000 drivers are under the age of 18.

Under the proposed law, the Registry would also be required to establish an educational campaign warning of the dangers of distracted driving.
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State officials are doing a poor job of reducing the dangers of Massachusetts car accidents caused by distracted driving, the Boston Globe reported.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Association reports that 28 states have enacted bans on text messaging while driving. Georgia and Vermont enacted such laws just this month. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the Massachusetts House and Senate have passed different versions and continue to squabble over the details.

“A lot of it is common sense that people need to practice on their own,” said State Sen. Steven Baddour, who expressed optimism that lawmakers would pass legislation and send it to the governor before the session ends on July 31.

Seat belt use and not driving drunk are common sense, too.

“We’re really where we were with drunk driving 25 years ago,” said Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the association. “You have to have a comprehensive system of approaches to address highway safety problems.”

Massachusetts also lags behind other states in the use of public education and law enforcement efforts aimed at reducing distracted driving, according to the report.

Other common forms of distracted driving includes talking to passengers, dressing, applying makeup, grooming, eating, smoking, reading or using in-car electronics like stereos and GPS devices.

Massachusetts does not record distracted driving as a cause of accidents, as 43 other states do. And it does not ask about the issue in driver exams. Nor does it enlist employers in the effort to reduce the dangers distracted drivers pose on the road.

“Massachusetts has not really focused on this issue in terms of their policy or their practice compared to other states,” said Jeff Larson, who heads a Massachusetts nonprofit that promotes safe driving. “I don’t think it has thus far been taken seriously by the state.”

While the overall number of traffic fatalities has declined, from 42,836 in 2004 to 37,261 in 2008, the number of people killed in distracted driving accidents has increased, from 4,978 in 2004 to 5,870 in 2008.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching a Safe Summer Driving campaign aimed at reducing the number of serious and fatal accidents on the nation’s roads during the summer driving season.

Our Boston injury lawyers encourage families to open a dialogue about the dangers of poor driving decisions, including speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving and other behavior that can lead to a serious or fatal Massachusetts car accident.

Distracted Driving: As we continue to report, distracted driving is one of the leading causes of serious and fatal traffic accidents nationwide. The government estimates that 6,000 people are killed and more than 500,000 are seriously injured each year in driving accidents caused by distracted drivers. Drivers who text message or use cell phones while behind the wheel are at particularly high risk. Other forms of driver distraction include eating, grooming or applying makeup, talking to passengers or using in-car electronics like Mp3 players and GPS devices.

Vehicle Maintenance: Many of us limit our winter driving to commuting to and from work or school. But the summer brings with it the chance to get out on the road. The increased travel brings with it an increased risk of an accident caused by a poorly maintained vehicle. Be sure to have your car serviced and pay particular attention to your tires. Hot summer roads can be extremely hard on old or worn tires.

Click here for more information on tire safety.

NHTSA Safety Tips for Summer

-Never leave a child unattended in or near a vehicle. Warm weather can quickly raise the temperature inside a vehicle to lethal levels. Pay particular attention to where children are at when moving or backing a vehicle.

-Use appropriate safety seats and child restraints. For more information, visit www.safecar.gov.

-Always wear your seat belt.

-Don’t drink and drive.

-Avoid fatigue and stress by getting plenty of rest and ensuring that you leave in plenty of time to safely reach your destination.

-Have your vehicle serviced and pay particular attention to tire wear and fluid levels.
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Two people were seriously injured in a Boston car accident on I-495 Friday night, the Enterprise News reported.

The single-car accident occurred Friday morning near the Middelboro-Raynham line. A 29-year-old man was listed in critical condition and a 24-year-old woman was in serious condition late Friday after the 2003 Toyota Rav4 the woman was driving rolled and came to rest against a guardrail. Both victims were ejected from the vehicle. The crash happened about 8:40 a.m. on I-495 south, just south of the exit to Route 24.

The Enterprise News later reported that the man died as a result of his injuries. The driver has been upgraded to fair condition.

Police say she lost control of the vehicle near the weigh station in an area where the road narrows from three lanes to two. The right lane of the road was closed for three hours while police investigated.

The Taunton Daily Gazette reported that both victims were flown to Boston Medical Center.
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Speeding joins drunk driving and distracted driving as the leading causes of serious and fatal traffic accidents nationwide, according to the National Safety Council.

Boston Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman and our entire staff encourage you to review safe driving habits with your family as the summer travel season gets underway. Our Safe Driving Series previously examined the dangers of drunk driving, aggressive driving and distracted driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that speeding was a cause of one-third of all fatal traffic accidents in 2008, leading to the death of 11,674 motorists. When combined with the 1 in 3 motorists who are killed in drunk driving accidents, those statistics mean that two-thirds of all traffic fatalities in the United States involve either speeding or an intoxicated driver.

A study conducted in 2000 found that speed-related crashes cost an estimated $40.4 billion. That’s $76,865 per minute — or $1,281 per second.

Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely or avoid objects in the road, increases the distance a vehicle requires to come to a stop, and shortens the amount of time a driver has to react to a dangerous condition.

In 2008, speed was a factor in 97 of 363 fatal Massachusetts traffic accidents.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation wants you to take safe driving seriously. To put your risk in perspective:

What are the Odds?

Being attacked by a bear: 1 in 36 million.
Being attacked by a shark: 1 in 11.5 million.
Dying of a bee sting: 1 in 5.33 million.
Dying in a tornado: 1 in 5 million.
Being struck by lightning: 1 in 240,000.
Being bit by a poisonous snake: 1 in 37,250.

Being killed in a car accident: 1 in 84.

Do yourself and other motorists on the road a favor this summer and slow down. Being late is always better than being in an accident.
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The National Safety Council has released one of the most comprehensive reports to date on the dangers of cell phone use by drivers. Distracted driving continues to be one of the leading causes of Massachusetts car accidents.

As we reported on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, the federal government estimates that 6,000 people a year are killed and more than 500,000 are injured in distracted driving accidents.

Distractions now join alcohol and speeding as the leading factors in serious car accidents. Among the reports findings:

Distracted Driving: 28 percent of all crashes in 2008 were attributed to cell phone use, causing 1.6 million crashes and 645,000 injuries. Drivers using a cell phone are four times more likely to be involved in a crash.

Cell Phone Use:11 percent of drivers are using a cell phone at any given time. 81 percent of drivers admit to using a cell phone while behind the wheel.

Text Messaging: 18 percent of drivers admit to text messaging while driving. The rate is highest among teen drivers (36 percent) and Gen Y drivers (39 percent).

Hands Free Devices: Offer no safety benefit.

“Cell phone use while driving has become a serious public health threat,” said Janet Froetscher, NSC president and CEO. “Several states and municipalities have passed legislation allowing hands-free devices while driving. These laws give the false impression that hands-free phones are a safe alternative, when the evidence is clear they are not. Understanding the distraction of the brain will help people make the right decision and put down their cell phones while driving.”
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