Articles Posted in Injuries to Children

The Business Journals reports several safety organizations are teaming up to offer a lucky teen $1,000 and a trip to Honolulu for creating the best public service announcement aimed at distracted driving.

Our Boston personal injury lawyers frequently report on the dangers of distracted driving accidents and the increased risk teenagers face behind the wheel. Nationwide, 5,000 motorists are killed and 500,000 injured in accidents caused by distracted driving.

Massachusetts car accidents involving young drivers claimed 68 lives in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The National Road Safety Foundation and the National Student Safety Program are launching the “JST DRV” Radio PSA Contest. The winning message will be broadcast nationally during National Youth Traffic Safety Month in May.

“The JST DRV Radio PSA Contest hopes to engage young people in communicating important messages about distracted driving in their own voice,” said Michelle Anderson, operations director of the National Road Safety Foundation.

Teens ages 14 to 18 are invited to submit a PSA that talks to teens about the dangers of distracted driving. Entries should be 15 to 30 seconds in length. Three runners-up will get a $500 scholarship and a Bluetooth hands-free device. The winner will receive $1,000, a Bluetooth and a trip to Honolulu to participate in the NSSP National Youth Conference in July.

“A quarter of all teens admit to texting behind the wheel and, in 2009, the highest proportion of distracted drivers in fatal crashes was under the age of 20,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We know we have to engage teens in order to put an end to distracted driving. With their help, we can educate teens and adults about making smarter choices that will save lives.”

Visit www.nrsf.org or www.adtsea.org/nssp for more information about the competition. Deadline for entries is March 25, 2011.
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In the ongoing battle to reduce your child’s risk of being involved in a Massachusetts car accident, our Boston injury lawyers encourage you to remain proactive in 2011.

Safe Kids USA is launching a program in conjunction with General Motors Foundation called Countdown2Drive. The program will target 13 to 14-year-old teenagers, before they are eligible to drive.

“Our goal is to educate young teens, as they begin to transition from passengers to drivers,” said John Formisano, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Our research shows teen pre-drivers are eager to learn, and they are focused on the freedom a driver’s license and access to a car can provide.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that car accidents are the leading cause of death for all teenagers, both those ages 15 to 20 who are old enough to drive, and younger teens who are anxiously awaiting their driving privileges. Nearly 6,000 teenage drivers were involved in fatal crashes in 2008. Massachusetts car accidents involving young drivers claimed 68 lives that year.

“By preparing them to be good passengers, Countdown2Drive can help decrease the number of crashes and injuries that occur during their first and most dangerous year of driving,” Formisano said. “Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens, with driver inexperience and distractions among the main causes of teen crashes.”

A 13 or 14-year-old faces double the risk of being involved in a fatal accident as that of when they were younger. That risk continues to rise as a teen gets older.

“Texting and talking on cell phones may feel like second nature to a tech-savvy generation, but the truth is, no one can talk or text while driving safely,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Driving distracted is a dangerous and deadly practice, which is why we need to reach teens early on – before they get a permit and a license to drive.”

Here you will find more information on theCountdown2Drive program.
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AT&T is launching the “It Can Wait” campaign which aims to teach motorists about the dangers of text messaging while driving, the Examiner reported.

Our Boston car accidents lawyers frequently discuss the dangers of distracted driving caused by cell phones and text messaging. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports about 5,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries are caused each year in car accidents involving distracted drivers.

While cell phone companies have long since moved away from marketing the devices as “car phones” — as they did when first introduced in a Chrysler K car at Soldier Field in Chicago in the mid-1980s — companies have become increasingly concerned about the dangers their products create when used by drivers who should be paying attention to the road.

The “It Can Wait” campaign includes a 10-minute documentary featuring a teen killed the day before her high school graduation and another teen who killed a bicyclist while texting “lol.”

The documentary is being distributed to politicians, government agencies, educators, students and safety organizations.

“This documentary is a raw look at the reality and hazards of texting while driving, and we hope it will make wireless customers think twice before pulling out their cell phones in the driver’s seat,” said Cathy Coughlin of AT&T. “As a global telecommunications company, it is our responsibility to bring these risks to light.”

The campaign also features a Facebook application, including a pledge not to text and drive that has been taken by about 22,000 consumers since it launched in March 2010.

Teen are at highest risk of distracted driving accident stemming from cell phone use or text messaging. A Pew Internet & American Life Project report recently found more than one-fourth of teens ages 16 or 17 had admitted to texting while driving and nearly half had made calls on their cell phone while driving.

More information on the “It Can Wait” campaign is available here.
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Blind spots in rear views are a common danger for drivers, especially those of sports utility vehicles. Our Boston car accident lawyers are encouraged by proposed new rules to reduce the risk.

Boston car accidents will diminish when drivers are better able to see what is behind them, particularly in parking lots, driveways and parallel parking spots.

Several summers ago Consumer Reports tested some vehicles rear blind spots. It was a simple test to set a 28 inch traffic cone behind a vehicle and measure when the driver could see the top. The results of the study found that blind spots ranged from 7 to 50+ feet.

Earlier this month the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed a regulation that will help reduce and hopefully eliminate vehicle blind spots. The new regulation will increase the required field of view for trucks, cars, minivans and other vehicles under 10,000 pounds.

Installing in-vehicle display screens and video cameras to the rear of vehicles will comply with the regulations. By September 2012 10% of new vehicles will need this modification, followed by 40% in 2013 and 100% by 2014.

The proposal sited the following facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

-About 292 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur per calendar year from back-over accidents (for all vehicle types).

-The majority (228) of these 292 fatalities were from light vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less.

-Children and the elderly are most likely to fall victim of a back-over accident.

-44% of fatalities involving a vehicle 10,000 pounds or less are with children under 5.

-33% of fatalities with a light vehicle are with victims over age 70.

Tips to prevent backover accidents in Boston:

-Children should not play around parked vehicles so refrain from leaving balls, toys, and bikes around or behind parked vehicles
-Hold on tight to children walking on or around driveways, sidewalks and parking lots.

-Teach children a safe place to stand when a vehicle is backing out of the driveway. The driver and child need to see each other.

-Slowly back out of parking spaces and driveways. Rolling down your window and making sure your radio is off will help you hear anyone approaching your vehicle.

Though newer technology is a step in the right direction, nothing replaces walking around your vehicle prior to backing up.
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Massachusetts car accidents claimed two lives in separate accidents over the weekend, the Boston Globe reported.

An 18-year-old Middleborough woman was killed when she lost control of her car on I-495 shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday, according to Massachusetts State Police. Her 1996 Toyota Avalon was southbound hear the Plainville exit, when she apparently lost control, veered into the median, and struck a tree.

She was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she was pronounced dead. Our Boston injury attorneys frequently report about the dangers our teen drivers face on the road. While it may sound macabre, we urge parents to bring accidents involving teenagers to the attention of their young drivers each time a report is on the television news or in the newspapers. The number of teenagers involved in serious or fatal accidents is staggering. As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to report, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers nationwide.

In this case, the victim’s 21-year-old passenger was also injured and was taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro for treatment. The crash closed southbound I-495 for about an hour.

On Sunday, another young driver was killed when police say a 26-year-old Worcester man lost control of his 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse, which left the road and rolled over before striking a sign post.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and the cause of the accident remains under investigation.
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Our Boston child injury attorneys encourage parents to speak with their teenagers about the risks associated with poor driving decisions this week as safety advocates nationwide carry the message during Teen Safe Driver Week (Oct. 17-24).

As we enter the high school homecoming season, with winter driving and the holidays just around the corner, it’s a great time to have a serious talk with your children about their risk for a Massachusetts car accident.

Sixty-eight motorists were killed in car accidents involving teen drivers in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nationwide, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers.

Teens are among the worst offenders of every poor driving habit in the book: speeding, drunk driving, texting and driving, distracted driving, driving without a seat belt and driving with too many passengers in the car.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation reports that a full one-third of 16-year-old drivers are involved in a car accident — 4,018 of 11,819 in a recent year. Drivers age 17 had a 1 in 5 chance of being involved in a crash. While about one-seventh of those age 18 were in a traffic accident.

And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 40 percent of teen deaths are the result of car accidents.

Spend some time this week with your teenagers and talk to them about the dangers associated with poor driving habits and about riding in cars with other teens.

You can use this Massachusetts teen driving contract to make a pact with your teen to stay safe behind the wheel.
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Parents can reduce the risk of their teen being involved in a Massachusetts car accident by spending more time on the road with them during the permitting process, according to a new study being released this week by the AAA Foundation for Highway Safety.

The New York Times reports that nearly half of all parents remained uncomfortable with at least one aspect of their teen’s driving abilities even after a year-long permit process. Still, one-third allowed their child to obtain their driver’s license within 30 days of becoming eligible. The study found teens could use additional training, particularly dealing with challenging conditions like heavy traffic, night driving and bad weather.

Our Boston accident lawyers frequently report on the dangers faced by teenagers behind the wheel. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nationwide, a total of 6,428 motorists were killed in traffic accidents involving teen drivers in 2008, accounting for one-sixth of the nation’s deadly car accidents.

Massachusetts car accidents involving teen drivers claimed 68 lives that year.

“One of the best things parents can do to reduce the risk is to spend as much time as possible with their children to provide guidance driving in a variety of situations so they can gain experience and competence,” said Peter Kissinger, CEO of the Foundation. “If they do, it will have a significant impact on the teenager’s later driving experience.”

The study, which is among the first to follow the interaction of parent and child during the licensing process, found that more than half of all parents routinely provided instruction on operating the vehicle (like “slow down”) but fewer than 5 percent of instructional comments were aimed at assisting teenagers in learning defensive driving techniques, such as scanning the road or anticipating the actions of another driver.

There was also wide variation in the amount of time a parent spent with a child learning to drive. The National Safety Council said that the time immediately after a teen gets their license is vital. “If they knew the risk, they would take a much more active role,” said David Teater, of the NSC.
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The rush is on to enlist the help of celebrities to preach the dangers of texting and driving as safety advocates seek to reduce the risk of distracted driving car accidents in Boston and across the country, the Boston Globe reported.

As our Boston injury lawyers reported earlier this summer, Massachusetts is one of several states to approve a ban of texting while driving. Of the 30 states that have such bans, 11 of them have enacted laws this year, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association. Now, safety advocates are increasingly enlisting the help of celebrities to keep the momentum going.

Celebrities who have taken up the cause include Oprah and her “No Phone Zone” pledge, “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks, Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno, “Today” host Meredith Vieira, snowboarding champion Shaun White and 88-year-old actress Betty White.

Young celebrities in particular have taken the cause to heart as studies show that teen drivers are at the highest risk of a distracted driving accident caused by cell phone use or text messaging while behind the wheel. This week, the Jonas Brothers, a band especially popular with preteens, wore “TXTING KLLS” thumb rings.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 6,000 people are killed each year and 500,000 are injured in car accidents caused by distracted driving.

Massachusetts’ new law takes effect on Sept. 30.
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Nine kids a day die in car accidents in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And a recent report by the USA Today found that summer is the most dangerous time of the year for teenage car accidents.

As we reported earlier this year on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, parents need to remain proactive in warning their children about the dangers of being involved in a serious or fatal Massachusetts car accident.

Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Sixty-eight teens were killed in Massachusetts car accidents in 2008.

Summer is the most dangerous time of the year for teenage drivers. And the excitement surround summer holidays, including the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, can be particularly dangerous. Not surprisingly, authorities pin the increase in risk on less parental supervision, more night driving, more driving with friends and fewer curfew restrictions. Over the course of the year, Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to midnight are the most dangerous hours for teens on the road. But those statistics go out the window during the summer months.

“For many kids, every day in the summer is a weekend day,” says Justin McNaull, state relations director for auto club AAA. “Driving with your buddies to find a party at 10 p.m. is very different from driving to school at 7 a.m. on a weekday. There’s a very different environment both outside and inside the vehicle.”

The National Safety Council is offering free downloads of its “Family Guide to Teen Driving Safety.”

AAA provides the following tips and risk factors for teen drivers:

Risk Taking: Don’t do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life. Accidents don’t just affect you, they affect passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, children and families.

Unbuckled Belts: Wear your seat belt and make sure that all passengers are buckled up.

Speeding: Obey the speed limit. One-third of teen fatalities involve speeding.

Rowdy Passengers: Adding a passenger increases a young driver’s chances of an accident by about 50 percent. With two or more passengers, the risk of an accident increases fivefold.

Cellphones: Focus on the road. Don’t use a cell phone or text message while driving. Teens are at the highest risk for an accident as a result of text messaging or talking on the phone.

CD Players: Adjusting the radio is the most common distraction for drivers ages 16 to 20.

Nighttime Driving: Teen drivers are twice as likely to get into an accident from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. than they are during the day.

Drinking and Driving: One-sixth of 16- and 17-year-olds killed in crashes were legally intoxicated.

Peer Pressure: Consider the risk factors before getting into a car with another driver. Never ride in a car with a driver you don’t trust or with a driver that has been drinking. Never ride in an unsafe vehicle or in a vehicle with more passengers than can safely be accommodated.

Overconfidence: Inexperience and overconfidence frequently lead to crashes when new drivers encounter unexpected or unfamiliar situations.
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