Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accidents

A man in a wheelchair was seriously injured when he was struck by an oil truck in a New Bedford crosswalk.

The New Bedford pedestrian accident is the second accident involving a victim in a wheelchair in recent months. A 57-year-old man died in October after being hit in his wheelchair at a Route 6 intersection, the Boston Herald reported.

Massachusetts trucking accidents are frequently fatal when pedestrians or cyclists are involved. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 400 bicyclists and pedestrians were killed in accidents with large trucks in 2008 and another 3,000 were seriously injured.

The accident victim in this case was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital and later transferred by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital.

Police report the victim was 84 years old. He was southbound on Purchase Street at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday when he was struck while in the crosswalk at Purchase and Hillman streets.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation reports that senior citizens account for nearly 40 percent of all fatal pedestrian accidents in Massachusetts.

Those under the age of 15 account for nearly 30 percent of pedestrian victims.
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Our Massachusetts pedestrian accident attorneys know that the City of Boston prides itself for its excellent public transportation and walkable cityscape. The Daily Green and, frankly, numerous other “walk-friendly” and sustainable community resources, have consistently ranked Boston among the top five most walkable large cities in the U.S.

Just last week, the Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council sponsored a public talk on the “shared street” urban planning concept that blends functional, efficient, traffic flow with safe, sustainable green- and public-space. The meeting was the first of a series of coming “shared space” events that hope to develop a host of practical, implementable, projects in the downtown area that promote traffic safety, encourage health-conscious activities – like biking or walking – and stimulate economic growth through destination-based vehicle and foot traffic marketing.

This concept goes far beyond slapping up a few pedestrian crossing signs and some bicycle lanes and includes traffic calming devices that alter street shape, function and appearance, the Boston Globe reports. While at first, the idea of less signage or glaring, law enforcement monitored, traffic devices may seem a tragedy waiting to happen, results from European models have determined that both drivers and pedestrians pay more attention to one another and their environment without all the flashing, bells-and-whistles. Of course, this model is more appropriate for some locations than others, targeting more urban settings, than, for example, school zones and playground areas.

The “shared space” notion aims to change the dynamic between pedestrians and drivers while changing the visual landscape as well. Future shared road spaces will be less about segregating walkers from riders and more about safely opening street space in such a way that requires more human interaction.

The Walking Site, offers a few tips for starting walkers. Of course, before starting any exercise program, one should check with a doctor first:

~ Start off slow and easy with the right gear – a 20-minute round trip around your neighborhood is a safe place to start. Try it for a week and aim for a five-day-a-week regimen. Add five-minutes to your walk time each week until you reach your time or distance goal. A lot of good can be said for a decent pair of sneakers, comfortable – breathable – clothes and clean, dry, socks.

~ Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – and not just while you are walking. Drink plenty of water both before and after you hit the trail.

~ Mix it up a bit. Add stretching, warming up and cooling down as your build onto your routine. Once you’ve developed a habit of walking regularly – explore time, distance and pacing goals that work toward cardiovascular fitness.
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