Truck Accidents

September 16, 2011

NTSB Targets Cell Phone-Using Truckers to Help Reduce Risks of Fatal Car Accidents in Massachusetts

A new recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) could put an end to cell phone-using truck drivers.

The NTSB recently recommended this regulation to help prevent trucking accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Both hand-held and hands-free devices would be prohibited, according to CNN.

This isn’t the first time that the NTSB has recommended specific drivers to hang up the phone while operating a motor vehicle. The Board previously banned cell phone use by bus drivers and newly-licensed drivers.

Our Boston truck accident attorneys understand how critical this type of ban is. Too many accidents are being caused by distracted drivers. These accidents can oftentimes lead to fatal results when a large, commercial truck is involved.

In 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration banned truckers from sending or receiving text messages while driving. If a trucker is busted texting at the wheel, they could potentially face a fine of $2,750.

The most recent recommendation banning cell phone use by truckers came after a 45-year-old truck driver in Munfordville, Kentucky caused an accident that killed him and took the lives of 10 others. Officials believe that he was using his cell phone when the accident happened.

After officials investigated the accident, they concluded that the driver had used his cell phone for text messages and calls nearly 70 times while he was driving in the 24-hour period before that accident. Phone records revealed that he made four phone calls just minutes before the fatal accident happened.

The accident happened as the tractor-trailer left the roadway on Interstate 65. It crossed over a 60-foot median, over a cable barrier system and crossed into lanes of oncoming traffic. The truck struck a van that was carrying a dozen people. The driver of the van, nine of its occupants and the truck driver were killed in the collision.

The investigation revealed that the driver had no health problems, the road and weather conditions were fair and there were no mechanical problems with the big rig. Officials believe the distractions caused by his cell phone are to blame for the fatal crash.

According to Deborah Hersman, a safety board chairman, a cell phone ban for truck drivers has the ability to save lives on U.S. roadways.

“When you are at the wheel, driving safely should be your only focus,” said Hersman.

These recommendations would apply to all drivers that currently possess a commercial driver’s license. This means that all interstate commercial drivers and all in-state drivers that operate under the authority of any similar license would be covered.

According to Boyd Stephenson, American Trucking Association’s manager of safety, a great number of trucking companies already have regulations governing the use of cell phones by truck drivers. A complete ban would help to increase the safety of all motorists on our roadways.
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September 14, 2011

Massachusetts Truck Driver Kills 2 and Injures 3 – Sentenced to More than 7 Years Behind Bars

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A trucking accident in Los Angeles landed a trucker in state prison for seven years and four months. The Massachusetts truck driver was recently found guilty by the Los Angeles Superior Court of involuntary manslaughter for a trucking accident that happened last April in which a father and a daughter were killed and a nail salon and bookstore were heavily damaged.

Accidents like this can happen anywhere when the proper safety precautions aren’t taken. The Everett truck driver neglected to navigate his big rig on approved roads and failed to properly acknowledge brake issues. Trucking accidents in Massachusetts can be caused by the same circumstances. It is the responsibility of the trucker and the trucking company to ensure that these large trucks are following all safety regulations on our roadways to ensure the safety of all motorists.

Our Boston trucking accident attorneys understand that accidents with big rigs oftentimes produce deadly results. Motorists are asked to travel with extreme caution when traveling among these large trucks. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a semi, contact an experienced attorney to help you determine who may be at fault and to help you to collect the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

“No matter how much we ache for just one more day, they are never coming back,” said a friend of the family that was killed in the Los Angeles accident.

The accident happened as the 25-ton semi was traveling through the San Gabriel Mountains and was unable to stop after the brakes failed. The truck sped down the Angeles Crest Highway and slammed through La Canada Flintridge, California.

By the time the truck stopped, it had run over four cars, killed two people, injured three and plowed through a nail salon and a bookstore.

During trial, prosecutors stated that the accident was a direct result of the driver’s decision to take a narrow, winding road through the mountain instead of taking one of the nearby freeways to get from the desert to the Los Angeles metropolitan area. An off-duty firefighter reportedly warned the truck driver about the dangerous road and suggested that he turn around. The trucker proceeded down the mountain road for another mile and a half. During this time the big rig’s brakes began to smoke. Instead of stopping the vehicle and allowing them to cool down, the trucker reportedly poured cool water on them.

Officials inspected the big rig after the accident and concluded that half of the 10 truck brakes were either incorrectly adjusted or were overheated.

The trucker has already spent 20 months in jail awaiting his trial. Officials believe that he will be released in about two years if he’s well-behaved. He is expected to serve the remainder of his jail time in a low-security prison.

“For me this is a nightmare and I didn’t wake up yet,” said the trucker to the family of the victims. “I know each you hate me today but I ask for forgiveness.”

The trucker says that he was simply following the instructions of his GPS system. He blames the accident on the lack of safety ramps for runaway trucks on that mountain. Since the sentencing, the California Department of Transportation has decided to ban all five-axle trucks from a portion of that highway.
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July 28, 2011

Boston Truck Accident Results in Fiery Explosion – Taking out Homes and Greenhouse Buildings

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A fiery Boston trucking accident shut down Route 1 after a gasoline tanker truck crashed and exploded in a fireball this past weekend. The accident triggered a number of smaller explosions that sent fire shooting towards local businesses and homes. The truck driver was killed in the accident.

The explosions happened after the overturned tanker spilled about 11,000 gallons of fuel spilled near a drainage ditch. The gas was then ignited and flames were carried down a brook that runs near the highway. The fiery explosion set a home and two greenhouse buildings on fire.

Our Boston trucking accident attorneys recognize the potential dangers that come along with these large, commercial vehicles on our roadways. Many of them carry dangerous substances as cargo. Oftentimes, accidents with these big rigs can turn deadly. It is important for both truck drivers and passenger-vehicle motorists to be cautious on our roadways, especially during the summer months when the amount of traffic increases significantly.

Nearby residents say they heard the load crash and were later warned to evacuate their house.

The 59-year-old driver of the large truck died on scene, according to state police spokesman David Procopio. Four other motorists were hurt trying to avoid the accident, according to Boston.com. One was taken to a local hospital and treated for severe burn injuries.

Police are still investigating what exactly caused the tanker to travel through the median and roll over onto its side.

More than 100 people from local neighborhoods were forced to evacuate, but were later allowed to return to their homes several hours after the incident.

A number of traffic lanes were closed because of the accident as police checked the area for potential hazards and a nearby bridge for structural damage. They were also reportedly checking a nearby fast-food restaurant’s gas lines as they were apparently ruptured from the explosion.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were about 300,000 large trucks that were involved in traffic accidents in the United States in 2008. Of these accidents, more than 4,000 resulted in death. Nearly 4,500 people were killed in the accidents. These fatalities accounted for more than 10 percent of all reported traffic fatalities for the entire year. This means that one out of every nine traffic fatalities that year happened in 2008 happened in an accident that involved a large truck. Another 90,000 people were injured in these crashes.

Of the nearly 4,500 fatalities, 74 percent of them occurred to the occupants of the passenger-vehicle, 10 percent were nonoccupants and 16 percent happened to the occupants of the large truck.

In 2008 alone, Massachusetts saw nearly 500 vehicles become involved in a deadly accident that involved a large truck.
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July 21, 2011

New Crash Study aims to Reduce Risk of Boston Car Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A new crash study will be taking the next two years to look into driver’s actions and reactions when facing near-crash situations. The study aims to determine better ways to prevent traffic collisions before they happen, according to Forbes. This new study is much different because most previous studies of the sort focused on how to protect passengers in the event of an accident. These researchers look to prevent car accidents in Boston and elsewhere before they happen.

Throughout this study, 3,100 vehicles will be chosen to participate for two years. The study is looking for participants in Buffalo, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Durham, central Pennsylvania and Bloomington. Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand that this type of information will be beneficial to drivers across the United States as it will help to prevent serious or fatal accidents across the nation.

“Collision prevention is the central goal of the study” said Ken Campbell, chief program officer overseeing safety for the Strategic Highway Research Program, which is part of the non-profit Transportation Research Board. “And the driver is the key to prevent collision.”

The study is looking mainly at how drivers act and react to different driving situations involving varying road, traffic and weather conditions. The data will be recorded by four different video cameras that will record the forward and rear views and the driver’s face and hands. The study will also be equipping vehicles with GPS, wireless radar and various sensors.

This study is the world’s largest field study of its kind. It has been sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration. The information from the participating vehicles will be recorded in a storage box held in the vehicle’s glove compartment. Researchers will retrieve the data every four to six months.

Previous accident studies have only focused on saving vehicle occupants in the event of an actual accident. These studies only focused on the effectiveness of seat belts, airbags and crash-worthy vehicles. More recent studies, like this one, are shifting their focus to collision avoidance by looking into driver behavior. Driver behavior and driver habits are the primary cause of most accidents.

“You can’t just look at collisions or near collisions to know what risk factors are. It’s that comparison with what the driver is doing when there is not a safety-related event that tells you what the risk factors are,” says Dr. Campbell.

The information will not only be used to advance vehicle technology, but to design better driver training programs as well. Motor-vehicle accidents that occur at intersections and accidents where the driver runs off the road will be initial focus areas of this study.

The participating drivers in the six states chosen to be a part of the study will receive $500 for each year they participate. Each participant is required to have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and an approved vehicle. More than half of all vehicle makes on America’s roadways are eligible for the study. Monitoring equipment is relatively easy to install and typically takes less than four hours to do so.

“This study is long overdue and has the potential for providing the most comprehensive look at why highway crashes occur,” said Peter Kissinger, president and chief executive of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a nonprofit research and educational organization that provided technical advice for the study. “It is unprecedented in its scope and approach. It will be a wonderful supplement to other ongoing and planned traffic safety research efforts. My only disappointment is that the transportation research community didn’t initiate the study several years ago.”
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June 29, 2011

AAA Says Fourth of July Traffic Will Dip, But Boston Car Accidents May Not

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

AAA estimates that 39 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home over the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, down from 40 million in 2010, USA Today reports.

While AAA predicts a drop in traffic, 39 million people on the road means a big risk for Boston car accident injuries. And Boston Car Accident Injury Attorneys are always available to talk with clients who have been injured or paralyzed by the negligence of other drivers. Driving is a right too many take for granted.

According to 2009 data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 334 people were killed in Massachusetts in accidents. And drivers during the holiday weekend should be aware of the possibility of Massachusetts drunk driving accidents. In 2009, there were 437 drivers involved in alcohol-related accidents and 29 percent had been drinking, the NHTSA reports.

So, just because AAA believes the number of drivers on the roads during the upcoming holiday may drop, there will still be accidents and people will still be affected by them. AAA said that an average gasoline hike of about $1 from last year is to blame. The national average for gasoline is expected to be $3.74 per gallon.

It appears gasoline companies have made it a trend to drop prices just before the July 4 holiday weekend. Last year, according to The Associated Press, prices dropped 4 cents to an average of $2.67 per gallon. This year, The Associated Press found, gas prices dropped an average of 3 cents statewide, to an average of $3.68 per gallon.

Regardless of the gas prices, many people will be enjoying the holiday weekend by getting away to the beach, to lakes, amusement parks or even to catch a game at Fenway Park.

So, with many vehicles on the roads, it’s best to be a defensive driver, look out for others, drive the speed limit and don’t drink and drive. But that doesn’t mean others will be doing the same.

If you are involved in a car accident, the first thing to do is retrieve proper medical treatment. Don’t sign any waivers for insurance companies.

The sooner we are on your case, the better odds we can maximize your recovery. And while no amount of money can compensate you for your injury, personal injury law may be able to be used to help you in your recovery. Medical bills may pile up and a loss of job or enjoyment of life can hamper your well-being.

We will work to help you recover as much as we can, but we need you to contact us as soon as possible. The best case scenario is that you and your loved ones enjoy the holiday weekend and make it safe. But if it isn’t, call our offices today so we can help you.
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June 13, 2011

How often do Elderly Drivers Cause Car Accidents in Boston?

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

It’s no secret that our eyesight, our function, our coordination and our other safety skills unfortunately decline with age. Do we honestly know when it’s finally time to call it quits? Doing so can help guard against the dangers of being involved in a serious — or fatal — car accident in Boston.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are a few warning signs that may signal to us that were no longer able to drive safely. Health Day suggests that you look within yourself to answer this question as no one is able to judge you better than yourself. Is it safe for you to be driving?

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that aging comes with a number of obstacles, with older drivers having some of the greatest risks for serious injury. You are urged to follow the advice and recommendations in this blog, and honestly ask yourself, “Am I safe behind the wheel?”

Are you experiencing any of the following:

-Are you getting lost when taking a familiar route?

-Are you getting ticketed for numerous driving violations?

-Have you been getting into fender-benders or near-misses?

-Are there new scratches or dents on your car?

-Have you received a recommendation from a doctor suggesting that you reduce your diving or stop altogether?

-Do you have health problems or are you taking medications that can affect your driving?

-Do you find road signs or road markings overwhelming?

-Do you find yourself driving too fast or too slow for no particular reason?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, citizens aged 65 and older made up nearly 15 percent of the total resident population in the United States in 2009. Of this 15 percent, nearly 5,500 people of this age group were killed in motor-vehicle accidents throughout the year. Another 187,000 seniors suffered injuries from these crashes.

The older driving population made up nearly 10 percent of all people injured in traffic accidents in 2009 and made up nearly 20 percent of all traffic fatalities. The number of injured drivers in this age group increase 2 percent from the previous year.

Nearly 100 elderly drivers, those above the age of 64, were killed in motor-vehicle accidents in Massachusetts in 2009.
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June 4, 2011

Boston Tractor Trailer Accident Closes I-95 and I-93

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Interstate 95 southbound and the ramp merging from Interstate 93 turned into a nightmare earlier this week as a tractor-trailer overturned and spilled its load of sheetrock across a number of lanes in the area. The accident only left one lane open for all of the morning commuters, according the Boston-Herald.

The Massachusetts tractor trailer accident closed roads near exits 37A and 37B through the morning rush hour. Many commuters were forced to travel along alternate routes.

“It’s going take a few hours to clean up, however there’s no injuries,” said state police Sgt. Matthew Murray. The accident occurred around 7:50 a.m. pushing traffic delays back as far as Peabody.

Our Boston trucking accident lawyers would like to remind all motorists to be extra cautious when traveling near these large tractor-trailers and semi trucks. While this accident did not injury any motorists, other incidents do not end as fortunately. Many accidents that involve these big rigs tend to result in serious, and even fatal, injuries.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 3,500 fatalities resulting from accidents that involved a large truck in the United States in 2009. Another 74,000 people were injured in these accidents. These large trucks are classified as vehicles having a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds.

In 2009, the NHTSA reports that 21 trucks were involved in accidents with 441 vehicles. These are just the accidents that resulted in motorist death.

Trucking accident facts from the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety:

-Many truck-related accident deaths come with a large personal and financial bill. The cost of trucking accidents each year is well over $19 billion.

-These large trucks only make up about 4 percent of all registered vehicles and account for about 7 percent of all vehicle miles traveled. Still, they are involved in more than 10 percent of all accidents deaths.

-The number of deaths caused from accidents involving a tractor trailer equals the same as 26 major airplane crashes each year.
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June 3, 2011

New Driver Test Ranks Massachusetts Drivers Among Worst in America

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Recently, GMAC Insurance released the results for their 2011 National Drivers Test. These tests are nothing to brag about as the study concluded that 1 out of every 5 drivers fails to meet basic road requirements to obtain a driver’s license. This means nearly 37 million American drivers, or roughly 20 percent of motorists on our roadways, would not be able to pass the written drivers test if they were to take it today. This lack of road knowledge greatly increases the risks for a car accident in Boston.

“The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test has become the benchmark for America’s driving IQ,” said Scott Eckman, chief marketing officer, GMAC Insurance. “All Americans need a refresher course when it comes to rules of the road and it begins with education. We’re hoping this year’s GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test results will inspire drivers to arm themselves with the knowledge they need to stay safe.”

Our Boston car accident attorneys note that these test results concluded that the average score on this GMAC drivers test was less than 78 percent in 2011. While this is a near 2 percent increase from the previous year, the average score is still alarmingly low. This means that a large number of motorists on our roadways lack basic knowledge of driving skills and rules.

Nearly 90 percent of drivers that took this test could not identify the correct action to take when pulling up to a steady yellow traffic light. One a quarter of tested drivers were able to list safe following distances.

“All Americans need a refresher course when it comes to basic driving rules,” said Gary Kusumi, CEO and president, GMAC Insurance – Personal Lines. “Being a safe driver is about conduct, judgment and knowledge. We’re hoping this year’s results encourage people to arm themselves with the knowledge they need to stay safe.”

Massachusetts’ drivers rank 47th in the United States in driver intelligence. Our state dropped nine spots in the rankings since the previous year when we ranked 38th.

The Northeast region of the country submitted the worst scores of all regions. The Midwest region scored the best on this test. Typically, male drivers scored better than female drivers, with roughly 14 percent of men failing the test compared to approximately 27 percent of women. Older drivers also tested better.

The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test is conducted to serve as a reminder to drivers to freshen up on their credentials to help decrease their risk of being involved in an accident.

“The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test shows me that too many Americans are coming up short when it comes to knowing the rules of the road,” said Casey Mears, driver of the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. “Whether you’re on the race track or in the real world, it’s about being safe, respecting other drivers and being educated about how to handle certain situations.”

The 2011 test quizzed driver knowledge through a series of 20 questions taken from state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) tests. National data was weighted to percentage of state population, gender, ethnicity and age. The seventh annual survey had 5,130 licensed driver participants between the ages of 15 and 66 from all over the country.

Want to give the GMAC Insurance National Driving Test a whirl and see how your driving knowledge measures up? Visit their website and test your driving skills.
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April 8, 2011

Slumped Economy Influences Decreased Number of Boston Car Accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The United Stated experienced reported 34,700 fatal vehicle accidents last year, according to the National Safety Council. This number shows a 3 percent decrease from the previous year and a fatality decrease for the fourth year in a row. Previous motor vehicle fatality trends credit the recession to the decreased number. Unfortunately, the fourth-quarter of 2010, as we started to climb out of the recession, the number of fatal car accident began to increase.

Our Boston car accident attorneys urge motorists to be prepared for more traffic and a greater risk of car accidents in Massachusetts as the economy recovers.

“As encouraging as it is to see fatalities decreasing on our nation’s roads, the 2010 rate of decrease is less than a third of the previous year’s decrease,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “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.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 10 million vehicles were involved in police-reported accidents in 2008. Passenger vehicles made up 94 percent of those involved in accidents.

The NSC also reports that motor vehicle injuries, deaths and property damage cost $236.6 in 2010, also a 3 percent decrease from 2009. This total cost includes medical expenses, wage and productivity losses, administrative expenses, property damage and employer costs.

In Massachusetts, nearly 230 vehicles were involved in fatal accidents in 2008, claiming the lives of roughly 170 motor-vehicle occupants. Percent decreases in fatal accidents are slightly higher than the national average sitting at about 5 percent each year.
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March 17, 2011

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

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

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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