Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Don’t you just love the winter weather here in Boston? Okay, maybe not. Yes, it can be dangerous, but there are ways to help minimize these dangers and to help minimize the risks of a winter-related car accident in Massachusetts.

Recently, Mayor Menino made an announcement urging drivers in the state to be careful on our roadways as we’re experiencing spurts of dangerous snow. Much of this weather affects our safety on the road, especially during busy morning and evening commutes.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that a meeting was recently held, between the Mayor and his Snow Team, to discuss the most recent storm-related information and the emergency response plan to help residents through the dangerous snowy weather. These kinds of plans are important and need to be in place because the weather throughout the state can be unpredictable. The early-March storm in Boston is a perfect example of that. At one time, we were expected to get about 6 inches of snow, but officials we unable to certify that statement as the weather tends change unexpectedly. Regardless, the mayor’s Snow Team continues to stay on top of weather conditions to help them to make educated decisions regarding emergency response and resident assistance.

“We’ve enjoyed a mild winter so far, but the season is not over yet,” said Mayor Menino. “The City is preparing for winter weather and we’re asking residents and commuters to do the same, particularly during the evening and early morning commuting hours.”

The Snow Team isn’t the only organization working to prepare for dangerous winter storms. Crews with the Boston Public Works are also working diligently to prepare for such weather. Preparations include readying snow-removal equipment and pre-treating roadways through the district’s yards.

To help prepare residents, the mayor recommends the following:

-Use public transportation when you can. Use these modes of transportation to avoid driving on slippery, snowy or icy roadways. Using public transportation will also help to clear the roads for emergency vehicles and for snow-plowing equipment.

-Those who own property in the area are reminded to sand and salt both stairs and sidewalks. These methods help to help minimize slippery surfaces and injuries.

-Residents should shovel out basins that are near or on their property to help public safety agencies to protect against flooding.

-Residents should shovel out fire hydrants to help public safety agencies in the event of an emergency.

-Keep an eye on your elderly neighbors and family members in the area.

If you have any questions regarding the weather or preparation efforts, you’re urged to call the Mayor’s Hotline at (617) 635-4500. This is a 24-hour hotline. Residents are also urged to sign up for ALERTBoston. This is the city’s emergency notification system and can help to keep you in the loop regarding evacuations, missing persons, unexpected road closures, severe weather and more.
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A recent rollover car accident in Salem on Interstate 93 near Exit 1 seriously injured one of the vehicle’s passenger, according to Stephane Cattin, the Salem Fire Captain. The passenger was transported to a Boston hospital. Reports indicate that the accident was called in to authorities shortly before midnight. A pickup truck allegedly slammed into the median’s guardrail, flipped over a number of times and landed right-side up in the median. There was “tremendous” damage to the truck, according to the Salem Patch. There were three people in the vehicle at the time of the accident, one was ejected and one was pinned inside the vehicle.

“It required an extensive extrication of about 25 to 30 minutes to remove the passenger,” said Cattin.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand how severe interstate accidents can be. All three of the vehicle’s occupants were taken to Lawrence General Hospital. The occupant who was entrapped was later taken to a Boston hospital. State Police are currently handling the investigation.

As we’ve previously discussed, driving along our state’s interstate roadways can be risky. Drivers who aren’t from the area may find it almost impossible to navigate our busy roadways. Even longtime residents find the roads confusing at times. Say you want to get from Gloucester to Taunton. You’d have to get on Interstate 95, which will later converge with 128. At that point, the exit numbers change from 1-30 to 44 and down. After you circle Boston, the exits change again. In the end, you’d have to navigate through three different sets of numbers of three very busy roadways.

And that’s just one route in Massachusetts. There are many similar routes that are just as confusing. For that reason, it’s important for all motorists to be cautious when traveling on our state’s busy roadways. There are a few simple safety tips that you can follow to help reduce the risks of an interstate accident.

Traveling Safely on the Interstate:

-Getting On. Make sure you’re meeting the on-ramp’s speed limit, which is usually 45 miles per hour. Remember that this ramp is taking you to the interstate, meaning that the speed will increase on that interstate. Speed up.

-Changing Lanes. Make sure to check your mirrors and physically look in your blind spots to make sure that no one is in your way. Never cut off another driver. Use a blinker to warn other drivers of your intended maneuvers. Once you’re in your desired lane, shut off your blinker and maintain the road’s speed limit.

-Speeding. Don’t do it! Regardless of how fast or slow vehicles may be traveling around you, it’s important to follow the road’s speed limit.

-Passing. Make sure that no one is in the lane you need to enter, much like how you do when you’re changing lanes. Activate your blinker and change lanes when the time is right. Pass the vehicle without speeding erratically. Once you’ve passed the vehicle and you can see their entire car in your rear-view mirror, get back into the lane. Never cut a driver off when passing them.

-Getting Off. Make sure you know when your exit is approaching. Get in the right-hand lane as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute and shoot over to your exit. Put on your blinker to let other drivers know where you’re going to go. Once you’re on the off-ramp, slow down. Speed limits reduce dramatically once you’re off the interstate.
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We’ve talked about the risks that newly-licensed drivers have for car accidents in Boston and elsewhere. We’ve talked about their inexperience behind the wheel and some of their dangerous driving habits. Well, now we’re going to narrow that down even more and talk about some of the most dominant factors in teen accidents. A new study was released and determined sharp turns and screeching halts may be some of the best indicators into a teen’s risks for an accident. As a matter of fact, these driving habits were used to predict a teen’s chance of having an accident or a near accident after the study. Researchers always assumed that drivers who participate in risky behavior behind the wheel have a higher risk for an accident, but now there’s even more detailed data to show exactly why that’s the case, according to Reuters.

“A lot of us have ridden with drivers who drive in a jerky way and start too fast and then have to brake hard, and it makes us uncomfortable,” said Jean Shope, a researcher from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand that this study looked at the habits of drivers and the effects that these habits had on their risks for an accident. In the study, researchers used cameras and computer equipment to measure the instances of higher gravitational force (or g-force) in the car with teen drivers. It’s important to point out that these devices aren’t present in the vehicles of all teen drivers, but parents can monitor the same kind of information just by riding along.

In the study, Bruce Simons-Morton with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development lead researchers. They looked at 42 newly-licensed drivers in the Virginia area through recording equipment to measure g-forces from quick turns and excessive braking and acceleration. These 42 teens were studied for a year and a half. These teens took nearly 70,000 driving trips during this time and recorded nearly 40 accidents and more than 240 near accidents.

Around these accidents and near accidents, the g-force rate appeared to increase.

Simons-Morton says they’re not concluding that these movements are the sole cause of the accidents but that the pattern they found with these driving techniques can be used to help predict an accident involving a young driver.

The devices used by researchers aren’t widely available to consumers, but similar products can be purchased for about $500 and a monthly operational fee. Researchers have not determined if having one of these devices present can have any positive affect on a teen’s driving habits or their risk for an accident.

Yes, teens are inexperienced behind the wheel and may not be able to fully comprehend the dangers of driving. However, talking with them about roadway dangers and riding along with them regularly can help to reduce these risks. Parents can serve as a personal g-force reader to monitor their teen’s driving habits.

Shope says that newly-licensed drivers should try to stay on familiar roads. He says their driving abilities are probably best in these areas. He also suggests that they drive during the daytime in ideal weather until they get more experience under their belt.
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Imagine this: You are driving down Route 79 South near the Braga Bridge during the early morning hours and you see a trucking accident in Massachusetts. As that accident happens, a tractor-trailer bursts into flames right before your eyes. The truck is so close to your vehicle, you worry about the safety of yourself and the family members in your vehicle.

Sound like the beginning of a bad dream?

Unfortunately, this was a reality for a number of motorists during a recent early morning commute.

According to Wicked Local Hanson, the accident happened when a tractor-trailer slammed into the Jersey barrier at that exact location just after 6 a.m. The Massachusetts State Police say the truck swerved to the left, went up over a curb and drove along the guardrail before it slammed into a steel support. Upon collision, the wooden scaffold that was in the road construction area burst into flames. Officials believe that the fire may have caused structural damage to the steel support beams, too.

Our Boston car accident attorneys hear that the accident was so bad, the officer who was called to the scene had to park far from the accident just to avoid the intense heat. The driver was located, unconscious and draped over the barrier. The responding officer was able to save the truck driver and get him transported to the Charlton Memorial Hospital. The man was later taken to Rhode Island Hospital and was listed in serious condition.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), that area of the road is raised in two levels to accommodate heavy traffic. Officials think that the heat altered the efficiency of the road’s infrastructure. The northbound lanes, the ones on the upper level, sustained most of the damage from the fiery crash. The southbound lanes were reopened that evening, the Broadway and East Street ramps will be closed for up to a week.

Massachusetts State Police are still looking into the cause of the accident and have yet to file any charges against the truck driver.

Traveling through areas of construction in the state can be extremely dangerous. Lanes are altered, speeds are reduced and workers are present. In these areas, motorists need to be extra careful to avoid an accident with another vehicle, construction machinery and even roadside workers. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers drivers some safety tips to help everyone get through these areas safely.

Driver Safety Tips:

-Move over and slow down. The Move Over Law went into effect back in March of 2009. This law requires drivers to move over when approaching either maintenance vehicles with flashing lights or emergency vehicles. If you don’t, you could be fined $100.

-Be prepared in a work zone. Remember that speeds can be reduced, lanes can be changed and workers may be near the roadway. Be ready!

-Slow down. Remember that speed is one of the top causes of work zone accidents. Speeding in these zones can also result in double the fines if you’re busted.

-Never tailgate. Rear-end collisions are the most common accidents in these areas.

-Read road signs. These are warnings that can help to inform you about what you can expect.

-Be ready for delays. Call 511 from your cell phone to check traffic conditions before you reach the construction area.

-Leave an ample amount of space between your vehicle and road workers and maintenance equipment.

-If you see a hazard, report it by calling 511.

-Take an alternate route if possible.

Every year, there are nearly 1,000 fatal accidents in work zones in the U.S.
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Two adults and two children were transported to local hospitals after a car-truck accident in Abington. The accident happened between an oil truck and an SUV on Route 58, according to Wicked Local Rockland. Witnesses report that the SUV swerved across the yellow-center line on Route 58 and clipped the oil truck. The driver of the truck allegedly tried to swerve out of the way to avoid the collision with the SUV and ended up crashing into a utility pole.

Emergency responders reportedly had to use the Jaws of Life to get the driver of the SUV from the vehicle. The truck driver, the driver of the SUV and its two child passengers, who were sitting in the back seat, were transported to local hospitals. There was a passenger in the oil truck who was reportedly unharmed. Route 58 was closed for a few hours following the accident. In the collision, the rear axle of the truck snapped off.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand that wasn’t the only accident that happened during that time. Nearby, an Abington law enforcement officer was involved in an accident on Railroad Avenue with a pickup truck. The officer was injured in this accident. It goes to show that no one is safe on our roadways. Regardless of what you are driving – an SUV, an oil tanker or a police car – accidents are going to happen. Until drivers can slow down at the wheel and pay more attention to their surroundings, our roadways will continue to be plagued with unnecessary accidents.

Another recent accident seriously injured a well-known basketball coach from King Philip High, Foxboro High, Boston University and Boston College. He is also the former president of the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association. The coach was injured when he was driving and an alleged drunk driver slammed into his car head on as he drove down Route 53 in Hingham.

The coach was taken to the South Shore Hospital and was placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Reportedly he is suffering from unspecified head injuries, a broken leg, broken ribs and a punctured lung.

The man who slammed into the coach’s vehicle is reportedly facing felony drunk driving charges. The accident involved three cars and severely injured two people.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for residents in Massachusetts and elsewhere. In 2009, there were nearly 45,500 vehicles involved in fatal accidents in the U.S. Of these vehicles, about 80 percent were passenger vehicles. In these accidents, nearly 25,000 people were killed and more than 1.95 million were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Throughout 2009, there were nearly 220 passenger vehicles involved in fatal traffic accidents in the state of Massachusetts.

Of the 220 passenger vehicles:

-More than 150 were passenger cars, accounting for about 70 percent of the vehicles.

-There were 20 pickups, accounting for nearly 10 percent.

-There were nearly 40 SUVs, accounting for more than 15 percent.

-Nearly 10 were vans, accounting for less than 5 percent.
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Drivers in the state could soon be banned from using hand-held cell phones at the wheel under a recently-approved bill. The bill was recently unanimously green-lighted by the Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee. This passage is an important step, advocates say, according to the Boston Globe. Previous attempts at getting lawmakers to prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones for drivers have been unsuccessful.

Those who support the ban say they’re trying to finish what they started with the Safe Driving Law of 2010. This new law would make the state of Massachusetts the 10th state in the country to prohibit all drivers from using a hand-held cell phone behind the wheel. Advocates hope that such a law can help to significantly reduce the risks of distraction-related car accidents in Boston and elsewhere.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that the 2010 law made it illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use a hand-held cell phone while driving and illegal for all drivers to text. But government officials fell short of banning hand-held cell phone use for all drivers. Under that law, enforcement was difficult because officers had a hard time differentiating texting from dialing phone numbers for these young drivers.

During the first year of the 2010 law, officers wrote more than 1,000 tickets, reports MassDOT. This means they wrote about three a day, or about one for every 200 tickets that were issued for speeding. The state of Massachusetts has nearly 5 million licensed drivers.

Those who support the new, tougher hand-held ban first estimated that only a few tickets would be written with only an anti-texting law, said Senator Mark C. Montigny. He’s almost positive that a ban on hand-held call phones will soon be the law in Massachusetts.

According to the House sponsor, drivers would still be able to use phones with Bluetooth hookups. He says that the Bluetooth technology is not only safer, it’s becoming much more affordable. He says the banning of hand-held cell phones is just common sense, adding that it’s an obvious life-saving solution. He’s surprised a similar law hasn’t passed yet.

This ban has been to the state House floor twice already and has passed with overwhelming support. It’s the Senate that’s having trouble pushing it through. The Senate first rejected the measure in 2010.

Those who oppose this law say hands-free phones will give drivers a false sense of safety, saying they’re still not protected from the distractions that come with cell phone conversations behind the wheel.
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As we recently reported on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is pulling out all the stops in an attempt to reduce the risks of car accidents for teens. Recently, MassDOT created a new guide for parents to help teach our young drivers. This guide includes tips to help parents to offer the best advice for teens who are currently in the process of collecting their 40 hours of supervised driving time.

According to FOX6, car accidents continue to be the No. 1 killer of teens in the country. The Governors Highway Safety Association says that fatalities among 16- and 17-year-olds was up more than 10 percent during the first six months of 2011 compared to the same part of the year in 2010.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that Massachusetts was one of the states that didn’t see an increase during this time, which means we may be doing something right. According to a recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, a large number of teenagers nationwide are behind the wheel with absolutely no formal driver’s education under their belt. That’s another trend officials here in Massachusetts are fighting. According to the Register of Motor Vehicles, more teens applied for and received a Driver’s Education Certificate in 2011 compared to the number awarded in 2010.

“Their attitude is they are a bit more humble. I need to do this right, I need to take the lessons and they know that there are a lot of things for the road test,” said Paul Santos of Untied Driving School in Springfield.

Teens are also warned that receiving traffic violations when holding a Junior License can have some severe penalties. If they get a ticket for speeding during this time, they are going to have their license revoked for 90 days. They’re also going to have to dish out more than $500 to get the license back. These young drivers should know this, which is why many officials believe the risks for accidents among this age group aren’t increasing.

Nationwide statistics reveal that new drivers are nearly five times more likely to get into a car accident and almost 15 times more likely to be injured in these accidents than any other age group of drivers.

The main causes of teen car accidents:

-Speed.

-Inexperience.

-Failure to buckle up.

-Alcohol.

-Distractions.

-Sleepiness.

Officials in the state try to stop these problems before they arise by limiting the number of passengers a teen can drive with, increasing supervised driving requirements and limiting the times of day they can be behind the wheel. Still, you can’t rely on law enforcement to parent your child all the time. To keep up the good stats in the state, we’re asking parents to continue to stay on top on their teen’s driving progress.
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Seniors in Massachusetts can land a discount on their auto insurance policy and reduce their risks of a car accident in Boston , according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). What we’re talking about is the AARP Driver Safety Program.

We’re never too old to learn something new, no matter how long we’ve been behind the wheel. Drivers can always continue to learn, constantly improving skills and refining safe driving habits. Cars are built differently nowadays, often equipped with new technology, and roadway regulations are frequently updated by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Through these safe driving courses, drivers can learn all about new driving information.

Driving is just not the same as it used to be. Our Boston car accident attorneys have noticed through the years the change in traffic volumes, the introduction of new road laws and the advancements in vehicle technology. It’s important to stay on top of these advancements and changes, especially for older drivers, to help increase our safety behind the wheel. The AARP Driver Safety Program and AAA’s Driver Quiz are both excellent ways to help us more mature drivers to stay safe at the wheel, especially when traveling on the hectic roadways of Boston.

It’s important for drivers to keep themselves in good health and to stay flexible to continue driving safely. The AARP course will fill you in on some simple tips to do just that.

Not sure if the driving course is for you? While its targeted audience is in fact elderly drivers, all ages are invited to join. You can never be too prepared behind the wheel.

So what will the safe driving class teach me?

-You’ll learn how to better handle your vehicle’s blind spots.

-You will learn how to keep a safe distance between you and other vehicles.

-You’ll learn all about your vehicle’s capabilities, such as how to correctly use the seat belts and how the anti-lock brakes and other technologies are used.

-You will learn how to monitor your skills behind the wheel and how to recognize when you’re in danger. You’ll also be trained to help keep an eye on your aging loved ones, to make sure they’re not putting themselves at risk behind the wheel.

-You will learn all about the side effects that your medications can cause and how those side effects can be dangerous to your driving.

-You will see how distractions can affect you behind the wheel.

Learning how to make your car fit you is another important lesson you’ll take with you from this course. Even though senior drivers have the highest rate of seat belt use and the lowest percentage of alcohol-related crashes, this age group is more likely to be killed or seriously injured in the event of an accident. How can that be? It’s simple. The older our bodies are, the less resilient they are in withstanding the impact of a car accident. For that reason, the course offers tips to help seniors to better “fit” their car.

No matter what your age, no matter what you driving record is and no matter how comfortable you feel behind the wheel, everyone can benefit from a safe driving course. Keep your driving skills in shape and keep your risks for an accident low. Sign up for a safe driving course (even if it’s just for the insurance discount).
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Driving isn’t the same as it used to be. There are more cars on our roadways, our cars are more advanced, the roads have changed and some of the laws are different now, too. Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that driving skills need to be taught and tested periodically to help to ensure roadway safety for all.

For that reason, drivers over the age of 60 are encouraged to brush up on their driving skills to make sure that they’re fully equipped to handle modern-day risks of the road. According to AARP, drivers of this age group should consider enrolling in a driver safety course to brush up on the new rules of the road, how to operate today’s cars effectively, defensive driving techniques and how to accommodate and manage age-related changes. Some of these age-related changes can hinder reaction time, hearing, vision, etc. Don’t be ashamed. We’re all going through it. Let’s just make sure that we’ve conditioned to handle these changes to avoid a potentially fatal car accident in Massachusetts.

What else does a driving course have to offer?:

-How to minimize effects of dangerous blind spots.

-How to travel while maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles.

-The safest and most effective ways to make turns on busy roadways at hectic intersections.

-How new seat belts, anti-lock brakes, air bags and new-model car technologies work.

-How to keep an eye on your own driving skills and the capabilities and skills of the ones you love.

-How medications affect your driving.

-The importance of ditching distractions, including cell phones, smoking, eating and drinking.

Once you’ve completed the course, you’ll have a greater appreciation of techniques to avoid potential accidents. You will be equipped with effective ways to keep you, your passengers and other motorists safe in a variety of driving scenarios.

You can take the AARP Driver Safety Course online by calling 888-AARP-NOW (888-227-7669) to take it in an actual classroom or you can take it online. Upon completion, you could be eligible to get a discount on your auto insurance policy and on roadside assistance plans.

Although the course targets drivers who are 50-years-old and older, drivers of all ages are welcome to join. The course started back in 1979 and has been helping to make drivers safe ever since. You don’t need to be an AARP member to take the course and there aren’t any tests. To take it in a classroom it’s $12 for members and $14 for those who aren’t members. To take it online, it’s $15.95 for members and $19.95 for everyone else.

Once you complete the course, you’ll get a completion certificate that you can hand over to your insurance company to inquire about a safe driver discount. Ultimately, you’re better equipped to avoid a potentially fatal accident on our roadways. What could be more rewarding than that?
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As we recently reported on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, teenagers face some of the highest risks for accidents on our roadways.

Teens are behind the wheel with minimal driving experience. That’s why the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is offering parents a guide to help teach their teenagers safe and effective driving habits. The new guide, “The Parent’s Supervised Driving Guide,” will be given to teens once they get their hands on an learner’s license. The guide is aiming to help reduce the risks of car accidents in Massachusetts.

Our Boston car accident lawyers have gone through the same thing that other Massachusetts parents are going through. It’s about teaching your teen beneficial driving habits to help to ensure their safety behind the wheel. With higher accident rates, parents need to focus attention on their young drivers to help give them the skills they need to last a lifetime. Without the proper education, training and practice, fatal teen car accidents result.

Take the recent car accident in New Bedford for example. On Route 140, a popular high school student and athlete was killed. The car accident happened on Route 140 as the 17-year-old student and some of his buddies made their way to school. The star athlete was killed, the teenage driver of the car and a passenger were treated for injuries at the hospital, according to the Boston Globe.

The student who was killed in the accident attended the Greater New Bedford Vocational-Technical High School where he was captain of both the baseball and the football team. He also ran track. He was enrolled in the school’s plumbing program and had plans to pursue a business management degree at American International College. All of those dreams are now lost.

Officers report that the star student was in the back seat of the vehicle when the accident occurred. The cause of the crash is still being investigated.

In the state of Massachusetts, there are passenger restrictions to help keep our younger teenage drivers safe at the wheel. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, drivers are eligible for a learner’s permit once they turn 16. Once they’ve graduated to an intermediate driver’s license, they’re allowed to drive without a licensed passenger over the age of 21. However, these young drivers are not allowed to have any passengers under the age of 18 during their first 6 months of this driving stage.

When a driver turns 17, their passenger restrictions are lifted. When a driver turns 18, their nighttime driving restrictions are lifted. Parents are urged to stay involved in their child’s driving career long after they’ve received their unrestricted driver’s license. Parent involvement can help to shape our young ones into safe and effective drivers.
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