Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

February 15, 2012

BEWARE: Trucking Accidents in Foxboro, Erving and Elsewhere in Massachusetts!

It’s always frightening to drive next to a big rig or a tractor-trailer on the highway. Driving next to one of these big vehicles leaves drivers of passenger vehicles at risk of a serious or fatal accident. Unfortunately, accidents are typically life-threatening. A recent trucking accident in Foxboro killed an innocent driver, according to NECN.

The fatal trucking accident happened in the southbound lanes of Route 1 and North Street when a cement truck collided with a passenger vehicle. The accident was so severe that roadways in both directions were closed for over 2 hours as officials with the Massachusetts state police investigated.

Our Boston trucking accident attorneys get that feeling too, that anxious feeling when traveling next to large semis and tractor-trailers. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles has the ability to do some serious damage in the event of an accident. Oftentimes, accidents involving these large vehicles can be deadly. Luckily, with driver awareness and caution, we can all do our part to minimize these catastrophic collisions.

To no one’s surprise, there have been many more traffic accidents involving these big rigs over recent weeks. Recently, a trucking accident that happened in Erving left roads closed for hours after a trailer truck flipped on its side on Route 2. This accident happened just before 10:00 a.m. right by Christina’s Restaurant. State officers say that the 62-year-old driver of the truck was okay and that heavy duty wreckers were called to the scene to remove the truck from the roadway, according to 22News.

Trucking accidents can happen for a number of reasons, for both passenger vehicle driver and truck driver fault.

Trucking Accidents Can Be Caused By:

-Head-on, rear-end accidents and jackknives.

-Poor trucking maintenance, including brakes and tires.

-Sleepy and fatigued drivers.

-Dangerous road conditions.

-Poor weather conditions.

-Unsecured cargo or loads.

-Improper lane changes.

-Aggressive driving habits.

-Drug use.

-DWI.

-Lack of reflectors and poor visibility.

-Non-compliance with federal regulations.

-Driver inattention.

In all of these scenarios involving truck drivers, the drivers of passenger vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians are at an extreme disadvantage. Accidents involving big rigs, tractor-trailers, cement trucks, garbage trucks, 18-wheelers, etc. can all lead to catastrophic personal injury, death and damages. Equip yourself with safe driving habits to help to minimize these risks. Steer clear of these large vehicles when possible. Be safe, not sorry.

Trucking accidents are a common sight on our hectic Massachusetts roadways. It’s estimated that about 5,000 people die each year in the U.S. because of accidents involving large trucks. In 2009, there were more than 440 vehicles involved in fatal car accidents in the state of Massachusetts. During this time, more than 20 of these vehicles were large trucks.
Continue reading

February 13, 2012

MassDot Helps Parents Prevent Fatal Teen Car Accidents in Massachusetts

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Car accidents in Boston and elsewhere are the leading killer of teenagers nationwide. Some of these fatalities can be prevented with just a little supervision and education. Parents have the power to help to mold their children into the best drivers they can be. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, there’s a new guide available to help parents and guardians to do just that. The new guide is being offered to help parents to optimize the 40-hours of supervised driving that our young drivers are required to complete before receiving an unrestricted driver’s license.

Take the recent car accident that happened in New Bedford. A high school student was killed while making his way to school at around 7:30 a.m. According to WPRI, the teen’s vehicle was full with student passengers when it flipped and rolled several times. The teenage driver was thrown from the vehicle. When emergency responders arrived on scene, he was pronounced dead.

To help to prevent accidents like this, teenage drivers who are in line to get their learner’s permit will be given a copy of the new guide, “The Parent’s Supervised Driving Guide” at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). As parents of teenage drivers, our Boston car accident attorneys will be reviewing this booklet and using it to better train our children to become safer drivers. We urge parents throughout the state to do the same. As we’ve said before, teaching teens safe driving habits early on will help to reduce their risks of being involved in an accident for the rest of their lives.

In Dover, another teen driver was killed while heading down Route 16. He reportedly lost control of his truck, which flipped, ran into a guard rail and was sent tumbling into the Cocheco River. According to WMUR, a crane had to be called to the accident site to help get the truck out of the river.

The guide is offered for free. It’s provided to everyone through a team effort between Safe Roads Alliance and the guides sponsor, Safety Insurance.

According to Registrar of Motor Vehicles’ Rachel Kaprielian, driving is a privilege and a huge responsibility. This guide will help prepare parents to raise safer drivers.

Parents have the ability to make the biggest impact on their teen drivers. This program helps ensure parents have the right tools to teach their teen safe driving habits. The new guide encourages parents to expose their teen driver to a number of driving conditions, including daytime, nighttime, rural, heavy traffic etc., to make sure that they’re equipped with the knowledge and skills to do it on their own when the time comes.

In the U.S., nearly 50 percent of newly-licensed drivers will be involved in an accident within their first year behind the wheel. According to George Murphy, the Vice President of Marketing with Safety Insurance, the Safety Insurance’s top concern is keeping Massachusetts’ roadways safety for drivers of all ages.
Continue reading

February 12, 2012

Deadly Weekend for Car Accidents in Massachusetts

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

It was a bad weekend for car accidents in Massachusetts. There was a rollover car accident that killed a man in Danvers and another that injured a number of others in Revere. According to state police officers, speed was a contributing factor in the single-car accident in Danvers that killed a 30-year-old man from Peabody. The accident happened just before 7:30 p.m., when he slammed into a guardrail on Route 128. After hitting the guard rail, he swerved across two lanes of traffic, hit a jersey barrier, sped down the ramp in Route 35, striking two more barriers and flipping the car over onto its roof. The man was wearing his seat belt, but was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The passenger of that vehicle was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries. Officers are still investigating to determine whether alcohol played a role in this accident.

Just a few hours later, four motorists were involved in a two-car accident in Revere. The accident resulted in serious injuries to those involved. The accident happened just before 12 a.m. on Revere Street and American Legion.

That’s not all. There were a number of additional accidents that occurred over the weekend, including a collision in Hyde Park that took the life of a 24-year-old. Four others were injured in this accident.

Motorists weren’t the only ones hurt in accidents over the weekend. There are also three pedestrians injured after being hit by a car. A mom and her two children were struck by a passing vehicle in Winthrop as they made their way to a dialysis appointment. The pedestrians and the driver of that vehicle were all taken to Emerson Hospital. The two children were later transported to Children’s Hospital in Boston.

Officers believe that the 76-year-old driver may have mistaken the gas pedal for the brake pedal. The investigation is ongoing.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) hears about thousands of car accidents that occur every year in the state. To help to get drivers on board to safer roadways, they’ve provided drivers with some safety tips to help to prevent traffic accidents.

Safe Driving Tips:

-Always be cautious of the traffic around you, including motor vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, etc.

-Remember that turns are meant to be taken at reduced speeds.

-Always use your turn signals to alert other travelers of your intended maneuvers.

-Never eat or drink while driving.

-Remember to check intersecting streets for oncoming traffic before passing through.

-Maintain a safe following distance. Reducing the space between you and other travelers reduces the time that you have to react to potential dangers.

-Don’t forget about your blind spots. Check over your shoulder to see what’s going on in these areas.

-Yield to the right-of-way when necessary.

-Always wear your seat belt to help protect against injury and death in the event of an accident.
Continue reading

February 11, 2012

Sleepy Truckers Cause Boston Car Accidents; New Rules Enacted

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

While large trucks only account for 4 percent of all vehicles on the road, they are involved in more than twice that many fatal car accidents in Boston and elsewhere.

While our Boston trucking accident attorneys respect the grueling job these workers have to do, our lives are often in their hands.

The sheer size of their loads means that although the truck operators are professional drivers, when they do wreck, they are more likely than a regular passenger vehicle to cause serious injury or even death.

February 9, 2012

Car Seat Safety a Top Priority in Boston

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The loss of a child is something no parent should have to endure.

According to widely-published statistics, traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for young children in the U.S. – and have been for years.

Our Boston car accident attorneys now some collisions are tragically unavoidable. But there is now a new resource for parents to tap into and educate themselves about child safety seats, which are known to prevent injuries to children involved in Boston car accidents.

February 7, 2012

Thousands of Child Safety Seats Recalled in U.S., Boston

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Parents, take note: More than 14,200 child safety seats have been recalled due to a manufacturing flaw that could lead to injuries to children in Boston and throughout the U.S.

Our Boston car accident attorneys have learned from the register your child’s car seat by visiting the department of transportation’s website.
Continue reading

February 5, 2012

Safe Vehicles Mean Fewer Boston Car Accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Buying a new car is a big decision, and one you shouldn’t take lightly.

Our Boston car accident attorneys aren’t trying to sell you on any particular vehicle. But we do want to make sure that whichever model you choose will provide maximum safety for you, your family and anyone who shares the road with you.

A recent announcement from the 115 winners of 2012 Top Safety Pick Stronger roofs lead to another record year for award, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

February 3, 2012

Drivers Must Alter Thinking to Prevent Boston Car Accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

It’s a fact: Most people want safer roads and a decreased risk of car accidents in Boston and elsewhere.

What most people don’t consider is they may be part of the problem. Increasingly, the AAA Foundation is finding that drivers have adopted this, “Do as I Say, Not as I Do,” attitude when it comes to roadway safety. They want others to practice responsible driving habits, but don’t feel it applies to them.

Our Boston car accident attorneys have seen the devastation that can be caused when drivers don’t take safety seriously. Distracted driving, impaired driving, drowsy driving – these are all major factors in deadly crashes, and they are each 100 percent preventable.

February 1, 2012

Pedestrian Struck By Unlicensed Driver in Boston Car Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A 45-year-old man is in critical condition following a Boston car accident in which he was struck by an unlicensed driver late last month.

According to the AAA Foundation on this very issue. The organization first began looking at the problem back in 2000, when they found that nearly 14 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes did not have a valid driver’s license. That means those drivers either never had a license, or their privileges had been suspended, revoked, cancelled or denied.

Now, in 2011, that figure has not changed. We still have the same number of unlicensed drivers wreaking havoc on our roadways. It currently breaks down to about one out of every eight drivers you pass on your daily commute.

Crashes involving unlicensed drivers have accounted for more than 21,000 deaths in the U.S., just between 2007 and 2009.

The statistics may seem somewhat overwhelming, but consider that each and every one of those victims is someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, child or friend.

What’s even more troubling is that of those unlicensed drivers involved in fatal crashes, nearly half had been consuming alcohol at the time of the accident.

And those same unlicensed drivers, when they caused a crash, were more than three times as likely as properly licensed drivers to flee the scene.

In most cases, younger drivers – those between the ages of 21 and 34 – were the most likely to have suspended or revoked licenses. In fact, just like the case mentioned above, more than half of unlicensed drivers involved in fatal crashes were in this younger age group.

In the Framingham car accident case, the victim is being treated at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He’s expected to undergo a CAT scan, and even if he survives – which doctors say he might – he could be facing years of intensive therapy and medical bills – likely with the added frustration of lost wages.

As he and his family look to a long road to recovery, investigators are still determining whether they will file additional charges against the driver.
Continue reading

January 28, 2012

SUV Hit by Sleepy Driver in Massachusetts Turnpike Accident, Authorities Say

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A recent tractor-trailer accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike took out a sports utility vehicle and caused traffic to back up for four miles between Exits 8 and 9. According to Charlton State Trooper Darren Specht, officers responded to the incident shortly before 5:30 a.m. The accident involved an SUV that had been rear-ended by a tractor-trailer.

After the initial collision between the SUV and the tractor-trailer, the truck reportedly hit the road’s guardrail and slid down the embankment. According to Mass Live, the driver of the tractor-trailer may have fallen asleep just seconds before the collision. The truck driver was transported to Wing Memorial Hospital while the driver of the SUV was believed to be uninjured.

Our Massachusetts trucking accident attorneys understand how dangerous driving on the Massachusetts Turnpike can be. For this reason, we ask that all drivers stay off the roadway if they’re feeling drowsy or sleepy. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) drowsy driving contributes to approximately 100,000 police-reported accidents every year. Experts believe the actual number is much higher because not all drivers willingly confess they were drowsy at the time of an accident. Drowsy driving accounts for nearly 2,000 fatalities and more than 70,000 injuries every year. These are costly accidents, too. Experts estimate that drowsy driving accidents cost the nation nearly $13 billion in monetary losses each year.

Drowsy Driving Facts, according to DrowsyDriving.org:

-There is no test, like a Breathalyzer, to determine if sleepiness contributed to a traffic accident.

-Officers are rarely trained in identifying if drowsiness was an accident factor.

-Self-reporting is unreliable.

-Adult drivers between the ages of 18- and 29-years-old are more likely to drive while drowsy.

-Male drivers are more likely to drive while drowsy than women drivers.

-Male drivers are twice as likely as women to fall asleep at the wheel.

-Adults with children at home are more likely to drive drowsy than adults who have no children in their house.

-Night shift workers are more likely than regular daytime workers to drive while drowsy.

-Drivers who sleep six to eight hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in a drowsy driving-related accident than drivers who regularly get eight hours of sleep.

-Being awake for 18 hours impairs a driver on the same level as someone who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05. For someone awake 24 hours, they are impaired with the same reaction time as a person with a BAC of 0.10. You’re considered to be drunk if you have a BAC of 0.08 or higher.

-A number of drowsy driving accidents have resulted in jail sentences for the driver.

-There have been multi-million dollar settlements awarded to family members of accident victims as a result of lawsuits that were filed against drivers and businesses who were involved in drowsy-driving accidents.

You’re urged to refrain from driving if you feel sleepy. According to the latest poll from DrowsyDriving.org, only about 30 percent of Americans get seven or more hours of sleep regularly. That means that 70 percent of divers on our roadways are at serious risks for a drowsy driving car accident.
Continue reading