Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

July 21, 2011

New Crash Study aims to Reduce Risk of Boston Car Accident

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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July 17, 2011

Speedy Driver Arrested After Sending 6-Year-Old into a Coma after Mattapan Car Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

An arrest has finally been made in an April hit-and-run car accident in Mattapan that put a 6-year-old-boy in a coma, according to My Fox Boston. A 19-year-old woman was arraigned earlier this month in Dorchester District Court. Her bail was set at $40,000.

Witnesses to the accident say that the child, and a few of his buddies, looked both ways before crossing over Delhi Street, but a speeding vehicle slammed right into the boy and just kept going. The boy was taken to Boston Medical Center.

He stayed there for two weeks, including four days spent in a medically-induced coma. Currently, the boy is recovering, but authorities say that his long-term prognosis is unclear.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists face serious risks on our Massachusetts roadways. Without cautious driving habits from motorists around the state, pedestrians will continue to be overlooked. The woman arrested in this incident was indeed speeding, which only increased her chances of being involved in an accident as it reduced her reaction time tremendously.

A press release issued by Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley states that the woman struck the little boy while she was out free on bail from another incident that happened back in March.

The female driver left the scene of the accident in March that resulted in damage to property. She faces two counts of assault and battery on a police officer and single counts of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, operating with a suspended license and resisting arrest for that incident.

She is now facing charges in connection with the April accident as well, with negligent operation of a motor vehicle and violating the state’s witness intimidation law.

Police have plenty of evidence in the case. They currently possess multiple witness statements, video surveillance footage and other evidence gathered during the course of the investigation. Boston Police were also able to obtain a warrant for the woman’s arrest on June 23. She eluded investigators until now.

“These actions are outrageous and the crimes are egregious,” Conley said. “This woman should not be on the road, period. It’s by God’s grace that this child survived. The next victim might not be so lucky.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the economic cost to society that these accidents cause is more than $40 billion each year. Speeding was a reported contributor to more than 30 percent of fatal traffic accidents in 2009. Nearly 11,000 people were lost in these accidents.

During that year, nearly 9,000 speeding-related accident fatalities happened on non-Interstate highways. Only 12 percent of these accidents happened on Interstate highways.

Massachusetts witnessed nearly 100 speeding-related car accident fatalities in 2009 alone. A number of these accidents could have been prevented had motorists been abiding by posted speed limits. Speeding limits a driver’s reaction time and puts them and others on our roadways at an increased risk for injury or death.
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July 16, 2011

Turnpike Witnesses Three Serious Massachusetts Car Accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Recently in a four-day span there were three major car accidents in Boston on the Massachusetts Turnpike. They all happened within a 5-mile stretch. Two people were killed in these accidents and a handful of motorists were flown to local hospitals, according to the Framingham Patch.

You can expect traffic in the greater Boston to be congested and dangerous as we typically see an increase in the number of motorists on our roadways during the summer months. It is important to focus on safe driving habits while traveling on any of our freeways or interstate roads. Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that car accidents on these roadways can result in serious, if not fatal, injuries. Motorists are asked to be alert and focus behind the wheel and to abide by all road rules and signs to ensure the safety of all road travelers.

Another one of these accidents caused Massachusetts State Police to shut down the right eastbound lanes, near mile marker 113 on the turnpike. This accident involved a pedestrian and a tractor trailer. Troopers from the Weston Barracks responded to reports of a female pedestrian being hit by a tractor trailer on the Massachusetts Turnpike eastbound in Framingham on recent evening.

The pedestrian was a 45-year-old female from Framingham. After the accident, she was airlifted to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston.

According to a State Police press release, the woman suffered serious injuries. She was last reported to have been talking and alert. It is still unknown why the woman was walking on the highway. State Police are still investigating the accident.

A first-grader was killed in a rollover accident that recently occurred when a car, transporting a mother and her two children, went off an embankment and rolled over. None of the occupants were wearing seat belts. All of them were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Lastly, a motorcyclist was killed in an accident on the Turnpike after colliding with another motorcycle in Natick, at mile marker 113.

To increase the safety of everyone on our Interstates, follow these Interstate driving Tips:

-When jumping on the interstate, make sure you are following the posted speed limit. It is important that you make sure to enter the Interstate at the same rate of speed that other drivers are traveling.

-When you change lanes, make sure that you use your turn signal to alert drivers of your intended maneuvers.

-Abide by the speed limit once you’re on the roadway. Under no circumstances should you exceed this limit. It is also important that you don’t dip under the speed limit. Stay with the flow of traffic and within road regulations.

-When passing another vehicle, make sure there is no one in the lane you’ll be entering. Make sure that you do not have to break any of the road rules to do so. Be sure to use your blinker and make sure you’ve cleared the vehicle you’re passing before entering back into your original lane.

-Never use a cell phone while driving on our interstates. Engaging in driving distractions will slow your reaction time and in such fast moving traffic, you need every second.

-When you’re being passed, don’t speed up or slow down.

-When you see a car pulled over on the side of the road, be courteous if you can and slide other to the lane furthest from them. Be sure to check for other vehicles before changing lanes.

-When you’re leaving the interstate, get in the appropriate lane as soon as possible. Don’t make any last minute moves to avoid missing your exit. Be sure to use your turn signals.

-Never walk along an interstate. Pedestrians are at high risks for injuries when walking near these speedy lanes of travel. It should be avoided.

-Never follow another vehicle too closely. Allow plenty of space between your car and the vehicle in front of you. You’ve got the entire interstate, use it!
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July 15, 2011

Elderly Woman Causes Stoughton Motorcycle Accident and Flees the Scene

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A motorcycle accident in Stoughton sent two motorcyclists to the hospital after they were hit near the intersection of Warren Ave. and Washington St. on Route 138 by a car that left the scene, according to the Stoughton Patch. Stoughton Police and Fire responded to the motorcycle accident and sent the two motorcyclists to the hospital with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries.

Our Boston motorcycle accident attorneys would like to point out that this accident happened around 12:30 p.m., which illustrates the dangers that motorcyclists face on our roadways. Motorcyclists are most likely involved in car accidents in broad daylight. Because of their small size, motorists oftentimes overlook these two-wheeled travelers.

The male motorcycle driver was taken to Good Samaritan in Brockton. The female passenger was taken to Boston Medical Center in Boston.

According to the Executive Officer Robert Devine of the Stoughton Police Department, the car “took a sharp turn [a left turn] onto Warren Ave. from Route 138,” and failed to yield to the oncoming motorcycle.

The driver of the motorcycle swerved to avoid hitting the vehicle, but the motorcycle fell to its side and struck another car. Devine said the incident is still under investigation.

The Stoughton Police are on the hunt for the driver of the vehicle that allegedly caused the accident. They say they’ve been informed that it was an elderly woman that was driving a blue Mercury or Buick with a license plate ending in “120,” They plan to cite her with failing to yield to an oncoming motorcycle.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 5,500 motorcyclists killed in 2008. This is the most recent data provided by the Administration regarding these accidents. During that year, roughly 96,000 motorcyclists were injured on our roadways. If you calculate it by per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists are nearly 40 times more likely to die in a motor-vehicle accident than an occupant of a passenger vehicle. Massachusetts witnessed more than 40 motorcycle deaths in 2008 alone.

Motorists play a huge rule in the safety of motorcycle riders. By raising awareness of the presence of motorcyclists on our roadways, we can help to encourage passenger-vehicle motorists to driver safer and more cautiously in an attempt to keep our roads safe and accident free.

Motorists are urged to follow these safety tips to help to avoid an accident with a motorcyclist:

Always check for motorcyclists in your blind spots. Because they’re so small, they can oftentimes get lost in these spots and are ignored by motorists.
Allow a motorcycle to occupy the entire lane. Do not share lanes with a motorcyclist. Treat them as you would any other motorist.
Do not follow too closely. They have a harder time stopping on slippery, wet pavement.
Remember that motorcyclists will oftentimes slow their vehicle by downshifting instead of using their brakes. This means there will be no brake light activated. This is another reason you should never follow too closely.
Always assume they are closer than they appear. Because of their small size, these small vehicles can oftentimes appear to be farther away than they actually are.
Be alert of a signaling motorcyclist. Their turn signals are not self-canceling like those on passenger vehicles. Make sure that a motorcyclist’s signal is for real.

July 13, 2011

Rollover Car Accidents in Boston Injury Many in Recent Weeks

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A mother and her two young daughters were involved in a fatal rollover car accident in Boston on Interstate 90 after the mom lost control of her vehicle recently. The vehicle rolled over three times and landed right side up. The two young girls were thrown from the car and the 6-year-old died in the accident. None of the passengers were wearing seat belts, according to Boston.com.

Reports indicate that the driver lost control of the car trying to get out of the way of a vehicle that drove into her lane. Massachusetts authorities are still deciding whether or not to file charges against the mother, The Boston Globe reports. She has a record of serious motor vehicle violations. The mother had her license suspended back in March for driving while under the influence of alcohol. She also neglected to place her children in the appropriate child-safety seats.

A second Massachusetts rollover car accident left a man in critical condition at a local hospital after an accident on Route 114 in North Andover, according to the Eagle Tribune and North Andover Patch. Traveling eastbound on Route 114, the driver lost control of his sport utility vehicle and rolled multiple times. His car came to rest at the corner of Willow Road and Route 114.

The driver was airlifted to Boston Medical Center. The North Andover Police Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the accident, according to Eagle Tribune.

It doesn’t end there. A third rollover accident happened last week on the 800 block of Turnpike Street. The driver was airlifted to a hospital in Boston after his sport utility vehicle rolled over several times. Police report the car rolled over a span of about 200 feet.

These are just a few of the rollover accidents that have happened in the Boston area in the last month. Airbags may be one of the greatest pieces of safety equipment in a rollover accident.

Side airbags are installed in a number of vehicles to help protect passengers in the event of one of these accidents. Right now, some vehicles are equipped with side airbags. These are airbags that deploy for six seconds to ensure occupant safety in the event of a rollover accident. Other vehicles have side airbags that only inflate for milliseconds. Even worse, there are some vehicles that have side airbags that aren’t even designed to deploy in a rollover accident. These particular types of airbags are designed to deploy only when the vehicle is hit from the side.

Another unfortunate outcome of a rollover accident is when a passenger is ejected from the vehicle. It is estimated that more than half of the 10,000 people that are killed each year in rollover accidents die after they are ejected from the vehicle. The longer a side airbag stays inflated, the less likely a passenger is to be thrown from the vehicle.

In an attempt to provide more safety measures to SUV occupants, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration introduced a rollover rating system back in 2001. This system bases a vehicle’s rollover rating on an engineering analysis of each vehicle’s center of gravity and the width between the front tires. The rollover rating scale ranks from five stars, which means the vehicle has a rollover risk of less than 10 percent, to a one star, which indicates a rollover risk greater than 40 percent.
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July 13, 2011

Foreign Cars Proven to Better Protect You in a Boston Car Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

An SUV rollover accident in Massachusetts on Route 495 left one man with serious injuries recently, according to Boston 5. Troopers received a number reports from a several witnesses that said that a second vehicle may have cut off the victim’s car and caused the accident.

The driver of the flipped car was ejected during the rollover and was later taken to Jordan Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the second vehicle involved in the accident was later arrested and is being charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, according to state troopers. The southbound lanes of Route 495 were closed and traffic was detoured over to Route 138.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that some vehicles may be deemed safer than others through a number of studies. In the past, drivers of sport utility vehicles were scrutinized because of the vehicles’ frequent rollover incidents. The main cause used to be because they were so top heavy. Now, these larger vehicles provide more safety feature for occupants, making them least likely to die in a accident, according to the latest death rates from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

“The change is due largely to the widespread availability of electronic stability control (ESC), which helps prevent rollovers. With the propensity to roll over reduced, SUVs are on balance safer than cars because their bigger size and weight provide greater protection in a crash,” reports the IIHS.

The makers of these vehicles also have an influence on your safety in the event of an accident. Currently, South Korean automakers like Hyundai and Kia and German car makers such as Volkswagen are topping insurance industry’s yearly list of the safest new vehicles. These vehicles are chosen for their ability to protect an occupant during a front, side and rear crash test. For an automobile to qualify for the award, the insurance industry group requires that vehicle to have anti-rollover electronic stability control and receive top scores in their roof-strength test.

According to statistics, American cars ranked beneath foreign cars when researchers studied death rates. Out of Detroit’s Big Three, the statistics rank Chrysler Group as the clear winner, followed by Ford Motor Co., then General Motors Co:

-Chrysler ranked number one for the safest in the U.S. market with four vehicles: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler two- and four- door and Dodge Dakota. Each of these vehicles placed in the top 25 for having the lowest rates of driver deaths and had no vehicles in the bottom 25.

-Ford had one vehicle, the Edge, in the top 25 lowest rates of driver deaths. Unfortunately, Ford had two Ranger pickup models that placed in the bottom 25.

-GM had six vehicles in the bottom 25, including Chevrolet Aveo, Cobalt, Malibu Classic, Colorado and Buick Lucerne and LaCrosse. GM had no vehicles that placed in the top 25.

The study concluded that non-American automakers took 20 out of the 25 spots for lowest death rates.They also took 17 out of 25 spots for having the highest death rates, according to Mlive.com.

This is another reason why not only the type of vehicle you choose can potentially save your life in an accident, but the maker of the vehicle you choose can contribute to your safety as well. Do your research on what type of vehicle to buy, but also practice safe driving habits to reduce accidents on our streets and highways.
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July 10, 2011

Single-Car Accident in Massachusetts Kills Teen Driver

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

An 18-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene of a teen car accident in Massachusetts.

The driver was heading southbound on U.S. Route 1 when he drove his SUV over the rumble strip at a ramp from Massachusetts Route 128 just before 1:00 a.m. The Massachusetts State Police Department is investigating the fatal accident, according to Boston 5.

When his car traveled over the rumble strip, it flipped over. It was determined by authorities that the teen was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident. A section of Route 1 was closed for about two hours while investigators collected accident information. There were no other vehicles involved in the accident.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that newly licensed teen drivers on our roadways pose serious and fatal threats to all motorists. Many don’t do it deliberately, but do it simply because they lack driving experience and knowledge. The most current data that was recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) truly illustrates the dangers these young drivers face on our roadways.

According to the NHTSA, motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for those who are 15- to 20-years old. In 2009 alone, more than 5,000 15- to 20-year-old drivers were involved in fatal traffic accidents. These accidents took the lives of nearly 2,500 teen drivers that year. This means that more than 10 percent of all drivers that were involved in fatal accidents in 2009 were those between 15- and 20-years-old.

Drivers of this age group made up nearly 15 percent of drivers involved in police-reported traffic accidents. There were approximately 1,337,000 police-reported accidents that involved a teen driver during that year. Teens are also more likely to die on a motorcycle than other age groups as well. In 2009, more than 500 teen motorcyclists lost their lives in traffic accidents. Another 5,000 suffered injuries because of these incidents.

Don’t think that because teens aren’t legally allowed to drink that they’re not going to. In 2009, 33 percent of drivers in this young age group that were killed in traffic accidents were reported to be under the influence of alcohol. Nearly 30 percent of them had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. Massachusetts witnessed nearly 50 teen deaths on our roadways in 2009 alone.

Parents are encouraged to enforce the following safety tips to help keep their teens safe behind the wheel:

Ride along with your teen. Provide them with positive criticism. You may be the most influential person on your teen’s driving habits.
Set rules. Make sure they limit their number of passengers. Passengers serve as a dangerous distraction to all drivers.
Require they put down the cell phone behind the wheel.
Consider a curfew.
Talk to your teen about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Ask your teen to check in when they get to their destination and too let you know when they’re leaving.
Set a good example. Follow all the driving rules you set forth for them while they’re riding along with you.
Create a parent-teen driving contract to solidify these rules.

July 6, 2011

Massachusetts Car Accidents Continue to be Caused by Cell Phones

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

When the radio was introduce as a new-car feature, safety advocates began screaming about the potential for distraction. Then came the tape deck, the CD player, the MP3 player and the GPS.

But by far the biggest risk factor for distraction has been the cell phone. And now the smart phone. Credible studies show even hands-free devices result in significant cognitive distraction. However, it’s hand-held use and text messaging by drivers that the government has in its crosshairs. As our Boston injury lawyers reported recently, the feds are considering a nationwide ban on hand-held cell phone use by drivers.

As the Boston Globe reported, the National Transportation Safety Board believes we will continue to be at high risk until operating a vehicle — rather a boat, train or car — while using a cell phone becomes as taboo as drunk driving. Last year, two Hungarian students were killed in a duck boat accident in Philadelphia after being hit by a barge being tugged by a pilot reportedly on his cell phone. Locally, the 2009 Boston trolley accident that sent scores to the hospital was caused by an operator who was texting his girlfriend.

“Many people continue to think it’s just going to take a moment (to call or text),” NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman said. “How do we change that mindset? Not just the NTSB, but all of us?”

Safety advocates hope drivers someday equate driving and using a cell phone with drunk driving or failure to wear a seat belt.

“Distraction is becoming the new DUI,” NTSB member Robert Sumwalt said. “This is going to reach epidemic proportions. It takes a generation or two to change it, but change is needed.”

In recent years the NTSB has been called in to investigate a number of commercial accidents, both on the water and in the air, that have been blamed on distracted drivers. Cases include a tug pilot who ground his vessel while texting in the Baltic Sea and a Northwest Airline pilot who passed his destination by 150 miles while using a laptop to complain about scheduling woes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 5,474 lives were lost and 448,000 were injured in accidents caused by distracted driving in 2009.

“These numbers show that distracted driving remains an epidemic in America, and they are just the tip of the iceberg,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

And the numbers are on the rise, even as the total number of traffic fatalities has reached a record low during the economic downturn. Today, an estimated 16 percent of all fatal accidents are blamed on driver distraction.
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July 1, 2011

Fewer Distracted Driving Accidents in Massachusetts Could Result from National Distracted Driving Law

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The federal government may soon act to create a nationwide law aimed at reducing the risk of distracted driving. As we frequently report, distracted driving has become a leading cause of car accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the United States.

Our Boston personal Injury lawyers have applauded state action; as the Governor’s Highway Safety Association reports, Massachusetts is among more than 30 states that have banned text messaging by all drivers. However, hand-held cell phone use continues to be legal and drivers routinely ignore even the text-messaging portion of the law. Complicating matters is the fact that millions of tourists visit Massachusetts each year and are typically unfamiliar with the law. Replacing the patchwork of laws in place nationwide with a federal ban will provide continuity and should add some teeth to enforcement efforts.

Auto Trend reports Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-NY, has introduced legislation that would federalize cell phone use by drivers. The proposal would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to set a national standard, which would prohibit hand-held cell phone use by drivers unless there was an emergency.

“Driving while making a phone call, texting or using apps can be as dangerous as driving drunk, and much more common,” Rep. McCarthy said. “With some basic commonsense rules that are already in place in some parts of the country, we can reduce injuries and save lives in America.”

Voice-operated and vehicle-integrated services would be excluded. Supporters acknowledge the cognitive distraction posed even by hands-free devices but say eliminating the manual distraction of hand-held devices is an important step in the right direction.

The bill would also require the feds to conduct a study on the issue of distracted driving, particularly as it relates to cognitive distraction and the impact on young, inexperienced drivers. The report would be due to Congress within two years and would make recommendations regarding minimum distracted driving laws and the associated penalties. States would have two years to comply or risk losing 25 percent of their highway funding. It’s the same tactic the feds have used to bring all states into compliance with the nationwide limit of .08 for drunk driving. Withholding highway funding was also used to gain compliance with the nationwide 55 mph speed limit, which was repealed in the 1990s.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 5,474 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2009 — representing about 1 in 6 traffic fatalities.
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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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