Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

May 27, 2011

Memorial Day Weekend Increases Risk of Car Accidents in Massachusetts

Massachusetts State Police will be hitting the roads full force over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in an attempt to crack down on seat belt violators, enhance traffic safety and to reduce the risks of a holiday car accident in Boston and elsewhere throughout the state.

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and the Massachusetts State Police recently launched their “Click It or Ticket” mobilization campaign as a statewide effort to increase the visibility of traffic enforcement officers and to increase awareness of seat belt usage. The campaign launched earlier this week and will continue through the first week of June.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that residents face an increased risk of being involved in a car accident over this long holiday weekend. As many residents and visitors will be hitting our roads to kick off the start of the summer season, we urge all motorists to practice extra cautious driving habits behind the wheel.

Massachusetts State Police will be teaming up with more than 180 local police departments to enforce their zero-tolerance policies for seat belt laws. Officers will be issuing tickets to all vehicle occupants who are busted not wearing their seat belts.

“Seatbelts are your best defense in a crash, yet more than 25 percent of drivers still fail to buckle up,” said Colonel Marian McGovern, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “Tickets will be issued to those who are pulled over and are not wearing their seat belt or if any passenger in the car is unbelted. Everyone in a vehicle needs to buckle up.”

In the State of Massachusetts, it is against the law to ride in a motor vehicle without wearing your seat belt. This law applies to all vehicle occupants. If caught breaking the law, a citation and a fine will be issued to the driver and each passenger that is not properly restrained.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign has reeled in more than $543,000 for federal highway safety funds. Nearly $500,000 of the money collected has been distributed to state and local police forces to help fund addition enforcement. These funds will go towards public information and awareness programs and additional enforcement during these mobilization periods.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that a little more than 50 percent of passenger vehicle occupants involved in motor vehicle accidents in 2009 in Massachusetts were killed because they were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident. It is also estimated that the use of a seat belt, when worn correctly, can decrease the risk of death for front-seat passengers by nearly 50 percent. These odds see an increase of 10 percent in SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks in an accident.

We wish everyone a happy Memorial Day and urge all residents to celebrate their long holiday weekend safely and ask that all motorists practice safe driving skills:

-Be alert on our road by allowing yourself enough rest before heading out on your holiday trip. Avoid drowsy driving.

-Don’t drink and drive and help to make sure your friends and family do the same.

-Make sure that you, and everyone in your vehicle, is buckled up correctly when the car is in motion.

-Halt all distracting driving habits when behind the wheel.
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May 26, 2011

State Trooper Involved in Boston Car Accident Remains in Hospital with Serious Injuries

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A State Trooper was hit by a speeding vehicle during a speed enforcement detail earlier this week, according to Boston.com. While he was flagging down speeders to help reduce the number of car accidents in Boston, he became a victim.

The officer was working detail in a highway tunnel in South Boston when the accident happened. The driver sped off after striking the officer, but was captured on video by a number of surveillance cameras. The hit-and-run motorists left the officer lying in the street.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand the dangers that our local law enforcement officers face to help keep our residents safe. As officers and troopers put their lives on the line every day to prevent motor vehicle accidents on our roadways, it is not uncommon for them to be involved in one on the job.

“We absolutely plan on catching him,” said David Procopio, a State Police spokesman.

The accident happened shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Monday on the ramp of I-90 East from I-93 North. After the accident, he was transported to Boston Medical Center. He was last reported to have been being treated for serious injuries and is expected to survive.

“Once again, we are reminded of the inherent dangers of a state trooper’s job, and once again we find ourselves saying ‘but for the grace of God, we could be planning another trooper’s funeral,’ ” Procopio said.

Photos from the surveillance video were released and showed a black two-door sedan. The vehicle had light-colored interior with dark-tinted headlights. Officers believe it may have been a Honda Civic from the late 90’s or early 2000’s.

In the meantime, State Police are searching for two potential witness vehicles which they believe to have seen the hit and run vehicle. Police believe these motorists may be able to help them to identify the careless driver.

Massachusetts crime scene investigators are also combing the trooper’s uniform in search of any physical evidence that may help them to find the vehicle.

“We are utilizing whatever investigative means are available to us to zero in on this car,” said Procopio.

They also suspect that the fleeing vehicle suffers from minor damage. They further describe the damage as dents and scuff marks on its right front bumper, fender, hood, and windshield.

It is estimated that since the beginning of last year, the state has witnessed 44 state troopers struck by motor vehicles while they were on duty. About half of these incidents involved a driver that was under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the time of the incident.

According to National Public Radio (NPR), there were nearly 200 police officer deaths nationwide in 2009.
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May 23, 2011

Bike Week Festivities Could Increase Bike Accidents Involving Motorists in Boston

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Earlier this month we posted on our Car Accident Lawyer Blog that May is Bike Month, and local businesses are hosting events all over town to raise awareness about bicycle accidents in Boston and elsewhere throughout Massachusetts.

The Boston.com reports that the city will be hosting 20 cycling events and at least 80 more throughout the Greater Boston region in honor of Bike Week. Boston Bike Week will be launched with events like the Kickoff Party at Giant Cycling World and Mayor Menino’s Bike Week Festival at City Hall Plaza.

Our Boston bicycle accident lawyers know that these events can be fun and entertaining, but we want to remind enthusiasts to be safe as they partake in the activities. Traffic will be heightened with both cars and bicycles, so be extra careful as you maneuver around town attending these events.

Municipalities, businesses and educational institutions throughout the state are excited about the MassCommuter Challenge being hosted May 14-20, 2011. The Challenge is a free and friendly competition open to anyone who lives, works or attends school in Massachusetts. Residents, students and employees pledge to bike everywhere they go throughout the week, or make as many trips as they can, to promote personal health and an eco-friendly environment.

Not everyone is excited about Bike Week with the anticipation of bike lanes being built along a stretch of Massachusetts Avenue. Boston.com reports merchants along Back Bay are miffed about the potential loss of business when the bike lanes take away 71 parking spaces on the east side of the street meant for patrons. The city plans to create bike lanes along the highly traveled stretch of Massachusetts Avenue between Charles River and the Symphony area.

The premise behind the lanes and the “number one concern of the transportation department” is safety, said Nicole Freedman, director of Boston Bikes, noting that Massachusetts Avenue had one of the highest crash rates in the city last year with 25 bike accidents requiring ambulances in the one-mile stretch. “Safety is definitely a paramount concern,” Freedman said.

Merchants in the area understand that bike safety is a priority, but they also know that businesses will fail if patrons have nowhere to park. Many customers call the store to ask about parking before they even make the trip to the area. Bicyclists traveling on the proposed bike lanes will likely be using them as a means to get from point A to point B rather than a method of transportation to go shopping within the Back Bay area.

Bicycle accidents are proven to be a concern in Boston and throughout the state. Bike lanes may help improve safety, but bicyclists and motorists should learn to share roadways and use caution when using the same streets to travel.
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May 21, 2011

Boston Car Accidents Found Costly in our Region due to Medical Expenses and Lost Wages

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a study reporting the cost of medical expenses and work loss is $41 billion for crash-related deaths nationwide. Data from 2005 was used because it is the most accurate and most recent regarding costs associated with crash deaths.

Our Boston car accident lawyers know the study was released to coincide with the May launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety campaign. The United Nations has proclaimed 2011 to 2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety, during which focus will be placed on protecting lives on the world’s roadways.

The CDC study found that half of cost ($20.4 billion) was in the following 10 states: California ($4.16 billion), Texas ($3.50 billion), Florida ($3.16 billion), Georgia ($1.55 billion), Pennsylvania ($1.52 billion), North Carolina ($1.50 billion), New York ($1.33 billion), Illinois ($1.32 billion), Ohio ($1.23 billion) and Tennessee ($1.15 billion).

“Deaths from motor vehicle crashes are preventable,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Seat belts, graduated driver’s license programs, child safety seats, and helmet use save lives and reduce health care costs.”

The findings by the CDC also included the cost related to crash deaths among children from birth to 19 years old was almost $856 million. Vermont (34 percent, $25 million) had the highest percentage of crash-related death cost for children and Nevada (17 percent, $66 million) had the lowest.

“It’s tragic to hear that anyone dies on our nation’s roads. But it’s especially so when the person who loses his or her life is a child or teenager,” said Linda Degutis, Dr. P.H., M.S.N., director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “Child passenger safety laws and comprehensive graduated driver licensing laws are proven to protect young lives. We encourage states to strengthen and enforce these laws to help keep more of our young people safe.”

The CDC’s Injury Center recommends these strategies to decrease work loss and medical costs by preventing crash-related fatalities:
-Have a primary seat belt law which allows law enforcement to cite motorists for not wearing seat belts. Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of death by half for front seat occupants.

-Require children to be in age and size appropriate child safety seats and booster seats while traveling in vehicles.

-Teen crashes can be decreased with a comprehensive graduated driver licensing (GDL) system. The staging processes of GDL systems give new drivers valuable experience under lower-risk conditions. Statistics indicate that a decrease in crashes for 16-year-old drivers is as much as 40 percent with the most comprehensive GDL systems.

-Require all riders to wear motorcycle helmets. Wearing a helmet can decrease the risk of death in a motorcycle accident by more than 33 percent and brain injury by 69 percent.

“These preventable costs are a reflection of the terrible suffering of American families whose loved ones are killed or injured on the roads,” said Norman Mineta, chairman of Make Roads Safe North America and the longest serving Secretary of Transportation in U.S. history. “Today, on the launch of the first-ever Decade of Action for Road Safety, occurring in 30 cities across our nation and 50 countries worldwide, it is time for all of us to take action to save lives at home and around the globe.”
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May 19, 2011

Oversized Loads a Common Cause of Trucking Accidents in Boston

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The Times Herald-Record recently reported on a tractor trailer rolling over with a load of more than 45,000 pounds of oranges. The truck driver told law enforcement that as he was rounding a curve heading into an exit when he felt his load shift, causing the truck to leave the roadway onto the shoulder where it overturned. There were no reported injuries and clean-up crews spent many hours offloading the trailer.

Our Boston truck accident lawyers find this story interesting in light of two bills in Congress involving semi truck weights.

The Coalition for Transportation Productivity is strongly in favor of SETA (Safe and Efficient Transportation Act), a bill that would give states the option to increase truck weight limits from 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds for six-axle vehicles. The group says requiring a sixth axle would maintain braking capacity and weight distribution, and minimize road wear. It also mentions the increase in user fees could be used for bridge repair. They also think that with fewer trucks on the roads, motorists would be safer.

The Teamsters and safety advocates are fiercely opposed to SETA and support SHIPA (Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act). This bill proposes that it would leave the current weight limits in place. They argue that the heavier trucks would accelerate road wear and tear, and that our bridges wouldn’t be able to handle the loads. They counter that longer and heavier trucks would be much harder to stop and require a lengthy distance to come to a complete halt on our overcrowded roadways. Currently, an 80,000- pound truck traveling at 55 mph takes 400 feet to stop on perfect road conditions.

Earlier this month the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a two day forum in Washington D.C. that focused on truck and bus safety. One idea that is being considered to decrease driver fatigue is to limit driving hours to 10 a day. The current limit is 11 hours in a 14-hour work day, and truckers can drive 70 hours every eight days.
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May 18, 2011

Bike Sharing Program Could Increase the Number of Boston Bicycle Accidents Each Year

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Hubway stations are a hot topic in Boston right now as many cities are looking to offer kiosks to cyclists as part of the regional bicycle sharing program. An increased number of bicyclists raises the odds of a bicycle accident in Boston, so riders should be careful when sharing roadways with vehicles. Boston personal injury lawyers agree that the convenience of the hubways will encourage users to opt for bicycles over public or private modes of transportation because bike-riding is healthier and more economical.

We first posted about the topic of Massachusetts Hubways on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog earlier this month. The $6 million contract to be signed with Alta Bicycle Share is proposed to launch 61 bike stations and about 600 bikes throughout the city starting in July. The convenience of the bike sharing program allows commuters and visitors the opportunity to rent a bike for a quick trip or all day with the ease of returning it to any convenient kiosk location. The system will offer as many as 300 rental locations in the future, which means cyclists can get to and from their destinations with simplicity rather than withstand the aggravation of sitting in traffic or being late for an appointment.

Boston.com reports that Harvard is the latest to support bike share stations in Cambridge. Harvard will offer four Hubways in Cambridge and five stations in the Allston and Longwood communities. The bike sharing program will charge patrons a monthly membership or daily fee depending on what the bicyclist prefers. Quick trips under 30 minutes will be free of charge.

But the growing interest in the bike sharing program could concern bicyclists who have a higher risk of being struck by a motor vehicle. Bicyclists involved in motor vehicle crashes can sustain broken bones, severe head trauma or internal injuries that can change a victim’s life forever. The medical costs associated with hospital stays and medical care for these types of injuries can lead to a lifetime of debt.
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May 16, 2011

Memorial Day Weekend a High Risk for Car Accidents in Boston

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Many of us spend most of May anticipating Memorial Day because it marks the kickoff of picnics, barbecues and the first official three-day summer holiday weekend. The National Safety Council wants to remind motorists to buckle up this Memorial Day weekend because the risks of being involved in a Boston car accident are heightened this time of year.

Car accident lawyers in Boston and elsewhere throughout the state know how nice it is to sit back and relax at your first summer gathering, but the increased traffic and threat of too much alcohol consumption can make it risky getting home later.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported four fatal crashes in Massachusetts on Memorial Day. There were six deaths as a result of the crashes.

The NSC estimates that this Memorial Day weekend, which begins Friday, May 27 at 6 p.m. and ends Monday, May 30 at 11:59 p.m., will produce more than 400 traffic fatalities and another 39,400 injuries needing medical attention throughout the course of the holiday weekend. The council also estimates that more than 100 lives could be saved during the upcoming holiday weekend if motorists choose to fasten their seatbelts while riding in the car.

Over the last few years, Memorial Day weekend has been considered deadly when compared to similar non-holiday periods. Heightened traffic, aggressive driving, speeding and drunk driving have contributed to the averaged 12.2 percent increase in traffic fatalities during this holiday weekend over the last few years. In 2009, Memorial Day reported more traffic fatalities nationally than any other holiday, including New Year’s Day, Labor Day and Christmas Day.

The NSC offers the following safety tips as you venture out this Memorial Day Weekend:
-Allow sufficient travel time to get to your picnic or gathering so that heavy traffic and the urge to speed don’t play a role in your travel plans to arrive on time.

-If you are the designated driver, refrain from consuming any alcohol or have one cocktail at arrival which should cut off drinking hours before you plan to leave the barbecue.

-Minimize distractions while you are driving by putting your cell phone in the glove compartment and entering the address in the GPS before you put the car in drive.

-If stormy weather is a threat, use extra caution or wait out the storm in a safe place until it passes.

-Ensure everyone, especially children, are buckled in before you start to drive.

Massachusetts motorists are being warned that the zero tolerance enforcement of seat belt laws will be enforced throughout the state from May 23 to June 5, 2011. Police will pull over all motorists that are spotted without a sea tbelt.
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May 8, 2011

May Hosts Bicycle Month to Help Reduce Risks of Bicycling Accidents in Boston and Elsewhere

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

May is Bike Month and for the second year in a row a North End business started the month off by hosting a kickoff event. Earlier this month, Urban AdvenTours, various other local businesses and bicycling groups gathered along the waterfront in Christopher Columbus Park as they enjoyed an afternoon of local music, free food and bike-related activities. The activities and the entire month is used to raise awareness about bicycle accidents in Boston and elsewhere in the United States.

“Last year we had tricycle races. I think we’re going to do something similar this year,” said Baylor Bennett, manager of the bike shop and bicycle tour provider. “There’ll be vendors giving out food and beverages.”

Our Boston bicycle accident lawyers understand that with springtime, many bicyclists will be hitting the paths and trails to enjoy prime pedaling season. As our residents and tourists do so, we urge everyone to be extra cautious this season as the increased traffic flow can also increase your risks of an accident.

In addition to helping to raise awareness, bicyclists are able to check out the latest technology and advancements in the biking world. Many are urged to grab their bike and even join a tour group.

According to Bennett, last year’s event was less successful than it could have been because during the same time of the event the area suffered a catastrophic break of a 10-foot-diameter pipe in Weston. The breakage caused all of Greater Boston to be put under a boil order.

“A lot of food and drink vendors couldn’t show up,” Bennett said. “So last year, I think we had closer to six or seven vendors, versus this year we have the full 15.”

As local reports show no major water pipes broken and the weather forecast calls for sunny skies and warm temperatures, Bennett is hopeful that this year’s event will be larger and better than the year before.

“Of course it’s right on the waterfront, which is gorgeous, and all the flowers are blooming right now, so the park couldn’t be better looking,” he said.

Bicyclists are always urged to ride with heightened alertness to their surroundings as they’re oftentimes overlooked by motorists. More than 600 bicyclists were killed, and an additional 51,000 injured, in motor vehicle accidents in 2009. These deaths accounted for 2 percent of all motor vehicle accident fatalities and accounted for 2 percent of all injuries from traffic accidents in the same year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Massachusetts suffered nearly 10 bicyclist fatalities in 2009 as a result of motor vehicles.

A complete list of Boston bike paths can be found on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation website.
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May 6, 2011

Massachusetts Anticipates Hubway Hoping Easing Traffic and Reduce Risks of Bicycle Accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Massachusetts residents and visitors will soon be able to take quick trips in Boston as they’ll be able to rent bicycles from dozens of sidewalk kiosks as early as July of this year. Mayor Thomas M. Menino is scheduled to sign a $6 million contract with a company called Alta Bicycle Share. The company is also behind a program in the Washington area that currently boasts more than 1,000 cherry-red bicycles at nearly 115 stations.

Our Boston bicycle accident lawyers understand that this $6 million dollar contract will put roughly 600 bikes and more than 61 stations in our communities before July. This increased pedestrian traffic may increase the risks of accidents on our roadways and we ask that everyone practice safe traveling on our roadways.

The new system, which officials will be referring to as the Hubway, will be starting off the program with roughly 60 bicycles. They envision the program to grow and to accommodate as many as 5,000 bikes in the future, operating from Brookline to Sommerville, according to Boston.com. With an increased number of bikes on Massachusetts roadways, drivers are encouraged to increase their awareness of bicyclists and pedestrians to help keep our roadways safe and reduce risks of potentially fatal Boston bicycle accidents.

Boston officials said the system will open in July with 600 bicycles and 61 stations in the city, though they envision growing in a few years to as many as 5,000 bikes at more than 300 kiosks, from Brookline to Somerville.

“The vision here is that it’s a seamless system,” said Eric Bourassa, transportation manager for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. “I could pick up a bike in Cambridge and I could bike across the river and drop it off in Boston, and I wouldn’t tell the difference that I have a Cambridge bike vs. a Boston bike or anything like that,”

The program will not be funded by local tax dollars. Instead, the city is using grants and donations to cover the start-up costs. Corporate sponsorships and revenue from riders is planned to cover annual operating expenses after initial start-up.

Riders will need to first sign up for memberships, which will include a liability waiver and a pledge to wear a helmet, on kiosk touch screens similar to those of the MBTA. Memberships will range from about $5 a day to $85 a year. Trips less than 30 minutes will be of no charge and users will see incremental charges for longer rides.
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May 4, 2011

Children Involved in Car Accidents in Boston and elsewhere May Not Need CT Scans

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

When children are involved in a car accident in Boston and elsewhere in the United States, many receive brain CT scans to determine if they’ve suffered any brain damage. In most cases, traumatic brain injury (TBI) never occurs. Now there’s new research illustrating that a physician can determine whether the child has a serious problem after observing a child with head injuries for a certain period of time. This allows them to help treat the young patient without resorting to using a CT scan.

Our Boston car accident lawyers would err on the side of caution when it comes to diagnosing a head injury. However, eliminating needless CT scans will also help to eliminate some unnecessary and unwanted radiation exposure.

Children’s Hospital Boston and the University of California-Davis held the study as the results were later released by the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. They study combined data from 25 different emergency departments, and looked at roughly 40,000 children who suffered minor blunt head trauma. Researchers discovered that more than 5,400 of the young patents, or nearly 15 percent, were checked out before making decisions regarding CT use. As the severity of the head trauma varied, so did the observation time.

Researchers found more than 5,400 pediatric patients, or nearly 15 percent, of those studied, were observed before making a decision about CT use. Observation times varied, as did the severity of head trauma. In the study, children who were observed had a lower rate of receiving CT scans than those who were not observed.

“There are actually three groups of patients that come into an emergency room with pediatric head trauma,” says Dr. Lise Nigrovic of Children’s Hospital Boston who co-led the study. “The first is the child that really has no symptoms and it’s obvious to the doctors that the child is fine. The second is the child that has all the major symptoms, vomiting, headaches, unconsciousness, perhaps bleeding. That child is obviously a candidate for a CT scan. It’s the children in the middle risk groups – those who don’t appear totally normal, but whose injury isn’t obviously severe – for whom observation can really help.”

Some may want to recommend a CT scan just as an extra precautionary measure, but researchers warn that CT scans to the head can add even more risks for children. A child’s growing brain tissue is much more sensitive to ionizing radiation than an adult’s brain is. As children typically have a longer life expectancy, their lifetime risk of developing a radiation-induced tumor is greater than an adult’s as well.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children under the age of 4, those between the ages of 15 and 19, and adults over the age of 65 are most likely to sustain a TBI. Nearly half a million emergency department visits for TBI’s are made by children under the age of 14 each year.

In the United States, TBI proves to be a serious and oftentimes fatal injury as it is a contributing factor to roughly a third of all injury-related deaths. Over all, more than 50,000 die, roughly 275,000 are hospitalized, and more than 1 million TBI patients are treated and released from an emergency department. Among all age groups, motor vehicle accidents and other traffic-related incidents were the second leading cause of TBI and caused in the largest percentage of TBI-related deaths.
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