Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Car accidents involving pedestrian victims are often the most serious types of accidents to occur. According to a recent news article from the Boston Globe, a Salvation Army bell ringer was badly injured when a car crashed into the pharmacy in front of which he was standing while collecting charitable donations.
The serious car accident occurred shortly after noon on Massachusetts Avenue. The 50-year-old Boston resident was hit by the car and trapped beneath it for several minutes before being freed. It was an employee of a nearby gas station who got a car jack and raised the at-fault driver’s vehicle enough to get the victim out of harm’s way. Authorities are saying victim’s injuries were serious in nature, but not believed to be life threatening. He was transported to a local hospital with severe trauma to his legs.
While police are still investigating the cause of the accident, one possible explanation reported is the 87-year-old at-fault driver may have thought the awning above the main entrance to the pharmacy was actually a drive through window and attempted to pull alongside it. Initially, driver was cited with operation to endanger (reckless driving). Police have also determined driver to be an “immediate threat.” As our Boston auto accident lawyers can explain, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, if police believe a driver to be an immediate threat, they will send notice to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, requesting driver’s fitness to drive a vehicle be examined. If the Registry of Motor Vehicles determines no fitness to drive, based on physical and mental condition of the driver, it can revoke or suspend driver’s privileges to operate a vehicle.
A Salvation Army spokesperson said the organization is saddened to hear of this serious car accident and is praying for the recovery of victim. This bell ringer, like many others, was previously a personal recipient of aid from the Salvation Army and ringing the bell as a way to give back to others in need during the holiday season.
One of the most important things you can do if you are injured in a car accident as a pedestrian, driver, or passenger is to seek immediate medical attention. You should never refuse medical attention, including a trip to the emergency room if offered by emergency workers. Even if you do not think your accident is serious enough to warrant immediate medical attention, it is quite common for pain to worsen over time. Going to the hospital immediately will allow doctors to make a full assessment of your condition and also to make a record of how and when you were injured.
This will be of great assistance to your car accident lawyer when he or she is speaking with a representative from at-fault driver’s insurance company. If you do not go to the doctor when the accident first occurs and choose to go at a later date when the pain becomes unbearable, it will be harder to prove the pain and suffering was directly related to the car accident. If you did not go to the hospital immediately, it does not mean that you do not have a good case; however, it may require additional work and litigation to prove the causation element in a negligence case.
If you lost a loved one in an accident, contact Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call (617) 777-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Early Dark Increases Risks of Traffic Collisions in Massachusetts, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, November 9, 2013