Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
A recent New England car accident killed a 74-year old man and injured two 22-year-old victims. According to the Boston Globe, the accident happened when the young driver attempted to pass the car in front of him. He collided head-on with the elderly driver, who was dead when officers arrived on scene. The young driver and his passenger were taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Authorities are looking into whether or not the passing was legal.
Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that a head-on accident usually happens when a vehicle crosses a centerline or a median and collides with an approaching vehicle. A head-on accident can also occur when a driver knowingly or unknowingly travels the wrong way in a traffic lane. These kinds of accident are the result of a driver’s inadvertent reactions. According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), about three quarters of all head-on accidents happen on rural roads. About 75 percent of them happen on undivided two-land roadways. Close to 85 percent of two-lane undivided road crashes happen on rural roads.
In 2003, FARS estimated that there were close to 400 fatal cross-median head-on accidents on U.S. freeways.
When passing another vehicle, there are a number of things you want to take into consideration. First thing you need to know is if it’s legal to do so on the roadway you’re traveling. First and foremost, you want to make sure that there is no traffic coming in the opposite direction. If you feel you have to rush the pass to get over safely, then you don’t want to do it. If you’ve got to speed to pass the vehicle in front of you, then you shouldn’t do it. When passing another vehicle, you’re not allowed to exceed the speed limit. So the car ahead must be going slow enough that you can perform a passing maneuver without speeding and get back into your lane safely.
Most of these passing maneuvers occur on two-land roadways. You want to be aware of any curves in the road and any obstacles that may obstruct your view of any oncoming traffic.
Be aware of No Passing zones. These areas are there for a reason. They’re usually located near a bridge, a hill, a curve or another obstacle that would make it unsafe for you to pass.
It’s critical for you to be sure you can pass safely and legally before doing so. Moving ahead in traffic shouldn’t be worth risking your life or the life of others.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in the Greater Boston area, contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, LLC for a free consultation. Call (617) 777-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Grieving Father Visits Massachusetts to Warn Teens of Distracted Driving Dangers, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, February 28, 2013
Can Driver Safety Laws Really Save Lives?, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, February 26, 2013