Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog

A large truck was the cause of canceled train trips after the driver ran his vehicle into an overhead power system near New Haven, Connecticut. The collision caused Amtrak to suspend all trains traveling between Boston and New York for more than three hours last week, according to The Wall Street Journal. Trains between New York and Boston were the only ones affected in the accident.

Our Boston personal injury lawyers urge all residents and visitors to take advantage of the convenient public transportation options that are offered throughout our state. We would also like to take this time to raise awareness about the importance of passenger safety on these rides. This goes out to those traveling near these modes of mass transit as well. Transportation companies are responsible for providing safe transportation for residents and visitors of our city. A number of injuries that occur within mass transit accidents can be easily prevented by taking a few precautionary steps.

As we recently reported on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, the MBTA witnesses nearly 2,500 accidents each year that are caused by motor-vehicle drivers. The MBTA believes that roughly 500 of these accidents could be prevented.

New Haven police are investigating the AmTrak accident from earlier this week. No train passengers were hurt in the accident, according to Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.

Amtrak crews have already made repairs to the damaged tracks and to the overhead power system. Service between New York and Boston has been restored.

There are more than 600 railroads in the United States. About 200,000 miles of track help these trains navigate throughout the country. There have been about 12,000 train accidents annually since 2002. Unfortunately, these accidents took the lives of about 1,000 people. Train accidents can be caused by a number of factors, including the negligence of the train operator, lack of safety provisions by train companies, locomotives, trolleys and even motor-vehicle operators.

These companies are required by law to effectively protect all passengers and operators of their vehicles. These accidents can occur in any number of places, including at railroad crossings where light is dim and where signals fail to notify passenger vehicle occupants that a train is approaching.

Trains are also able to derail. This can happen because of mechanical failures or improper track and equipment maintenance. Speedy or fatigued drivers also contribute to these accidents. Oftentimes cargo can become loose or unsecured in the event of an accident, resulting in spills of hazardous waste or other dangerous objects.

Determining the cause and the fault of a train accident, or any other mass transit accident, can be a complicated and lengthy process. You are urged to seek an attorney if you've been involved in one of these accidents as they can help you determine fault and proper compensation.

Continue reading "Train Accident Shuts Down AmTrack Trips between Boston and New York" »

A Massachusetts bus accident sent seven Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus passengers to area hospitals recently. The bus accident happened on Route 28 when a motorist reportedly made a sharp left turn in front of the MBTA bus and forced the bus driver to slam on the brakes to avoid a major collision, according to The Milford Daily News.

The driver of the SUV that cut off the bus, a 72-year-old Milton resident, was taken to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and reportedly suffered a neck injury. The elderly driver will be cited for failing to yield when turning, says T spokesman Joe Pesaturo.

We know that Massachusetts residents and visitors rely on this form of public transportation on a daily basis. We expect these buses to get us to and from our destinations safely.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that these travelers also trust that the operator of these buses, trains and subways have completed proper training and possess safe, alert and cautious driving habits. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. According to the MBTA website, its drivers are typically involved in nearly 2,500 accidents every year. About 500 of these accidents are considered to be preventable. The MBTA buses take about 4.5 million bus trips every year. MBTA buses have been involved in 11 fatalities since 2000.

The injured bus passengers were from Randolph:

-Marie Dory, 60

-Felicia Florence, 45

-Connie Harding, 55

-Linda Whittaker, 48

-Evelyn Morales, 37

-Kennie Boulin, 21

-Jean Nelson, 39

The bus driver reports that the bus was heading north on Randolph Avenue when the SUV tried to turn left onto Chickatawbut Road in front of the bus. The driver says that the bus and the SUV still made some contact after she braked.

Luckily, about 350 buses of the MBTA fleet of more than 1,000 come equipped with eight cameras a piece. These bus cameras provide views of inside the bus, in front of the bus and on either side of the bus. Some MBTA subway cars and stations also have video cameras. These cameras can help implicate some people and vindicate others in the event of an accident.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis, nearly 40 MBTA accidents have been reported to have occurred from January to March of this year. During the first three months of 2011, there were 2 reported fatalities involving an MBTA accident or incident. In 2009, there were 221 fatal bus crashes reported across the United States. The same year in Massachusetts, there was one single bus accident that resulted in a fatality.

We rely on the operators of these buses every day to travel our roadways safely. With the proper training, cautious driving techniques and safe driving habits, we can all hope to enjoy public transportation without injury.

Continue reading "Seven Passengers in Hospital after Massachusetts Bus Accident" »

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently purchased two advanced locomotives from the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), making for the newest editions to the fleet in decades. These new additions were picked up by the MBTA because they were not only more fuel and energy efficient, but they meet new safety regulations. With these new locomotives, passengers are expected to be better protected during a train accident Boston and elsewhere throughout the area.

"These new locomotives are more fuel efficient and more reliable, improving on-time performance for the benefit of the commuters," said Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray.

Many residents and visitors use our public transportation system for quick and efficient travel throughout the area. However, riding on our subways and trains is not always a safe endeavor. Riding public transportation comes with its own risks. Our Boston personal injury attorneys have reported incidents involving the MBTA and the injuries caused to residents and visitors involved in these mishaps. Riders must put total trust in the drivers and rely on these drivers to get them to their destination safely and in a timely manner. If you are injured in one of these accidents, it is critical that you contact an experienced attorney to help you to fight for your rights against these large transportation companies.

The upgrades to the fleet are expected to lower fuel costs, prevent unnecessary idling and reduce nitrogen oxide levels by 20 tons per engine annually. The reduced fuel usage is expected to save nearly 40,000 gallons of fuel and roughly $80,000 per locomotive each year, according to Government Technology.

"We were able to utilize this technology on the new locomotives," said Steven Mudge, the MBTA's director of vehicle engineering, "because in the older [locomotives], if you were to shut down the main engines, then you'd also shut the lights, air conditioning and heat off on all the coaches behind it."

After calculating the total cost savings the MBTA is considering to update all of their rail fleets to these more fuel efficient cars. The MBTA was able to purchase these new locomotives when the recession reduced the need for Utah's rail fleet.

"We wanted to have extra locomotives available as our system grew and as we increased our frequency," said Mudge. "But we were really planning for long range -- a 2030 time frame."

The new train purchases are part of a larger procurement plan by the MBTA. Back in July of 2010, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation board of directors approved a near $115 million contract with Idaho-based Motive Power to supply 20 new diesel-electric locomotives. These 20 locomotives are not expected to be in service until 2013.

The MBTA is currently operating under a contract with the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co. The current contract includes their fleet of more than 400 coaches and 80 locomotives that carry about almost 150,000 passengers roundtrip every weekday.

"Some of this equipment that was originally built in '79 is getting fairly expensive to maintain," Mudge said, "and we're facing obsolescence on a lot of the components we need on a day-to-day basis."

Aside from the technology efficiencies, these newly purchased locomotives come equipped with improved safety features. These features meet the American Public Transportation Association's crashworthiness standards,

They also include conventional strength-based requirements for equipment used at less than 125 mph, dynamic sled testing of occupant seats and crash-energy management for equipment used above 125 mph.

Because of previous accidents, MBTA's director of vehicle engineering says they've pushed to employ crashworthiness techniques and crumple zones to ensure crew and rider safety in the event of an accident.

Continue reading "Two New Locomotives to MBTA to Save Money and Reduce Risk of Injury in Boston Train Accident" »

Baby Boomers influence a new safety program aimed to help save victims of serious car accidents in Boston and elsewhere in the country, according to USA Today.

The new program, Yellow Dot, will provide a simple and efficient way for emergency responders to collect necessary information from those who have suffered serious injury in a traffic crash. The goal is to get this information within the first 60 minutes following an accident, or the "golden hour", as this is the time that can mean the difference between life and death for those suffering serious injury.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand the importance of personal information in the event of an accident and collecting that information from a seriously injured motorist can be difficult. We are proud to be 1 of the 8 that currently participate in the program.

Here's how the Yellow Dot program works:

-Residents receive a yellow dot sticker to place in their rear window.

-Residents then place a folder in their glove box, with a corresponding yellow dot sticker, containing important information including, a photograph, prescription information, medical conditions, and other necessary information.

-If involved in an accident, emergency responders will know, from the yellow dot sticker on your window, to look in the glove box for information that can help them to assist you quicker and more efficiently.

"It is very nice to see innovative programs to address the unique risks associated with older Americans and car crashes," says Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Since older individuals tend to have more medical conditions, are on more medications and are generally more fragile, this sounds like a well-justified program, especially in light of the growing number of older Americans."

The first Yellow Dot program in the U.S. started in Connecticut back in 2002. Since then, 8 states picked up the system including Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Virginia, Alabama and New York. Georgia is currently considering the program.

"It's a promising approach," says Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. "Actually, this is one of the goals of automated crash notification systems. Eventually, when there is a crash, these key data such as medication needed will automatically be available to EMTs, etc. The Yellow Dot program may be a system that can be helpful in the meantime."

This system was created with Baby Boomers in mind as, in 2009, motorists over the age of 65 experienced nearly 5,500 fatalities as a result of car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Another 187,000 motorists of this age group suffered injuries in this same time period. This age group account for nearly 20 percent of all fatal car accidents during the entire year and another 8 percent for the year total for injuries. Baby Boomers experienced nearly 100 fatalities from car accidents in 2009 alone and without this vital information readily available for emergency responders, these statistics could have been much higher.

Continue reading "New Program Aims to Assist Baby Boomer in Car Accidents in Boston and Elsewhere" »

A Boston boating accident involved a tour boat on Saturday and resulted in the evacuation of all 174 passengers and crew members from the ferry, which ran aground in Boston Harbor, NECN reported.

A Boston injury lawyer should always be consulted when someone is injured in a mass transportation accident, whether on a subway, bus or ferry boat or on a tour bus, cruise or other tourist attraction. Companies that provide mass transportation have an obligation to ensure the safety of passengers. A ferry boat that inexplicably runs aground can cause serious or fatal injuries.

The ship ran aground Saturday at 10 a.m., about a mile and a half off the coast of Deer Island. The boat began taking on water and the crew was forced to evacuate everyone on board.

The 168 passengers were taking part in a whale watch and four were injured by the sudden impact. Passengers walking off the rescue vessel described the accident as chaotic, scary and frightening.

Many of the passengers were visitors to Boston for the holiday weekend and had hoped to get a nice tour of Massachusetts Bay.

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the accident, according to the Patriot-Ledger.

The boat apparently veered out of well-marked channel and ran aground on a rocky shoal. The shallow area is a known hazard and well-marked on navigation maps.

The crew of the M/V Massachusetts were tested for drug and alcohol use as part of the investigation. The 87-foot vessel is often used for commuter-boat service from Hingham and is owned by Massachusetts Bay Lines.

Several Coast Guard officials said they have never seen an accident in that location, as it is one that experienced boaters steer clear of.

Continue reading "Boston boating accident grounds ferry on Fourth of July weekend; 174 people evacuated" »