Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Recently, General Motors and some of its researchers looked into how non-driving activities influenced driver behavior. They looked into how self-steering vehicles affected us behind the wheel. One of the surprising findings is that drivers’ awareness actually improved when the car took hold of driving, according to Motorway America. Researchers wanted to know just how these newer technologies affected drivers and how effective they were in reducing the risks of accidents in Boston and elsewhere.

“Drivers are already engaging in risky behavior, and are likely to continue doing so…so why not make it safer for them and the people around them,” said Dr. Eddy Llaneras, principal investigator for the study.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that researchers are looking to make some kind of vehicle automation that’s equipped with safeguards. They believe that this technology may be able to improve the dangerous behaviors that are already found all over roadways nationwide.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, about a third of all drivers say that they email or text message behind the wheel on a regular basis. This stands true despite common views on the behavior, saying that’s they know it’s dangerous. Distracted driving is all too common on our roadways and takes the lives of thousands of people each and every year. Researchers are working diligently to find a way to reduce the dangers that are associated with it.

In the General Motors’ study, officials looked at a driver’s attention to the road in both hands-on and automated steering circumstances. Both were recorded while the vehicle’s cruise control was activated. When drivers were engaging in other activities, aside from driving, they split they vision between the road and whatever else they’re doing. The study concluded that crash avoidance technologies actually help to keep a driver’s attention and vision on the road. Their attention actually increased by more than 125 percent when the automated steering was activated.

With the new study, researchers and GM were looking for a way to better keep drivers engaged while the automation was activated.

When drivers were questioned about these kinds of cars and their technology, many drivers expressed interest, especially when taking them on long road trips or by helping to alleviate driving worker’s stress.

The study was partially funded by the Federal Highway Administration although they do not necessarily endorse all its findings.

Automated vehicles have been moving quickly toward our roadways with each passing year. Researchers are getting closer and closer to creating a car that can steer itself. We already have in-car technologies that can help to warn drivers when there’s danger approaching. While these technologies all look good on paper and have some benefits in helping to reduce the risks of accidents, there’s still nothing more effective that safe and alert driving habits from everyone!
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To help to stop teen car accidents in Quincy and elsewhere, AT&T recently launched its “It Can Wait” campaign.

The campaign started in the state of Massachusetts back in 2011 and since then organizations and law enforcement agencies across the country have joined in to help to raise awareness about the risks of distracted driving among teen drivers nationwide, according to The New York Times. This campaign usually takes place during the summer months because it’s during this time that teen drivers face the most dangerous risks for car accidents.

“Memorial Day is the beginning of the 100 deadliest days of the year for teen drivers,” said president of AT&T in the New England area, Patricia Jacobs.

Our Quincy car accident lawyers understand that teens know that texting while driving is dangerous. Studies prove it! Unfortunately, studies also show that these young drivers are still sending and receiving text messages behind the wheel. According to a recent AT&T study, more than 95 percent of teens know that it’s dangerous to text and drive at the same time. The same study also revealed that nearly 45 percent of these young drivers are still texting behind the wheel and another 75 percent say that their friends are doing it on a regular basis.

The study revealed that teens feel peer pressure from their buddies to respond to these messages quickly and that’s why they’re not waiting. The study also illustrated that parents and other adults are setting a poor example behind the wheel, leading these young drivers to believe that it’s okay to text and drive.

It’s going to be tough to get these young drivers to put the phones away while they’re on our roadways. Text messages rank as the number one mode of communication among this young age group. Recent studies conclude that teens text about five times more than most adults in a day. When this is going on behind the wheel, teens are nearly 25 times more likely to be in a near-accident or an actual accident on our roadways.

Highlights of the AT&T study:

-Nearly 90 percent of teens say that they expect to get a reply to a text message or an email within 5 minutes of sending the message.

-Three quarters of teens know that texting while driving is dangerous, yet nearly 45 percent still do it!

-About 70 percent of teens say that it’s still dangerous to text while stopped at a stop light.

-About 60 percent of teen say that they will text at a red light and another 75 percent say that they’ll at least peek at their phone at a red light.

-More than 60 percent of teens admit to glancing at their phone while driving. The same number of teens say that they’ll read or send an email or text while driving.

-Nearly 80 percent of teens say that adults tell them not to text and drive but these same adults text while driving.

-More than 40 percent of teens say they see their own parents send or read texts and emails while driving.
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After a recent rollover car accident in Somerville seven people were sent to the hospital, according to the Medford Patch. Four of the seven were taken away on body boards.

The accident happened shortly before 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Mystic Valley Parkway and Boston Avenue. Officials with the Medford and the Somerville fire departments and police departments were called to the scene as well as the Massachusetts State Police. Officers were forced to close off nearby sections of Boston Avenue and Route 16 so that emergency response teams could attend to the victims and could clear the mess of the accident. Unfortunately, the accident happened right in the middle of rush hour. Emergency response teams were delayed a short while trying to get through the gridlock traffic, according to District Chief Frank Lee. He adds that this intersection has had a history of these kinds of accidents.

“Something like this happens four or five times a year,” said Lee.

Our Boston car accident attorneys understand that intersections are in fact some of the most dangerous places on our roadways. They’re the backdrop to many accidents each and every day. As a matter of fact, nearly half of the near 6,000,000 car accidents that happened in the U.S. in 2008 were intersection-related. Motorists are urged to be cautious in these areas to try to avoid a potentially fatal accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), there are a couple of factors that contribute to a large majority of these intersection-related accidents. Some of the most common factors include inadequate surveillance, false assumptions of other’s actions, turning with obstructed views, illegal maneuvers, distracted driving, misjudgment of gap and other’s speed and failure to obey traffic control devices.

Luckily, there are a few safe driving tips that can help to keep you safe when driving through intersections and through other high-risk areas.

Intersection Safety Tips:

-When coming up to a traffic light, assume that it’s going to change. Slow it down a little bit. That way if it does change then you will be able to slow down in time for drivers who aren’t as cautious.

-Always check the crosswalks for pedestrians.

-If the light at the intersection changes to green as you approach, be sure to keep it slow and look in all directions. You never know when there’s a car coming from another direction that’s going to run the red light.

-Be sure to always use your turn signals, both when changing lanes and when making turns.

-Yield to vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

-Never tailgate. Always allow enough room for you to stop safely.

-Be one step ahead of other drivers and the surrounding traffic.

-Always use your blinker to alert other travelers of your intended maneuvers.
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Carl Beanie, the public address announcer for the Red Sox, recently passed away after a car accident in Boston. According to the Boston Globe, the announcer called out some excellent Sox plays through two World Series championships. He was 59-years-old.

“We are filled with sadness at this tragic news,” Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said. “All of Red Sox Nation will remember his presence, his warmth, and his voice.”

Our Boston injury attorneys understand that the announcer’s vehicle reportedly ran off the road. He was taken to Harrington Hospital in Southbridge where he was later pronounced dead. There’s no denying he will be missed. Beanie was a long-time staple at the baseball park. He’s announced for a number of broadcasts, including the Associated Press, and started his career at Fenway back in 2002. He announced the World Series game when the Red Sox took home the championship to end their 86-year title drought.

Nearly everyone is Boston knows his familiar voice. He also announced wedding ceremonies, popular commercials and a number of ceremonies. A Boston magazine interview back in 2008 revealed that grooms would tell him that they were more excited to meet him than to marry their bride.

“This is where I should be,” said Beanie.

He loved his baseball, he loved the Red Sox and he loved Boston.

Roadways in Boston can be dangerous. As a matter of fact in Boston there were nearly 20 fatal car crashes in 2009. Many of these accidents happened under completely preventable conditions, such as impaired driving, distracted driving, speedy driving and other forms of dangerous driving conditions. With a little bit more awareness behind the wheel, we can all do our party to help to reduce the risks of these accidents on our roadways.

To help keep our roads safe for everyone, it’s important to keep an eye on health conditions. In many cases, drivers’ health conditions and the medications that they’re prescribed to can have a seriously risky effect on their abilities to navigate our roadway safety. Drivers are urged to talk with a doctor about driving after being prescribed to any medication.

The truth of the matter is that driving is tough and is a complex skill. Our ability to drive can be drastically changed if our mental, physical and emotional condition.
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There’s good news. The number of fatal car accidents in Attleboro and elsewhere continues to plunge. The nation is actually sitting at the lowest number we’ve seen since 1949, according to MSNBC.

Not every state is fortunate enough to see a decrease though. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the U.S. saw nearly 32,500 roadway fatalities in 2011, which serves as a near 2 percent decline from the year before. It also serves as the seventh year in a row that we’ve seen a decline.

The numbers of fatalities hasn’t decreased in every category. Some accidents and some areas saw increases in the number of fatal accidents. Our Attleboro car accident attorneys understand that the New England area was fortunate enough to see some of the biggest declines. Our area saw a decrease in the number of roadway fatalities by more than 7 percent in 2011. But don’t let the good news fool you. There were still many areas of the country that saw increases. And we still need to be on our best behavior behind the wheel to help to keep our roadways safe.

Nationwide, the number of traffic accident fatalities has decreased by about 25 percent since 2005. When you measure these accidents in terms of per mile driven, the number is at its lowest since 1921.

Federal officials refuse to say what they believe caused the decline, but safe driving advocates say that there are probably a number of reasons. Included is the ongoing crackdown on impaired driving, which is linked to as many as half of all traffic fatalities, and the increase in the usage of seat belts, improved roadways and the developments of in-car safety systems.

Some are even blaming the downturn of the economy, saying that drivers are driving less and are therefore are facing less risks for accidents. In 2011, drivers traveled nearly 36 billion vehicles miles less than the year before. That’s a more than 1 percent decline. As the economy recovers, experts believe, the number of miles driven and the risks for accidents will increase.

“Still, too many of our friends and neighbors are killed in preventable roadway tragedies every day,” said the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Ray LaHood.

LaHood notes the number of fatalities on our roadways is still far too high. He says that the NHTSA is working on new rules to address the “epidemic” of distracted driving accidents. He says that with advancements in technology, we’re seeing more and more of these accidents on our roadways.

Drivers are asked to join in on the effort, too. Safe driving habits should always be a number one priority. Your safe driving habits can help to reduce the risks of accidents on our roadways.
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As we recently reported on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, drivers throughout the state and elsewhere were urged to ring in the New Year with some resolutions toward safer driving habits.

It may already be April, but our attorneys and officials with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety are checking in to make sure residents are keeping up with the plan. Safe driving habits start with you and your actions can help to not only prevent car accidents, but it can help to save lives, too!

As a matter of fact, drivers do desire a greater level of safety than they currently experience on our roadways. Most of them support more government actions to get it done! Still, most of these drivers refuse to make the changes in themselves to help get there.

It’s the “do as I say, not as I do” complex, meaning drivers expect everyone else to practice safe driving habits, but feel they’re exempt from having to do so. There’s no easy way around it, safe roadways takes a collaborative effort from everyone.

Our Massachusetts car accident lawyers understand that there were nearly 33,000 people who were killed in car accidents in the United States in 2010. During the same year, the state of Massachusetts saw more than 300 traffic accident-related fatalities.

Still, more than 300 traffic accident fatalities in one year is nothing to brag about. For the fourth year in a row, AAA’s survey determined that most drivers across the country feel that it is unacceptable to drive without wearing a seat belt. With those viewpoints, still about a quarter of all drivers admitted to driving around without wearing a seat belt. This wasn’t the only scenario in which drivers were extremely hypocritical.

It also applied to speeding, drinking and driving, driving while distracted, aggressive driving, fatigued driving and running red lights. With the results from the study, you’d think there’s a bunch of mad men out on our roadways. Sadly enough, in a way you’d be right.

AAA and our Boston injury attorneys aren’t giving up through. We ask that drivers keep their New Year’s resolutions and keep up with their safe driving habits. It’s never too late to make a change. Start again now and make a pledge to practice safe and cautious driving. Our roadway safety depends on it.

“Every one death on our roads in unacceptable,” said AAA CEO and Present of AAA, Peter Kissinger. “Take the first step and make a personal goal to be a safe driver.”
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The spring driving season is here and the summer season is quickly following right behind. During this time, friends and family members typically join together and head out for a much-needed vacation. In preparation for the travel season, safe driving advocates with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are warning travelers about the dangers associated with group trips in 15-passenger vans.

This warning from the NHTSA is targeting church groups, spring breakers, college students and other groups who may be using these 15-passenger vans. The NHTSA is asking both drivers and passengers to take the proper steps to stay safe, including always wearing a seat belt during every ride to help prevent injury in the event of a van accident in Dedham and elsewhere.

The Administration would like to point out that these 15- passengers vans are sensitive to loading, meaning that travelers should be cautious not to overload these vehicles. Overloading these vans makes them a lot more likely to flip, rollover and more difficult to handle. Drivers and passengers are urged to review a few safety rules and suggestions before heading out for vacations. These vehicles don’t drive like our everyday vehicles and need to be handled much differently.

Our Massachusetts accident lawyers understand that these vans can be dangerous for travelers, especially when the driver is not familiar with the vehicle. Tire pressure can vary on both the front and the back tires of these vans. For this reason, the NHTSA is asking drivers to make sure that each tire is filled and inflated properly for the vehicle’s load before every trip. You can’t just pack all that you want into these vans. The NHTSA is also urging travelers to using the spare tires sparingly. Tire condition doesn’t hold up forever. Spare tires should not be used in place of worn tires. The NHTSA recommends that tires that are more than 10-years-old should never be used.

Safety Tips for 15-Passenger Vans from the NHTSA:

-Do not overload the van. Make sure you know what the weight limitations are on the van before loading your belongings.

-Passengers and drivers should always wear a seat belt, regardless of how short or long of a trip is being taken.

-If you own one of these vans, make sure that it’s regularly maintained. Preventative measures can help to cut the risks of accidents significantly.

-Owners should have steering and suspension components regularly inspected. Inspection guidelines can be found in the vehicle’s manual.

-Be sure to replace and repair parts as suggested in the vehicle’s manual.

-Tires should fit the load requirements of the van.

-Drivers should be properly licensed and should be experienced in driving these kinds of vehicles.

-Drivers should be well rested before venturing out. Driving these vehicles requires full and alert attention.

-Always adjust side mirrors before starting the vehicle and heading out.

-Remember to keep safety as a number one priority.

-Obey speed limits and drive slowly. These vehicles, especially when loaded with cargo, are highly susceptible to rollover accidents.
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