Articles Posted in Car Accidents

You may have heard some of the talk. The risks for car accidents in the U.S. are diminishing. WRONG!

Well, they were until we set foot in 2012. According to CNN, the number of people killed in car accidents in up close to 15 percent. Officials recently calculated the year’s first quarter numbers and it’s not looking good. During the first quarter of 2012, there were close to 8,000 people who died in motor vehicle accidents. In the first quarter of 2011, we saw about 1,000 fewer roadway fatalities.

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that officials haven’t pinpointed the cause, but they’ve got some suspicions. One of the most likely, officials say, is the weather. Since we had a warmer winter season than normal, drivers were more likely to be on the roads. Warmer weather brought ideal driving conditions, drivers ventured out, increased the number of vehicle miles traveled and increased the risks for accidents. The more time drivers spend behind the wheel, the more accidents we see.

“AAA agrees that warmer-than-average winter weather may have contributed to higher vehicle miles traveled, and ultimately more fatal crashes,” said Jacob Nelson, director of traffic safety advocacy with the Automobile Association of America.

This is the largest year-to-year increase that we’ve seen since these stats were first recorded back in 1975. What might be most alarming about it is that it’s only expected to get worse. Typically, the first quarter of the year is the safest.

The number of vehicle miles driven has increased by nearly 1.5 percent from last year. This is also expected to rise as the year progresses. The more time we spend on the road, the higher the risks are for an accident. It’s a trend we’ve seen for decades now. The number of accidents directly correlates with the number of vehicle miles traveled.

Since 2006, we’ve been seeing accident rates across the country decline, until now. With this turnaround, safe driving advocates are asking for more emphasis. They’re asking for stricter road laws and for tougher enforcement of them by law enforcement officers. In many cases, such as the seat belt law and enforcement, tough laws and strict enforcement have helped to decrease the number of roadway fatalities. Safe driving advocates are asking for officials to do more of the same with drunk driving, distracted driving and other dangerous driving habits. They also want more education, saying that knowledge is another key point in helping to make our roadways safer for everyone.

Talk with your friends and family members about the risks associated with dangerous driving habits. Safer streets are a group effort. Practice your most responsible driving habits during every car ride to help to stay out of a potentially fatal car accident in 2012.
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Boston was recently ranked, by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention‘s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), as the safest city in the country in which to drive. As you know, our personal injury attorneys have been reporting about a plethora of dangers and risks that can be found on our roadways.

And Boston drivers need no introduction. So, we’re a little skeptical about these findings. Boston drivers are notorious and your risk for an accident in the city is still high.

There were nearly 20 fatal car accidents in Boston in 2009. In these accidents, nearly 30 vehicles were involved. Drunk drivers accounted for 6 of these accidents. More than 20 people were killed. Many of those who made it out alive were seriously injured. It’s not just motorists who are affected in these accidents either. Pedestrians, bicyclists and other travelers are all facing the same risks.

According to the CDC’s report, posted on the WebMD, the most dangerous city in the nation was Orlando.

Even though the number of overall traffic fatalities has decreased in recent years, car accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for Americans. Just in 2009, there were nearly 34,500 people who were killed in car accidents. Young people are highly affected by these dangers. More than 20 percent of these fatalities were residents between the ages of 15- and 24-years-old.

“Proven population-based intervention such as strong graduated-driver licensing and alcohol-impaired driving prevention polices offer the potential to reduce more vehicle crash deaths among teens and young adults,” said the CDC’s Scott Kegler, PhD.

We’re asking drivers to take a look at their driving habits and the habits of their young drivers and make the necessary changes to help to make our roadways safer. We’re in the middle of the summer travel season, which makes risks for a potentially fatal car accident even higher. Be on the lookout for road dangers, be courteous of other motorists on our streets and drive defensively.

In the state of Massachusetts, car accidents cost nearly $400 million each year. Young adults racked in nearly 50 percent of these costs.

Although the number of car accidents in recent years has been decreasing ever so slightly, the risks are making a turnaround. That’s right. Car accidents are becoming more and more common on our roadways. As a matter of fact, there have already been thousands killed in the first three months of 2012. This is one of the largest year-to-year increases that we’ve seen in decades.

Parents are asked to talk with their teens. Reiterate the importance of following road laws, wearing a seat belt and practicing safe driving habits. Your teen wants to listen! Parents are the most influential in forming a young driver’s habits behind the wheel.
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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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