Articles Posted in Car Accidents

by

The death of 52-year-old state police Sgt. Douglas Weddleton, who was run down Friday night while working at a road construction site on I-95, has put the spotlight on Massachusetts road construction accidents and accidents involving police officers and emergency responders.

The Enterprise News reports the story of Trooper Mark Lombardi, who was reaching for the microphone in his cruiser to call a tow truck for an early morning accident on Route 24.

He woke up 12 hours later in the hospital. A drunk driver traveling more than 80 mph slammed into his cruiser in the breakdown lane of Route 24 southbound, near the Route 139 exit in Stoughton.

It was the first of three times his cruiser has been struck on state highways.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that more than half the officers killed accidentally in 2008 died as a result of an automobile accident.

A July 2003 crash on Route 25 in Wareham left Trooper Ellen Engelhardt with permanent brain injuries. She is now in a nursing home.

For every fatal accident, there are 1,000 close calls. Traffic accidents while on the job are a leading cause of Massachusetts workers’ compensation claims.

Massachusetts Move Over Law took effect last March and requires all drivers to move over and/or slow down whenever an emergency or maintenance vehicle is display flashing lights. Please comply with this law. You could not only save yourself the hassle of a ticket, you could save a life and send a father or mother home safe to their family.

Friday’s accident occurred at a road construction zone, where Massachusetts work accidents are a common danger. As we reported last week on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, the Federal Highway Administration estimates that more than 1,000 workers are killed each year in highway accidents and more than 52,000 are seriously injured.
Continue reading

by

A Lowell woman has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with a December Massachusetts car accident that claimed the life of a man working on Route 3 in Chelmsford, the Newburyport News reported.

Massachusetts State Police charged the 34-year-old woman with motor vehicle homicide, marked lanes violation, operating in the breakdown lane and failing to move over for an emergency vehicle. She was driving a 2001 Acura MDX northbound on Route 3 on Dec. 1, 2009 when her vehicle struck the rear of a 1999 Peterbuilt truck that was parked at a work set-up site, according to authorities. A 44-year-old man was killed and a 30-year-old worker seriously injured after the men were pinned between the truck and the defendant’s vehicle.

Road construction accidents are a frequent cause of Massachusetts work injuries. Workers who are injured on the job should contact a Boston workers’ compensation attorney to discuss their rights.

The Federal Highway Administration reports that more than 1,000 workers are killed each year in highway accidents and another 52,000 are seriously injured. In this case, the men were working for United Oil Recovery Inc., an environmental cleanup company. They were providing cleanup services at the scene of a previous motor vehicle accident.

Massachusetts’ Move Over Law took effect March 22, 2009 and requires drivers to move over and/or slow down when approaching emergency or maintenance vehicles with flashing lights.
Continue reading

by

Physicians should warn patients of the dangers of using cell phones or text messaging, just as they would warn about the dangers of smoking, Reuters reported.

As we reported earlier this month on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, distracted driving is a leading cause of Massachusetts car accidents.

Nationwide an estimated 6,000 motorists are killed each year in accidents caused by distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Hours before the report was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved the Distracted Driving Prevention Act, which will provide incentives to states with distracted driving regulations.

Of primary concern to federal safety officials is drivers who text message behind the wheel, which increases the chance of being involved in an accident by 23 times. But the journal article, published by Dr. Amy Ship of Beth Israel Deacon Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston, also urges doctors to talk to patients about the dangers of using a cell phone while driving. She points to a 2006 study that found that using a cell phone while driving poses the same risk as driving while intoxicated.

“Although there are many possible distractions for drivers, more than 275 million Americans own cell phones, and 81 percent of them talk on those phones while driving,” Ship wrote.
Continue reading

by

Interstate 93 in Massachusetts is the eighth-deadliest highway in the nation, according to a list compiled by The Daily Beast. Motorists are most likely to be involved in a Massachusetts car accident on I-93 than any other highway in the state.

Between 2004 and 2008, the 47 miles of I-93 in Massachusetts had 61 fatal accidents that claimed 67 lives, or an average of 1.30 fatalities per mile.

Road Safe America has titled summer the “100 Deadliest Days.” More than 50,000 fatal accidents occurred in June, July and August from 2004 to 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Some roads really are more dangerous than others, whether because of poor design, heavy congestion or challenging terrain, including available roadside distractions. In compiling its list, the Daily Beast examined federal crash statistics for nearly 250 stretches of interstate highways to find out, mile-for-mile, which were the deadliest.

The deadliest highway in America — from 2004-2008, the last five years for which statistics are available — was I-95 in Florida. A total of 662 fatal accidents occurred on the 382-mile stretch of highway, claiming 765 lives.

The mile-for-mile comparison ranked I-76 in New Jersey the second-deadliest in the nation, where 3 miles of road saw five fatal accidents, which claimed six lives, or 1.64 fatalities per mile.

Other deadly roads in the Top 10 included:
3) I-4 in Florida: 132 miles of road/234 fatalities.
4) I-15 in California: 287 miles of road/506 fatalities.
5) I-10 in California: 243 miles of road/387 fatalities.
6) I-59 in Louisiana: 11 miles of road/16 fatalities.
7) I-94 in Illinois: 62 miles/89 fatalities.
8) I-93 in Massachusetts: 47 miles/67 fatalities.
9) I-95 in Delaware: 23 miles/30 fatalities.
10) I-55 in Tennessee: 12 miles/16 fatalities.
Continue reading

by

The Daily News Tribune has published a useful guide for parents seeking to properly insure their young drivers.

As our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog reported earlier this spring, summer is a dangerous time for Massachusetts car accidents involving teenagers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers ages 15 to 20. In 2008, more than 228,000 young people were injured and 2,739 were killed in traffic accidents. In Massachusetts, 68 young motorists lost their lives.
267179_Massachusetts_car_accidents_teenagers.jpg
Well over half of all teen drivers in Massachusetts will be in a car accident during their first two years on the road.

Here are the steps you should take to help protect your teen:

-Add your teen to your insurance policy: Massachusetts law requires your child be added to your insurance policy when he or she gets a driver’s license. Begin the conversation with your insurance agent early.

Cost: The cost of insuring a teen driver depends on a number of factors, including driving record and experience, age and type of vehicle being driven, and where you live. Many parents are shocked to learn how much it costs to insure a teen driver. However, given the frequency of accidents, it may be worthwhile to select a higher premium with a lower deductible.

A car for your teen: SUVs have a higher accident rate than passenger cars. Their higher center of gravity also makes them more prone to rollover accidents. Additionally, the larger vehicle may give a teen a false sense of security. Conversely, smaller two-door vehicles have a higher injury rate. Newer cars with anti-lock brakes and airbags have fewer serious injury accidents. Vehicle safety ratings are available through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

High-performance sports cars are often a poor choice for teen drivers. The insurance premiums alone may be enough to discourage allowing a teen to drive a sports car. Regardless of the car you choose, checking the insurance rates is a good idea before finalizing plans as your choice of vehicles can have a dramatic impact on the cost of insurance.

Massachusetts Law: Drivers under 18 will be issued a junior operator’s license. For the first six months, they cannot drive with friends unless a driver over the age of 21 is riding in the front passenger seat. Until they are 18, teens are not permitted to drive between 12:30 and 5 a.m. unless with a parent. Violations can result in a 60-day license suspension and a $100 fine.

Junior operators face a 90-day license suspension for speeding and must pass the learner’s permit and road tests again. Additionally, they will be required to pay a $500 reinstatement fee and complete a Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course.

Visit the Massachusetts junior operator’s website for more details.

Advanced Driver’s Courses: Enrolling your teen in advanced training can be a good idea. Parents should also monitor their teen’s progress and continue to set limitations on their driving rights. The state laws set minimum standards. But no two young drivers are alike and a parent is in the best position to monitor a child’s competence behind the wheel.

Focus on Safety: Continue to have frequent conversations with your child about the dangers of poor driving habits, including distracted driving, drunk driving and speeding.
Continue reading

by

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office is seeking to institute new rules aimed at protecting consumers from the perils of buying auto insurance.

We all expect our insurance to be there in the event that we are involved in a serious or fatal Massachusetts car accident. Unfortunately, auto insurance companies frequently look out for their own interests, at the expense of consumers. The advent of insurance available for purchase from websites, without the assistance of a knowledgeable insurance agent, has further compounded the issue. Progressive insurance has been under significant fire for offering low rates that consumer advocates contend includes coverage that falls short of providing adequate protection in the event of an accident.

Consulting with an experienced Boston injury lawyer can help protect your rights when dealing with an insurance company in the wake of a car accident in Boston or the surrounding area. Insurance companies have a moral and legal obligation to treat customers in a fair manner. When an insurance company operates in bad faith, it can and should be held responsible.

The new measure aims to “increase the level of transparency, enhance policy holders’ ability to shop effectively for policies, and better prevent deceptive practices by insurance companies,” according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Not surprisingly, the insurance industry claims additional safeguards are unnecessary.

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies contends the new regulations are unjustified.

“The sweeping set of new regulations put forward by Attorney General Martha Coakley are unnecessary and ill-advised, to say the least,” spokesman Paul Tetrault said. “Consumers are well protected by existing laws and regulations.”

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the new regulations would:

-Protect consumers from insurance companies that use discriminatory practices.

-Require ratings practices to be fair and transparent.

-Prevent misleading advertisements.

-Ensure consumers are made aware of discounts.

-Protect against policy cancellation or non-renewal without adequate notice.

-Guard against unfair interest rates on installment plans.

-Require proper reporting of at-fault reversals.

-Prevent agents from steering consumers to certain insurers based on commissions.

-Require insurers to promptly reply after a claim is filed.
Continue reading

by

Massachusetts’ Bike Week began with a fatal Boston bicycle accident that claimed the life of a 21-year-old man, the Boston Globe reported.

As we reported last week on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, authorities are pleading with motorists to use caution as the spring and summer bicycling season begins. More than 700 serious cycling accidents occurred in Boston in 2008. Nationwide, 716 people were killed and more than 52,000 injured in bicycle accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In this case, the rider was killed in an accident with an SUV at a Newton intersection. In Authorities believe the cyclist may have ran the red light while traveling eastbound on Commonwealth. He collided with a Honda SUV driven by a 48-year-old Newton woman, who was northbound on Homer Street.

Continue reading

by

A Boston pedestrian accident fatally injured a man early Wednesday morning near the entrance to the Ted Williams Tunnel.

It is the third serious pedestrian accident to occur in the Boston area in as many days. As we reported on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, authorities responded to a pair of pedestrian accidents on Monday that killed a man and seriously injured a woman walking her dog.
1118296_crosswalk.jpg
In Wednesday’s accident, the vehicle was driven by a 42-year-old Orange resident, Mass Live reported. The accident remains under investigation and no citations have been issued.

Police were called to Albany and Herald streets shortly after midnight. The pedestrian was taken to New England Medical Center with serious injuries.

The Boston Globe reported the man, who was in his late 30s, died as a result of his injuries.

The Globe reported that the man may have been crossing against the light and that the car’s speed is not believed to be a factor in the crash.

Seventy-five people were killed and more than 350 were seriously injured in Massachusetts pedestrian accidents in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Statewide, pedestrian accidents account for about 1 of every 5 traffic fatalities.

The Boston Public Health Commission reports that nearly 2 million pedestrians are in Boston during the workday, despite a residential population of just 600,000.

Boston Pedestrian Facts
-Only about 12 percent of pedestrians obey “Walk” signals.

-One-third of pedestrians jaywalk or disregard crosswalks.

-While 95 percent of drivers yield to pedestrians who have the right-of-way, only about half yield to pedestrians crossing against a light and fewer still yield to jaywalkers.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

-Use the crosswalk.

-Always check for traffic in all directions before entering the street.

-Wait for walk signals.

-Pedestrians have the right-of-way at crosswalks without a traffic signal. But make sure a driver sees you before proceeding.

-Wear bright colored clothing after dusk.

-Watch for cars in driveways and parking spaces.

Safety Tips for Drivers

-Pedestrians have the right-of-way in crosswalks without traffic signals. Failure to yield to a pedestrian is punishable by a $200 fine.

-Always yield to pedestrians when making a turn.

-Give elderly pedestrians and small children a break; allow for extra time to cross the street.

-Always watch for pedestrians when backing up, or exiting a driveway or parking space.

-Yield to school buses. Remain alert for young pedestrians in school zones or near parks.

-Take your time. Reckless driving and speeding account for nearly one-fourth of all Boston car accidents.
Continue reading

by

Authorities are baffled by the high number of Stoughton car accidents on Route 24 — two dozen so far this year, according to the Stoughton Journal.

High numbers of Massachusetts car accidents in a particular area can sometimes point to a road defect, poorly designed intersection, missing or inoperable street lights, obtrusive vegetation or other design flaws. Motorists who believe such causes contributed to an accident, should consult a Boston injury lawyer for help in determining their legal rights.

In this case, the rough, rutted and patchy road may be partly to blame, the Avon fire chief said, though he was still at a loss to explain the high numbers of crashes on the straight stretch of road.

“It’s a straight road, and it’s never made any sense to us the number of rollovers we get up there,” Avon Fire Chief Robert Spurr told the Journal following a string of weekend crashes.

As we reported on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, a 23-year-old man was killed and five others seriously injured after a Sunday rollover crash on Route 24. Hours later, a 25-year-old man was killed in a rollover crash on Route 24 while exiting at Route 44. The victim in that accident was on his way to pick up his girlfriend, whom he’d ask to marry him earlier in the day.

Through May 3, Avon emergency responders were called to 25 crashes on Route 24 — 24 crashes occurred during the same period last year.

Road work began in March to patch the road from Brockton into Raynham. Crews have been working on the worst stretch of the road, between Avon and Stoughton, since last year. Trees are also being trimmed to improve visibility.
Continue reading

by

A Norwell teen is facing attempted murder charges after being accused of an intentional hit-and-run crash, Channel 7 News reported.

The Massachusetts pedestrian accident seriously injured three teenage girls and one boy. The Monday incident occurred in a Rockland condo parking lot in front of dozens of witnesses. The teenager reportedly drove his van directly into a group of teens after a dispute.

Police reported that the driver fled the scene and was located and arrested hours later. He is facing charges of attempted murder and leaving the scene of an accident. Authorities report he had five friends in the van with him at the time of the incident.

The three girls were reportedly dragged for some distance and two of them were in serious condition. The van allegedly drove up over a five-foot gravel embankment and left skid marks as it fled the scene.

The Boston Herald reported that one of the girls suffered life-threatening injuries. Police report the girls were dragged 30 to 40 feet and suffered serious head trauma as well as broken bones and leg, hip and abdominal injuries.
Continue reading

Contact Information
Boston Office
1 International Pl Unit 1810
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 777-7777Fax: (617) 722-9999
Taunton Office
60 Court St
Taunton, MA 02780
By Appointment Only
Quincy Office
308 Victory Rd
Quincy, MA 02171
By Appointment Only

Worcester Office
43 Harvard St
Worcester, MA 01609
By Appointment Only
Disclaimer – The settlements above are only a sample of cases represented by our office. Each case is different and the amount of a potential resolution of your case will vary considerably depending on a substantial amount of factors. Some case results were worked in conjunction with partnering law firms.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2025, Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design