Car Accidents

May 14, 2010

Trio of Boston pedestrian accidents have authorities urging motorists to use caution

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.

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

May 6, 2010

Stoughton car accidents on Route 24 a mystery; poor road condition could be to blame

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

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

May 4, 2010

Massachusetts pedestrian accident injures 4; police allege teen driver intentionally drove into a crowd

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

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

April 29, 2010

Officials urge motorists to keep cycling safety in mind, reduce Boston cycling accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Jeffrey B. Mullan took to Boston streets during rush hour last week on his way to the inaugural Boston Bicycle Safety Summit.

There, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and others urged motorists and cyclists to adopt safe driving habits at the outset of the spring and summer riding season, the Boston Globe reported.

As we reported last week on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, spring is a particularly dangerous time for Massachusetts bicycle accidents; motorists are urged to use extra caution to help keep the roads safe for our cycling friends.

A total of 716 cyclists were killed in bicycle accidents nationwide in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Seeking to become a cycling haven, Boston has added 15 miles of bike trails, installed more than 500 bicycle racks and instituted a $100 fine for parking in bike lanes. This year’s budget includes $450,000 for 20 more miles of bike lanes.

The Mayor said he wants drivers to respect cyclists and police officers to enforce the law.

“Autos will not rule the road any longer,” he said. “It’s a health issue, it’s a convenient way of getting around the city. And we want to listen to the very active (cycling) community.”
Continue reading

April 27, 2010

Boston college hockey champs involved in car accident with MBTA trolley

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Members of Boston College’s national championship hockey team are among seven teenagers charged after an accident with an MBTA trolley early Sunday morning, the Boston Globe reported.

The Boston car accident occurred when a Jeep carrying seven teenagers tried to make a U-turn across the tracks on Commonwealth Avenue near Greycliffe Road. The Jeep struck an outbound train heading for Boston College shortly after midnight, according to a MBTA spokesperson.

The driver and three passengers were transported to city hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, according to a college spokesperson. The MBTA reported that the other three passengers took themselves to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center with minor injuries after fleeing the scene.

Three of the teens are members of the National Championship hockey team at Boston College.

Police reported finding Vodka in the Jeep and all seven teens face charges of underage alcohol possession. The Jeep was heavily damaged and a bar connecting two of the trolley cars was also damaged. The investigation is ongoing.

The Boston Herald reported that the trolley driver had no time to stop and said several of the teens tossed alcohol from the car as they fled the scene.

The driver of the vehicle said she had not been drinking and a spokesperson for the college told the Herald that police reported alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
Continue reading

April 25, 2010

Big Dig safety review highlights road defects as potential cause of Massachusetts car accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Safety concerns remain in Big Dig tunnels, nearly five years after a high-profile incident in which a 28-year-old motorist was killed in a 2006 Boston car accident caused by collapsing ceiling panels, the Boston Herald reported.

The chronic problems plaguing the Big Dig are a glaring example of road defects causing or contributing to Massachusetts traffic accidents. But a variety of safety hazards frequently contribute to serious traffic accidents, including inoperable traffic control devices, missing signs, poorly maintained roads and overgrown vegetation, which can obstruct the view of oncoming traffic or signs and traffic control devices.

While the report found that Massachusetts has done a good job of implementing safety improvements following the accident, the Highway Administration needs to do a better job in three areas: Ensuring the safety of ceiling anchors in the Ted Williams Tunnel; improving fire preparedness, and assuring the accuracy of concrete viaduct calculations.

April 19, 2010

Spring brings increased risk of Boston motorcycle accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A Boston motorcycle accident on Sunday sent a 46-year-old man to the hospital with life-threatening head injuries, the MetroWest Daily News reported.

Sunday’s accident occurred shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Grove Street in Framingham. The victim was flown by rescue helicopter to Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. The investigation continues and details of the accident were not available.

Spring is a dangerous time for Massachusetts motorcycle accidents. As new riders take to the roads and veteran riders gear up for the spring and summer riding season, motorists need to remain vigilant for the presence of motorcycles on the road.

March 17, 2010

Two killed in pedestrian accidents on highways

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Two pedestrians were killed in separate accidents on highways in eastern Massachusetts in the past 24 hours, State Police said.

Bruce Flaherty, 46, of Salisbury was fatally injured when he was hit by a car after stepping into the right lane on Route 95 South in Newbury at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, State Police said in a statement.

In the second case, a male was killed when he was hit by a commercial vehicle at Interstate 93 southbound at Woburn Street in Wilmington at about 3:36 a.m. today. State Police said the victim might have jumped from an overpass before being hit. The victim’s name was not released.