Boston Injury Attorney Blog

In Massachusetts on Monday, August 9, 2010, a pedestrian was hit and killed by a van in Norwood. The 51-year-old man was hit on Dean Street near the intersection of Washington Street at around 2:30 p.m.

Witnesses said he was hit by a van owned by the MBTA known as "The Ride", which take individuals to different MBTA stops. However, this particular van was operated by a private contractor. The 51-year-old victim was rushed to nearby Norwood Hospital, where he died.

Apparently, the van was just making the turn when the pedestrian stepped off the curb and collided with the van. The van was towed away, and the street has been reopened.

It is not yet known if any charges will be pressed against the driver of that van. Police are investigating the incident. The area is busy and congested, with two-way traffic, narrow streets, and a lot of pedestrians that need to cross.

It will be interesting to learn the outcome of the investigation which will likely rest on the attentiveness of the operator of the van.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Information Statistics, Massachusetts ranked 25th in overall pedestrian deaths according to FARS. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)

Continue reading "Massachusetts Pedestrian killed by MBTA van" »

Lawmakers in Boston, Massachusetts, are taking steps to assist personal injury victims and their families by closing a loophole that allows some reckless drivers to walk away from deadly crashes without facing charges. On August 7, 2010, the House joined the Senate in passing the Act in honor of the 19-year-old who was killed in Worcester by a reckless driver. The bill is known as the Robert Martinelli Act. The bill would give police the power to arrest without a warrant -- reckless drivers who kill or seriously injure someone when drugs and alcohol are not involved.

On September 8, 2002, a speeding truck driving on the wrong side of Airport Road in Worcester, Mass. crashed head-on into 19-year-old Robert Martinelli's car, killing him instantly. The truck driver, Eric Holm, 22, of Rutland, MA, had six prior speeding tickets before the fatal crash.

Months went by before Holm was summonsed to court by mail where he was charged with one count of motor vehicle homicide, operating to endanger, failure to stay within marked lanes, passing in a prohibited area and speeding. Holm eventually pleaded guilty to motor vehicle homicide and was sentenced to six months in jail. "

The Robert Martinelli Act, allows police to arrest without a warrant anyone who they have probable cause to think has recklessly driven a vehicle to endanger lives.

Continue reading "Massachusetts Reckless Drivers" »