Articles Posted in Car Accidents

The risk of being involved in a serious Massachusetts car accident either as a motorist or as a pedestrian is always present. However, that risk is at its highest in the winter months. Between the months of December and February in Massachusetts, it snows almost a foot per month. While this may only be the result of a few storms over the course of the month, the result is that roads and sidewalks are often snow-packed or covered in ice.

The conditions can get so bad that recently a local news article reported that on a single day there were 130 accidents – most weather related – in Massachusetts and the along the border of New Hampshire. One of the biggest dangers of a Massachusetts weather-related accident is the likelihood that a single car accident will turn into a chain-reaction accident due to motorists’ inability to come to a stop.

Another news source described a recent accident that resulted in an oil truck tipping over onto its side. Evidently, following the accident several other cars became involved in subsequent accidents because they were unable to stop in time to avoid a collision.

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A Georgia man and his wife recently filed a personal injury lawsuit against a teen driver, alleging that the 18-year-old high school student was driving while distracted and speeding because of a popular Snapchat speed filter. Their lawyers state that Snapchat was the critical factor in the accident as the teen was using a filter which clocks how fast the user is going. The Complaint, filed on April 19, also names the company Snapchat as a Defendant.

Distracted driving has become a huge issue in recent years. In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. In 2010 the research indicated that during daylight hours approximately 660,000 drivers were using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number which has not changed in the past six years.

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Commercial buses and trucks, especially during the holiday season, are heavily relied upon by millions of travelers, as passengers and others on our nation’s roadways, to operate in the safest manner possible. Unfortunately, they are often the cause of accidents on our roads, injuring and killing passengers, drivers, or others. Policies implemented and data collected by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”), particularly the Compliance Safety Accountability program, help to recognize and quell any safety concerns and keep bus and trucking companies operating as safely as possible. Recently, the FMCSA has shifted their attention to commercial buses and truck safety. In doing so, by December, changes in their policy will be completed and implemented.

The changes will bring an increased attention to commercial bus and truck safety. Hopefully, this will result in less accidents and less injuries and fatalities for passengers, drivers, and everybody on the roads in Massachusetts and nationwide. According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, data collected by the FMCSA and he policies they subsequently implement are essential in keeping our roads safe.

The Boston car accident lawyers at Bellotti Law Group know that commercial busses and trucks are often the cause of car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. Commercial buses and trucks should be safely maintained and operated. When a driver, inspector, manufacturer, or designer fails to meet reasonable safety standards, they should be held liable for their negligence and the damages they cause. Call the Boston car accident attorneys at Bellotti Law Group today if another driver’s negligence has caused you or a loved one injuries or a wrongful death at 617-225-2100. We won’t settle until you receive full and fair compensation from all liable parties.

Earlier this week, the highly publicized texting-while-driving criminal trial in Haverhill District Court got underway. This is the first criminal case in Massachusetts to feature a charge of texting while operating a motor vehicle negligently and causing injury. The case stems from a February 2011 car accident in Haverhill in which one of the operators, Donald Bowley, was killed and his passenger girlfriend, Luz Roman, was seriously injured. The accident occurred after the defendant, teen driver Aaron Deveau, allegedly crossed the center line of traffic, after being distracted by text messaging.

If you or a loved one has been injured or wrongfully killed due to the negligence of another driver, the Boston personal injury lawyers at Bellotti Law Group can help you recover your losses. Call our Boston, Cambridge, or Quincy office today for a FREE evaluation of your claim at 617-225-2100. You can also use our safe and secure contact form and we will respond promptly.

The trial in Haverhill has featured emotional testimony from the deceased victim’s sister and the surviving victim, Luz Roman, girlfriend of the deceased Donald Bowley. Bowley’s family, including his three children, were also in attendance. Prosecutors are alleging that the teen exchanged a staggering193 texts on the day of the fatal car crash, including during the moments just before the accident. The defendant, who is now 18 years old (17 at the time of the accident), of Haverhill, is the first person in the state to be charged with texting while operating a motor vehicle negligently causing injury. If he is ultimately convicted, Deveau faces up to two years in jail. He is also charged with motor vehicle homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of 2 1/2 years.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has recently announced plans to spend at least $100,000 fixing and bolstering Route 79 in Fall River, Massachusetts after a fire following a truck accident late last month. The fire that damaged the road occurred after a long-haul truck struck the barrier and caught fire on Route 79 South, above the intersection of Davol and Central Street. The flames from the truck accident extended up and scorched Route 79 North, directly above. As a result, numerous girders were twisted, support beams were buckled, and other essential road parts were compromised. In all, state officials deemed the repairs necessary to avoid future car accidents and truck accidents as a result of the damaged road. The repairs, however, will only be temporary, as the state plans to completely revamp Route 79 over the next few years. For now, though, the measures are necessary to avoid car accidents and potentially serious injuries in the short-term.

Miraculously, the driver of the truck, a 42-year-old Taunton, Massachusetts man sustained only minor personal injuries as a result of the truck accident. Route 79, however, was badly damaged. According to Michael Verseckes, DOT spokesman, the repair plans included stacking wooden cribbing under Route 79 North to bolster the road and reduce the risk of future car and truck accidents. Highway Administrator for the DOT, Frank DePaola, noted that the state would like to minimize the amount of money put into the repairs, as a large-scale project involving the stretch of road is on the horizon. According to DePaola, demolition on the tangle of ramps and overpasses surrounding Interstate 195 could begin within a year. Nonetheless, these repairs will cost in excess of $100,000.

If you have been in a car or truck accident, contact the experienced Massachusetts traffic accident attorneys at Bellotti Law Group today at 617-225-2100. We have offices in Boston, Cambridge, and Quincy and serve all of Massachusetts and New England. We have successfully handled thousands of car accidents and will work with you to get your bills paid and your life back on track. You can also use our contact form. We will respond promptly.

Last week, an elderly Westford, Massachusetts driver struck a Concord, Massachusetts mother, her 5-year-old son, and 20-month old infant, while they were walking on Commonwealth Ave. in Concord. Fortunately, the mother and young child escaped serious injuries following the accident, after being treated at Emerson Hospital. Sadly, the toddler was taken by MedFlight to Children’s Hospital Boston after sustaining life-threatening injuries. A Concord resident reported the accident to police. Sergeant Jack Kennedy told the Boston Globe that pedestrian accidents in Concord are somewhat unpredictable, stating that “We do have them on occasion…We’ve gone years without them, and then had years where we’ve had more than one. It’s hard to say.” Nevertheless, the Boston, Cambridge, and Quincy car accident lawyers at Bellotti Law Group know it is important for motorists and pedestrians alike to remain vigilant in practicing safe travel, to avoid car accidents and personal injuries.

The car accident that lead to these pedestrian injuries occurred when the elderly driver attempted to turn off of Commonwealth Ave. and onto Winthrop St. in Concord. The driver was also injured as a result of the car accident, after crashing into a garage. Concord Police are currently investigating the accident.

The intersection where the pedestrian accident occurred was near the heavily traveled Route 2 rotary, the site of many car accidents in recent history. Unfortunately, there is no crosswalk in the area. According to Boston car accident attorney Peter Bellotti, “it is always prudent for pedestrians to cross the street in a crosswalk, where motorists are more aware of their presence. When there is not a crosswalk available, there is obviously a greater risk for pedestrian accidents. Nonetheless, drivers should always practice defensive driving and be on the lookout for walkers, runners, and bicyclists throughout populated areas in Massachusetts.”