Articles Posted in Car Accidents

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Interstate_495_Massachusetts_shieldTragedy struck earlier this week, when a Massachusetts’ woman drove the wrong way on Interstate 495 in Middleborough, killing four college students. The four students who were killed were later identified by Massachusetts’ state police as Kraig A. Diggs, 20, Jordan J. Galvin-Jutras, 19, Jordan J. Fisher, 19, and Cory P. Licata, 18. The female driver, Valantein V. Burson, 31, was also killed in the accident.

On Monday, October 24, 2016, at approximately 12: 11 A.M., Burson, a Stoughton native who counseled troubled teens, was driving her 2011 Infiniti G7, south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 495. She then slammed into a 2003 Mercury sable sedan carrying the four students who were on their way back their Worcester-area colleges. As a result of the impact between the two vehicles, the teen’s vehicle burst into flames.  All four students were pronounced dead at the scene. Continue reading

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Car_AccidentOn September 19, 2016, Middlesex prosecutors charged Bradford Casler, 55 , with two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of operating a motor vehicle so as to endanger following the fatal Sweet Tomatoes Crash in Newton, Massachusetts.  Mr. Casler plead not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.

Mr. Casler was the driver of a vehicle that crashed into the popular pizza restaurant Sweet Tomatoes.  With virtually no warning, patrons of the restaurant were unable to jump out of the way in time. As a result, two people, Eleanor Miele, 57, of Watertown, and 32 year-old Gregory D. Morin on Newton were killed. In addition, seven other patrons were also injured.

The Middlesex County prosecutor, Chris Tarrant, stated that witnesses reported that Mr. Casler was speeding on Chestnut Street and failed to brake as he crossed the intersection of Washington.  Mr. Casler was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and had the disease for 27 years, but the State has stated that the do not believe his medical condition affected his ability to drive safely.

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On Sepimagestember 7, 2016, in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, a mother and her infant child miraculously escaped injuries after the brakes in her pick-up truck failed, causing her to slam into three cars stopped at a red light. The mother and infant did not have any visible injuries, although these kinds of accidents could still cause concussive injuries that are difficult to ascertain until much later. In this case, both the individual driving the pick-up truck and the motorists who were hit due to the brake failure can bring a products liability claim against the manufacturer of the motor vehicle for the defective braking system.

 

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Massachusetts’ state and local law enforcement have launched a statewide effort to stop and cite drivers who are texting while driving in an effort to combat accidents, injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving.  Last year 6,131 citations were given to distracted drivers. This was a huge bump from the 1153 given to drivers in 2011, which marked the first full year after Massachusetts passed its ban on texting while driving. Continue reading

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iphoneA 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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Nearly all drivers can remember the excitement and responsibility that comes with obtaining a driver’s license. While gaining the right to drive in Massachusetts is undoubtedly a celebrated right of passage for many Massachusetts teens, statistics show that adolescent drivers are at a much higher risk for car accidents and personal injuries behind the wheel. The Massachusetts “Graduated Licensing Law/Junior Operator’s License” aims to reduce to number of teenage driving injuries and deaths in the state, by requiring drivers under age 18 to follow a three-step process before obtaining a full driver’s license.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of teens in the United States. Further, new drivers are four times more likely to be killed and 14 times more likely to be injured than any other group. Boston attorney Peter Bellotti notes that “while speed and inexperience are the two most common causes for teen car accidents and fatalities, other contributing factors like peer pressure and texting while driving add to the increased risk.” Still, because inexperience behind the wheel remains the most publicized risk factor, Massachusetts employs a graduated licensing program to ease teens into full driver’s licensure.

The first step for Massachusetts adolescents over age 16 is to apply for a learner’s permit. This requires a visit to a Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles office, where the teen must sit for a learner’s permit test. The test consists of 25 multiple choice questions regarding traffic laws in the state and the examinee must answer at least 18 questions correctly to obtain a learner’s permit. This permit allows drivers a 6-month minimum period, with some restrictions, to begin practicing their driving skills. These restrictions include not driving alone (permit holders must have another licensed driver over age 21 in the vehicle) and not driving between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

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