Pedestrian Accidents

No two Injury cases are the same. Hear our Massachusetts Injury Lawyers explain.

Published on: April 9, 2021 | by Bellotti Law Group

We all find ourselves in unfavorable circumstances at some point in our lives. It can be due to our own decisions, but it can also be due to the actions of others.

There are no two accident case examples that are alike. Depending on the case, the individuals involved, and the attorneys hired, there will always be various factors. To continue the discussion, the attorneys at Bellotti Law Group, P.C. have compiled some of the most common injuries in Massachusetts that result in personal injury cases.

Common Accidents in Massachusetts

Popular Pokémon Go Game Causing Real Life Injuries

Published on: August 5, 2016 | by Bellotti Law Group

Since its release on July 6^th, Pokémon Go has been a party to many injuries, several car accidents and even muggings. So far, injuries sustained have not been fatal. Many players have reported via social media injuries ranging from severe sunburns to twisted ankles from tripping or falling into ditches.Pokémon Go is a new app inspired by a video game originally released in 1995 which was played on Gameboys. Soon after its creation, the Pokémon franchise expanded to the creation of a cartoon, along with playing cards and toys. The object of Pokémon Go is literally to “catch ‘em all!” Players walk around using the app, which in turn uses the camera app. As you walk around, the app tells you where you might find Pokémon, which are then viewable through the app. You then “throw” a pokéball at them to capture them.

Aside from injuries, there have also been muggings associated with the game. In Missouri, a group of teenagers were arrested for robbing several Pokémon Go players by using the app against them to lure them to areas where they could easily be overtaken and robbed. The teenagers were able to lure players by setting up pokéstops to “attract Pokémon” and in so doing were able to attract unsuspecting Pokémon Go players.

The US isn’t the only country with mounting concerns regarding injuries and crimes caused by players distractedly tripping and running into things. Police in the UK have been warning players to watch their surroundings, as having their faces buried in their phones make them easy targets for criminals, as well as prone to accidents such as walking into oncoming traffic.

Quincy, Massachusetts Trying to Improve Pedestrian Safety

Published on: October 16, 2012 | by Bellotti Law Group

Dating back to last spring, officials in Quincy have been trying to improve pedestrian safety in the city. Their efforts were prompted by a surge of pedestrian accidents in January and February of early this year. In April, the city launched a pedestrian safety initiative, which attempted to educate Quincy residents about safe pedestrian habits, repaint crosswalks, and improve traffic conditions in areas of high risk. Unfortunately, thus far, their efforts have not yet produced the desired results, as the Quincy police reported 65 pedestrian accidents, including three fatalities, from January to September 2012. This number has already eclipsed 2010, which had 49 pedestrian accidents with no fatalities. Last year, Quincy reported a total of 71 pedestrian accidents with two fatalities. Clearly, these numbers are much higher than they should be, with countless numbers of preventable injuries and deaths occurring each year in the city.

The Boston pedestrian accident attorneys at Bellotti Law Group understand the immense importance of pedestrian safety. With an office located in the heart of Quincy and near a very busy intersection on Hancock Street, we know how dangerous our roads can be. If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident, call us today at 617-225-2100 for a free discussion of your case.

Quincy officials are now pointing to pedestrian behavior as the biggest hurdle to overcome in lowering the number of pedestrian accidents. According to Police Lieutenant Kevin Tobin, “We can enforce motor-vehicle infractions and charge people that are found at fault, but we need the public to use crosswalks, use lights, dress appropriately at certain times of day.” This sentiment was backed by Quincy Police Captain John Dougan, who noted “A number of [accidents] are pedestrians’ fault, trying to run through traffic more or less. They don’t pay attention to lights and crosswalks.” In short, both drivers and pedestrians need to remain vigilant in commuting safely.

Boston Public Health Commission Finds High Risk for Pedestrian Accidents, Offers Safety Tips

Published on: January 24, 2012 | by Bellotti Law Group

Recently, the Boston Public Health Commission’s “Walk This Way” study found that there are around 2 million pedestrians walking around Boston daily. Although Boston is often lauded as a pleasant walking city, the high volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic creates an increased risk of pedestrian accidents. In fact, according to the BPHC, every day there are three pedestrian accidents in Boston alone.

The BPHC’s Walk This Way initiative provides pedestrians in and around Boston with some helpful safety tips to minimize the risk of pedestrian accidents, which often result in personal injury and/or death. In the year before Walk This Way was launched, 1,166 pedestrians were taken to the hospital following a car accident in Boston. Since the initiative began, the number of pedestrian accidents has decreased. Nonetheless, drivers and pedestrians in Boston do not always practice safe travel habits that can reduce the number of pedestrian accidents even further.

According to Walk This Way, only 12% of pedestrians in Boston waited for the “Walk” signal before crossing the street and 1/3 of pedestrians frequently jaywalk. Perhaps the most staggering statistic was that while 95% of drivers yield to pedestrians who have the right of way, only 50% of drivers yielded to pedestrians crossing against the light and even fewer slowed down for jaywalkers.