Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to NewsCenter 5, the Masscachusetts Turnpike Authority has given out over 4,000 "non-revenue" transponders, allowing motorists to drive the Turnpike for free, despite the Turnpike Authority's mounting debt.

Roughly three quarters of those transponders go to state troopers, but many of the others are used by turnpike employees, who pay an annual fee of just $26 in exchange for free unlimited driving throughout Massachusetts with tolls.

In addition, there are reportedly over 200 retired turnpike employees who pay even less ($5/year) to drive the turnpike without paying tolls. Some Massachusetts commuters say this arrangement is unfair, and in fact, the free rides may be ending on November 1 when the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is dissolved, becoming part of the newly-created Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Turnpike Giving Out Hundreds Of 'Free Rides', TheBostonChannel.com, July 2, 2009

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Yesterday, Massachusetts legislators vowed to "fast track" legislation regarding older drivers in light of several recent auto accidents involving older motorists. Senator Brian A. Joyce has twice introduced legislation that would put greater scrutiny on older drivers. His proposal mandates vision and road tests every five years for all drivers 85 and older. Joyce said he hopes that the recent car crashes would provide the impetus for the Legislature to act.

Among those present at a State House hearing yesterday were Nihan Patel, the relative of a 4-year-old who died a day after being hit by a car driven by an 86-year-old woman. The Registry of Motor Vehicles suspended the driver's license, and Stoughton police cited her for motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation.

During yesterday's hearing, a 78-year-old Woburn woman was hit "nearly head-on" by an 83-year-old driver. She sustained life-threatening injuries and was in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Another bill calls for changes in the licensing of all drivers, not limiting the restrictions to drivers of a certain age.

Lawmakers vow to ‘fast track’ elderly driver legislation, Boston Globe, July 1, 2009

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A recent Boston subway crash injured 50 people. Fortunately, no one was killed, but the MBTA accident did raise questions about cell phone use among MBTA drivers and train conductors.

However, in Washington, DC last week, a commuter rail accident killed nine people in what officials are calling the worst commuter rail accident in the city's history. That brings the Metro's death toll up to 17 people since the Metro opened, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Investigators say emergency brakes were used on the train that rear-ended another train during rush hour on Monday evening. An estimated 75 people were injured in the train accident, which happened on the Red Line between Takoma and Fort Totten Stations. Nine people were killed, among them the operator of the train that collided with another train that was stopped.

The train crash is under investigation, and authorities say they do not know if human error played a role, although it was recommended to the Metro that they replace older trains.

Toll rises to 9 in D.C. rail crash, Baltimore Sun, June 24, 2009

Officials Seek Clues in Train Crash, New York Times, June 23, 2009

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On Monday, an 83-year-old Brockton resident was injured in a pedestrian accident on North Montello Street in Brockton. Adilino Monteiro reportedly suffered a head injury when he walked into the side of car traveling southbound.

According to police, Monteiro was crossing in a westerly direction when a northbound car stopped to let him cross. Then he walked into the front quarter panel and side mirror of a Chrysler.

He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for medical treatment. As of Wednesday, his condition had been upgraded from critical to fair, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Police said there are no plans to file charges in this pedestrian accident.

Brockton man’s condition improving following Monday pedestrian accident, Enterprise News, June 25, 2009

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In Bourne, Massachusetts, the driver of a truck with a boat attached was injured when his truck crashed into the median strip and woods on Route 28 North. The boat, measuring approximately 25 feet, was being towed by the truck and came off of its trailer as a result of the crash.

The motor vehicle accident occurred at about 4am on Saturday morning. One lane of traffic on Route 28 was closed for about an hour while the boat and truck were removed from the scene of the truck accident. Bourne police and firefighters were on the scene investigating the crash.

The truck driver was transported to Falmouth Hospital. The extent of his injuries are unknown.

Truck with boat attached involved in accident in Bourne, MA, NECN.com, June 20, 2009

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Last Thursday morning at Logan Airport, a construction vehicle almost collided with an airplane when the vehicle strayed into an unauthorized area. The incident occurred at 6:36am and halted all construction at the airport until authorities determine if the near collision occurred because of individual error or a system failure.

According to officials, the driver of a Ford Explorer was on a taxiway and evidently failed to stop at the runway intersection and radio the tower for permission to cross as required by safety procedures. An alarm sounded in the control tower warning about the vehicle on the runway. The truck cleared the runway just as the plane just through the intersection. The unidentified truck driver has been suspended pending an internal investigation. The jet, a US Airways Flight 27, took off safely and arrived in Phoenix as planned.

The last time a high-risk incursion was in 2005 when two jets speeding toward takeoff almost collided at more than 160 miles per hour. Logan Airport has had 16 incursions since January of 2008, but none was as serious as the near accident last week.

Plane, vehicle near a collision, Boston Globe, June 19, 2009

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Over the weekend, a Canton driver hit and killed a 4-year-old girl who was out for a walk with her grandfather. The girl was on a scooter in a Washington Street crosswalk when the car accident occurred. According to those who witnessed the accident, the impact threw the girl 50 to 60 feet. She was taken to Tufts Medical Center, where she later died of her injuries.

Just after the accident, the Registry of Motor Vehicles revoked the 88-year-old driver had her license revoked. The RMV cited her as an "immediate threat." On Sunday, the Massachusetts state police collision analysis and reconstruction team was the scene of the pedestrian accident.

It is unclear what caused the driver to hit the girl, but State Senator Brian Joyce, of Milton, says he hopes to get a hearing this for a bill that require Massachusetts drivers over the age of 85 to take road and vision tests. The bill has been opposed by several organizations for older Americans, who worry that it could result in age discrimination.

Elderly Driver Charged In Deadly Stoughton Crash, WBZTV.com, June 15, 2009

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This morning, a four-vehicle accident on Route 128 in Waltham caused major delays during the morning commute. The crash closed two northbound lanes of Route 128. The southbound lane was backed up due to the "curiosity factor."

According to the Boston Globe, the motor vehicle accident happened just before 7am a few miles north of the Massachusetts Turnpike. A spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police said the crash involved a delivery truck, a tractor trailer, and two other vehicles.

Some of the drivers involved in the crash suffered injuries; however, police not know the extent of their injuries.

Crash on Rte. 128 in Waltham slows commute, Boston Globe, June 17, 2009

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On Friday morning, a dump truck crashed into several parked cars in Cohasset Village. Cohasset police say the truck went onto the sidewalk, hit a large trash container, then crossed into oncoming traffic before hitting an SUV and crashing into three parked cars. The driver, 74, of Cohasset, was taken to South Short Hospital with minor injuries. Miraculously, no one else was injured.

Four vehicles were towed from the scene of the truck crash and parts of Cohasset Village streets were closed for approximately two hours. The accident caused a lot of property damage, so Cohasset police enlisted the help of the Weymouth Police Department's accident reconstruction specialist to assist with the investigation.

The dump truck accident remains under investigation, and no citations have been issued thus far.

Dump truck crashes through Cohasset Village, Patriot Ledger, June 13, 2009

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Like many other states, Massachusetts does not mandate testing for older drivers aside from eye tests, which are required every ten years for all drivers. However, two recent Massachusetts car crashes involving elderly drivers have highlighted the issue of retesting older drivers and lawmakers are now under increased pressure to pass legislation that would monitor elderly drivers more carefully.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers over age 65 will make up a quarter of all drivers by 2025. Other researchers say that drivers pose a greater risk of causing a car accident around age 70 and that risk increases dramatically after age 80. Older drivers are also more likely to be involved in fatal accidents. However, some advocates for the elderly oppose testing targeted at senior citizens because they fear the measure may be discriminatory.

Last week, Governor Deval Patrick supported legislation that would require drivers age 85 and older to pass a road test and eye test every five years in order to renew their driver's licenses.

Pressure mounts to test elder drivers, Boston Globe, June 8, 2009

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On Monday afternoon, a Massachusetts woman was taken by ambulance to a local hospital following a one-vehicle accident on Route 3 in Augusta, Maine. The woman was driving east in her Infiniti when she says that two lanes merged and a truck cut her vehicle off. The Infiniti went into a ditch, hit some tress, and rolled over.

Police said the accident occurred roughly 10 feet from the Augusta-Vassalboro town line. The car crash was reported at 3:56pm, and emergency responders had the scene of the auto accident cleared by 5:55pm that day.

Responders included the Kennebec Sheriff's Office, Vassalboro Fire Department, and Augusta Fire Department. They did have to remove some trees to remove the car from the woods. The woman's injuries were not life-threatening, but her car was declared totaled.

Augusta Crash Injures One, Destroys Vehicle, WMTW.com, June 8, 2009

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On Friday, the mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts allegedly ran a stop sign and crashed his 2003 Lexus into another car while touring the city with the state's top transportation official.

Mayor Robert Correai was driving Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation James A. Aloisi Jr., as well as Senator Joan Menard and Rep. Michael Rodrigues, when the auto accident occurred. They were on their way to meet a news reporter.

The driver of the other car, a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder, told police that the mayor ran a stop sign and that she was not able to stop in time. No one was injured in the motor vehicle accident, but police cited Correia for failing to stop in accordance with Massachusetts law. He received a $100 traffic ticket.

Police: Mayor Runs Stop Sign, Causes Crash, TheBostonChannel.com, June 7, 2009

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