Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Over the weekend, two Massachusetts State Police troopers were injured in separate traffic accidents in Sharon and Braintree.

The first auto accident occurred at 3:55am on Saturday morning. Trooper Eric Papkee was sitting in his vehicle in the breakdown lane processing traffic violation when his cruiser was hit by another car. The driver was cited for failure to take care in stopping. Papkee was treated for minor injuries to his neck and back at Quincy Hospital and released.

The second auto crash occurred on Sunday evening at 9:49pm. Trooper John McCarthy had stopped a car in the breakdown lane of Route 1 northbound when he was hit from behind by the side mirror of a passing pickup.

The pickup was allegedly driven by a drunk driver, who was charged with operating under the influence of liquor, leaving of the scene of an accident involving personal injury, unlicensed operation, marked lanes violation, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and obstructing an emergency vehicle. McCarthy sustained back and shoulder injuries. He was treated at Norwood Hospital and later released.

2 troopers injured in separate traffic stops, Boston Globe, July 28, 2009

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The hazards of text messaging while driving well known, but a recent study found that the risk is disproportionately higher for truckers than those behind the wheel of a car. The study, which was conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, found that truckers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in a traffic crash or get into a near-wreck than an undistracted driver.

The study also found that the greatest risk to car drivers is when they dial a cell phone. A truck driver is 5.9 times more likely than an undistracted driver to get into a motor vehicle accident while dialing a cell phone. Car drivers are 2.8 times more likely. A trucker who reaches for an electronic device increases their accident risk 6.7 times, while a car driver increases risk by 1.4. According to the study, drivers spend five seconds out of a six second window looking away from the road when they are engaged with an electronic device.

The study was based on research from 2004 to 2007, and researchers looked at video footage from cameras inside of vehicles to look at how drivers engage with the road while using their cell phones. Based on these findings, the researchers recommend that drivers forego cell phones while driving, even if they are using a hands-free phone.

Study: Texting while driving more dangerous for truckers, CNN.com, July 28, 2009

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Last Thursday, a man from Marlborough, Massachusetts was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on Depot Road in Nashua. The accident occurred around 9:35am. According to police, the 61-year-old man was riding southbound on Depot Road when a car pulled out of a driveway. The motorcyclist swerved off the road, hitting a sign and wooden fence.

The motorcycle accident victim sustained serious leg injuries, and his motorcycle was damaged extensively. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but he was unable to remember the make, model, or color of the car that hit him. Police are seeking further information from the public and are requesting any witnesses to call 465-7637.

In addition to motorcycle accidents, our Boston personal injury attorneys also handle accidents involving machinery, defective products, motor vehicle collisions, and medical malpractice.

Motorcyclist hurt in crash, Nashua Telegraph, July 24, 2009

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The Associated Press reports that two injured women have sued the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) over the May 8 MBTA accident that injured 62 people when two trains collided. A personal injury lawyer for Rebecca Bishop says the woman fractured her pelvis as a result of the subway accident.

In a separate suit, Jennifer Levi of Brookline is suing because she suffered a wrist injury and is concerned about the health of her unborn child. Both suits were filed in Suffolk Superior Court last month. They don't name a dollar amount, but the injured women seek "ample compensation."

According to a spokesperson for the MBTA, the transit authority does not comment on pending litigation.

2 injured women sue over Boston trolley crash, Associated Press, July 21, 2009

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Last week, a pedestrian sustained severe head injuries after he was struck by a car in Brighton as he was strapping his one-year-old child into a car seat. Fredy E. Zepeda was 36. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital and treated for what police described as massive head trauma. He died last Thursday. His child was not injured.

According to a Boston police spokesman, police took the 47-year-old driver into custody. The Watertown woman was arraigned last week, and her original charges of leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury and negligent operation of a motor vehicle were upgraded to a charge of motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of personal injury resulting in death. She pleaded not guilty.

According to driving records released by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the driver had been found responsible for five previous car crashes since 2005.

Driver faces upgraded charges in Brighton crash, Boston Globe, July 20, 2009

Man struck while putting child in car, Boston Globe, July 15, 2009

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The Boston subway operator who was allegedly texting his girlfriend when he missed a red light and hit another subway car appeared in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston earlier today. He pleaded not guilty to one charge of gross negligence while in control of a train.

Twenty-four-year old Aiden Quinn was free set free without bail, but he is due back in court next Monday.

Quinn was fired from his with the MBTA the week after the subway accident and faces up to three years in prison for the May 8 accident, which injured dozens of people and caused $9 million in property damage. He also suffered a broken wrist in the MBTA accident.

T driver pleads not guilty, Boston Herald, July 20, 2009

Texting Boston Trolley Driver to Appear in Court, Associated Press, July 20, 2009

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The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating a fatal train accident that occurred last year, killing a Boston trolley operator. The safety board's 14-month investigation blamed the operator for ignoring a red signal along the tracks but also criticized the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for failing to screen operators for sleep disorders.

The board suspects that the operator may have had a sleep disorder and potentially fell asleep behind the wheel, causing her to miss the red signal. Although she had not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the board concluded that the operator likely had an undiagnosed sleep disorder because she was obese and tests showed that she had taken doxylamine, an ingredient commonly found in sleep aids.

There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of the MBTA accident, which makes it surprising that the operator did not apply the brakes to avoid an accident. The trolley collision occurred in Newton, Massachusetts and caused an estimated $8.6 million in damage.

NTSB: Sleep disorder may have contributed to Boston train crash, CNN.com, July 14, 2009

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On Friday night, a Massachusetts state trooper was injured in a car accident in Dorchester. According to police, the cruiser was traveling north on Morrissey Boulevard when another vehicle made a U-turn and caused the crash.

Authorities do not consider the injuries to be life-threatening. The trooper's vehicle was also carrying a dog at the time of the auto accident, but the dog is said to be fine.

Although some car crashes result in minor injuries, others can lead to serious, life-altering conditions such as burns, brain injuries, or even death. Massachusetts is a no-fault state, so motorists are covered by their own Personal Injury Protection Insurance (PIP), but some car accident victims find that that their medical costs exceed their PIP's policy limit.

State trooper injured in Dorchester crash, WHDH.com, July 11, 2009

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While Massachusetts legislators and driver safety advocates weigh the pros and cons of new laws aimed at older drivers, statistics show that teen drivers are also at high risk for car accidents.

Here in Massachusetts, more 18-year-olds were involved in fatal auto accidents in the past two years than any other single age. In 2008, Massachusetts teen drivers were involved in 22,313 motor vehicle accidents according to data from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. And, according to national statistics, car crashes are the leading cause of death among 15-to-20-year-olds.

The current debate has dredged up bitterness between drivers at both ends of the age spectrum. Last year, drivers age 80 and older accounted for 2% of car crashes. Several recent, highly publicized accidents involving older drivers have caused legislators to reconsider the need for legislation aimed at this demographic.

Lawmakers already enacted legislation in 2007 that inflicted tougher penalties on younger drivers (specifically 16 and 17 year olds), and they say the changes have led to a drop in speeding and reckless driving citations.

Teens drivers at highest risk of fatal crashes, EnterpriseNews.com, July 10, 2009

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According to a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only about two thirds of Massachusetts drivers are likely to wear a seat belt. Massachusetts has the lowest percentage of seat belt use in the country despite the fact that research has proven the effectiveness of seat belts in saving lives during a car accident.

In fact, three separate Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents during this past 4th of July weekend resulted in a total of seven deaths where seat belts went unused.

Drivers and passengers give a variety of excuses, among them "I only wear one on the highway," "it's comfortable," and "I don't want to mess up my shirt." Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced mandatory seat belt legislation in an effort to combat these attitudes.

Bay State’s scorn for seat belts unrivaled, Boston Globe, July 8, 2009

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On Monday morning around 9:17am, a four-vehicle accident in Newburyport, Massachusetts forced the closure of Interstate 95 in both directions for several hours due to a gas spill. The http://www.altmanllp.com/lawyer-attorney-1226003.htmltraffic accident involved a Honda Odyssey, a Toyota Corolla, a Ford Expedition, and a Freightliner gasoline tanker, which was carrying over 10,000 gallons of gasoline.

The crash caused the tanker truck to spill much of that fuel along the road and splayed the tanker across three lanes of traffic. It was not immediately clear how much gas had spilled.

Two people were seriously hurt in the accident, and at least another eight people suffered more minor injuries, according to a State Police spokesperson. The auto accident victims were take to Portsmouth Hospital in New Hampshire and Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport.

The left two lanes of northbound traffic reopened just before 5pm, while the breakdown lane and right travel lane on the northbound side remained closed as clean-up crews worked on the area.

Epic traffic jam in Newburyport after I-95 tanker crash, Boston Globe, Juy 6, 2009

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The Boston Globe recently reported that the number of traffic deaths in Massachusetts dropped between 2007 and 2008, according to federal highway safety officials. Last year, the number of traffic deaths nationwide dropped to 37,261, the lowest level since 1961. In Massachusetts, the numbers dropped from 434 to 363, representing a 16% drop.

The counties with the highest number of traffic deaths were Middlesex and Worcester, which each had 56 deaths or 15% of the total. The number of alcohol-related crash fatalities decreased by 20%, which officials attribute to law enforcement, sobriety checkpoints, and improved driver education.

According to federal officials, early data based on the first quarter of 2009 indicates that the nationwide declining trend may continue.

State traffic deaths fall 16%, following US trend, Boston Globe, July 4, 2009

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A study released last week by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) found that over half of United States highway fatalities are related to poor roadway conditions. According to the report, ten roadway-related crashes occur every minute and contribute to 38% of non-fatal injuries.

More than 22,000 fatalities were attributed to deficiencies in the roadway environment, costing the country more than $217 billion each year. That figure breaks down to $20 billion in medical costs, $46 billion in productivity costs, $52 billion in property damage and other resource costs, and $99 billion in quality of life costs. Massachusetts was among the ten states with the highest road-related crash costs per mile of road.

The study, which is entitled "On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways," identifies several ways in which transportation officials could improve road conditions to save lives and reduce injuries sustained during traffic accidents. These include adding rumble strips to shoulders, using brighter and more durable pavement markets, replacing or widening narrow bridges, and reducing pavement edges and abrupt drop-offs, among other improvements.

More than Half of Highway Fatalities Are Related to Deficient Roadway Conditions, PRNewswire.com, July 1, 2009

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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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