Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to police, two people died in a late-night motorcycle crash on Tuesday. A 35-year-old Wilmington man was riding west on Route 110 when his motorcycle crossed into the opposite lane. It reportedly hit two other motorcycles and a car.

The first motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the roadway accident; the other one was died at the hospital. A third cyclist suffered minor injuries.

According to witnesses, the first motorcyclist was speeding and driving erratically before the traffic crash.

Source: Two people killed in Methuen motorcycle crash, NECN.com, July 28, 2010

Two motorcyclists killed in Methuen crash, Boston Globe, July 28, 2010

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Currently, several states require should safety states require school buses to have shoulder safety belts, but Massachusetts is not among them. According to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, there were 1,730 school bus accidents reported in the Commonwealth in 2008, and almost a thousand more reported in 2009. The state has roughly 9,000 school buses registered.

Though Massachusetts recently passed a bill banning texting while driving and requiring older drivers to pass more frequent testing, legislators have overlooked this safety loophole. A school safety belt law was presented and killed in the United States’ Transportation Committee back in 2008. This year, the Public Safety Committee has recommended that Congress pass the bill. It’s currently in the House Committee awaiting a recommendation before going to a full House vote.

Unfortunately, many lawmakers are not familiar with the bill and there seems to be limited momentum for getting the bill passed.

Source: Seat belt bill for school buses gets low priority, Telegram.com, July 28, 2010

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On Monday afternoon, a 60-year-old Action, Massachusetts man died in a car versus motorcycle accident. The crash occurred in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, where the man was traveling east on state road 414 in Leroy Township. The motorcyclist made a U-turn and was hit by a minivan traveling west.

The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered minor injuries. The impact of the traffic accident caused his airbag to deploy. The motorcyclist was thrown from his bike and pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Authorities are still investigating the fatal motorcycle crash.

Source: FATAL CAR V. MOTORCYCLE CRASH, WBNG.com, July 27, 2010

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Last week, Massachusetts police announced plans to crack down on impaired drivers in an effort to reduce the number of car accidents involving state troopers. So far this year, 87 officers have been killed in the line across the country. More than half of those were in Massachusetts. Four recent traffic accidents have involved troopers who were making a traffic stop or working a construction detail. Ten police cruisers have been hit by drunk drivers this year.

In response to the recent rise in roadway accidents involving troopers, the department will be examining procedures and comparing those to departments in other states. There is no national standard for police lights and markers, but there have been studies to measure the effectiveness of different lighting systems.

The state is also launching a driving safety awareness campaign and stepping up efforts against drunk driving. Four extra patrols have been added on Fridays and Saturdays in each of Massachusetts’ five geographical areas. The effort, called Operation Lighting, has led to the arrest of two dozen alleged drunk drivers and will continue through the summer.

Source: Impaired drivers are put on notice, Boston Globe, July 23, 2010

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On Monday afternoon, a motorcycle accident in Becket, Massachusetts claimed the life of a 59-year-old woman from Switzerland. She was riding a three-wheel motorcycle west on the Massachusetts turnpike when her moved into the breakdown lane and hit the guardrail, skidding almost 200 feet.

The woman was thrown off the bike and pronounced dead at the scene of the motorcycle crash, according to state police. She was traveling with two other motorcycles when the accident occurred around 3:30pm.

Authorities are still investigating the fatal traffic accident.

Source: Woman killed in W. Mass. motorcycle crash, Boston Globe, July 20, 2010

Swiss woman dies in Mass. Pike trike crash, Boston Herald, July 20, 2010

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On Tuesday, a runaway dump truck took out several cars and utility poles before it finally came to rest. The truck accident occurred near a busy intersection in Woburn, Massachusetts. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and NSTAR was able to restore the lost power.

The truck’s driver, a Rockland, Massachusetts man told police he had set the parking brake before exiting the vehicle, but he has cited for improper use of equipment. Police say he failed to use the brake. The driver was also cited for six other federal motor carrier safety violations.

The vehicle inspection and insurance were up to date, so police say the truck crash was the result of human error.

Source: Police say dump truck driver failed to use parking brake in Woburn crash, NECN.com, July 21, 2010

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Last week, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, 59, of Duxbury, was involved in a motorcycle accident in Middleboro, Massachusetts. The 62-year-old woman who rear-ended the musician says she did not recognize Perry until investigators clued her in. The motorcycle crash occurred around 2pm on Thursday, July 15 at Route 44 and 105.

Perry suffered minor scrapes and was treated and released from Morton Hospital in Taunton. Family sources also say he has a sore back, but is otherwise feeling ‘fine.’ The woman involved in the accident was not injured and was cited for following too close.

Perry’s motorcycle injury will not impact Aerosmith’s upcoming US tour, and the guitarist plans to join the band as originally planned. The tour kicks off in Oakland, California later this week.

Source: Joe Perry ‘fine’ after collision, Boston Herald, July 16, 2010

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On Monday afternoon, a 27-year-old Billerica man died after being hit by a commuter rail train in Wilmington. Authorities suspended commuter rail service between Anderson RTC and North Billerica stations following the train crash. Shuttle buses transported passengers between stations during the mid-afternoon.

The tracks under the Route 129 bridge separate a residential area from shops and restaurants. Residents say many pedestrians use that area as a shortcut and that it could be a safety concern.

The fatal train accident remains under investigation. MBTA officials did not release the name of the victim pending notification of his family.

Source: Billerica man killed by MBTA train in Wilmington, Lowell Sun, July 13, 2010

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Here in Boston, we've had our share of subway and bus accidents. Apparently, we aren't the only city with this problem. On Friday afternoon, bus riders in Washington, DC boarded the B2 bus as usual, not knowing that the driver was an imposter. The 19-year-old man donned a standard-issue Metro bus driver’s uniform and drove a bus out of the Bladensburg garage before picking up passengers and crashing the vehicle into a tree and multiple cars.

The bus accident has resulted in an in-depth review of the Metro’s security procedures to determine how an unauthorized person could have driven a bus out of the garage.

Initially, the bus driver fled, but he was later arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and fleeing an accident. He reportedly told investigators that he simply had a fascination with buses.

Source: Metro passengers taken for a ride by impostor bus driver, Washington Post, July 11, 2010

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On Friday evening, a Massachusetts pre-school teacher died after being flung from her boyfriend’s 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle. State police arrived at the scene of the Somerville motorcycle crash around 9:10pm. Both the Braintree woman and her boyfriend were rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital. The 29-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Her boyfriend sustained brain damage, kidney and bladder failure, a fractured hip, and a torn stomach. As of yesterday, he remained in the hospital in “fair” condition. The 37-year-old Somerville man reportedly told his mother he’d had trouble maneuvering around cars and hit a curb.

The cause of this fatal motorcycle accident is being investigated, according to police.

Source: Pre-school teacher killed in motorcycle crash, PatriotLedger.com, July 11, 2010

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Our Massachusetts car crash lawyers have learned that Governor Deval Patrick signed the state’s text messaging ban into law last week. The law takes effect in October and bans text messaging while driving for all Massachusetts motorists and all cell phone use for drivers under 18. In addition, drivers 75 and older will be required to take vision tests and renew their driver’s licenses in person.

Texting will be a primary offense, so police will be allowed to pull over and ticket drivers solely because of text messaging. Violators will be issued a $100 fine, and those under 18 will have their license suspended for 60 days. However, violations will not impact insurance premiums.

Police say the ban could be challenging to enforce, but they plan to speak at high school assemblies this fall to raise awareness about the ban. Massachusetts is the 29th state to enact a text messaging ban. This legislation comes after several fatal car crashes involving texting.

Source: New state law spells it out: No texting while driving, Boston Globe, July 3, 2010

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On Tuesday afternoon, a Melrose bicyclist was killed in a truck accident on Martha’s Vineyard near downtown Vineyard Haven. According to Massachusetts state police, the 40-year-old woman lost control of her bike, falling into the path of an 18-wheeler.

She was riding her bike westbound on the sidewalk along State Road with a group of cyclists. At the same time, a tractor trailer was also traveling west on the same road. She reportedly last control as the truck passed her.

The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the traffic accident at roughly 2pm. The road was closed for about three hours during the preliminary investigation. Authorities are still investigating why she lost control of her bike, and no charges have been filed.

Sources: Melrose Bicyclist Dies In Vineyard Truck Accident, Melrose.Patch.com, July 7, 2010

Bicyclist killed on State Road in Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard Times, July 7, 2010

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On Sunday morning, a hit-and-run accident injured a 32-year-old Massachusetts state trooper while he was protecting a fellow officer no Route 128 south. The car accident occurred in Peabody around 2am. The trooper was taken to Union Hospita in Lyn, where he was treated for a leg injury.

The driver fled the scene of the motor vehicle accident and faces charges including leaving the scene of an accident causing bodily injury, negligent driving, and failing to obey the move-over law.

A separate incident killed a 52-year-old sergeant on a construction detail on Interstate 95 in Attleboro. Since troopers are frequently killed or injured on Massachusetts roads and highways, authorities urge drivers to follow the move-over law and to report any damaged gray or silver sedans that may have been involved with Sunday’s hit-and-run.

Source: Trooper struck on highway, Boston Herald, July 5, 2010

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A 29-year-old Framingham driver of a MAZDA3 was arraigned last week. He faces five counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (his car). According to police, the driver swerved in the direction of a grandfather and his grandson after the grandfather told the driver to turn down his music.

The pedestrians weren’t hit, but the grandfather alerted a nearby Massachusetts trooper, who asked the driver to stop. The suspect fled, setting off a high-speed chase down the Massachusetts Turnpike. A state police spokesperson said speeds exceeded 80 mph in some areas.

The driver barreled through several cruisers, hitting at least three. He also injured one trooper, who was later released from a local hospital after being treated for minor injuries. Police are reviewing the pursuit and arrest to check that all rules were followed.

Source: Trooper hurt, driver arrested after Pike pursuit, WHDH.com, June 28, 2010

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In Northampton, several recent car accidents have involved bears crossing the street. On April 30, a bear cub was badly injured by a vehicle on Florence Road, and environmental police had to put the cub down.

Two other auto accidents occurred this week. One accident occurred on Monday afternoon, when a green mini-van hit a small bear. The second motor vehicle accident occurred Tuesday evening when a cub crossed the path of a vehicle traveling west. In both cases, the drivers were not injured, though the second driver’s vehicle suffered over $1,000 in front-end damage.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research unit at the University of Massachusetts said there are roughly 3,000 bears statewide, and cubs are especially at risk for injury because of their inexperience. He adds that the best way to avoid a car crash involving a bear is to drive more slowly, especially on winding road.

Source: Collisions grow as bears adapt, MassLive.com, July 1, 2010

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