Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A Massachusetts traffic accident occurring the day before Christmas claimed the life of a 85-year-old Adams resident. The incident marked Berkshire County’s third fatality resulting from a pedestrian-motor vehicle accident in two months. The victim was reportedly hit by a southbound vehicle while crossing Park Street. Police say he was not in a marked crosswalk.

Emergency responders took the injured pedestrian to Berkshire Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The 18-year-old woman who driving the car was not injured and has not been charged in connection with the fatal accident; however, the fatal auto accident is still being investigated.

According to federal data, somewhere in the country a pedestrian is injured in a traffic crash every seven minutes. Every 107 minutes, a pedestrian dies as the result of such crashes. The majority of these fatalities occur between 6 and 9pm and on weekends.

Source: Elderly man struck, killed, Berkshire Eagle, December 26, 2010

In harm's way: Many drivers ignore pedestrians in crosswalks, Patriot Ledger, June 22, 2010

Continue reading " Adams Resident Dies in Pedestrian-Motor Vehicle Accident " »

Earlier this month, Marion police responded to an emergency call about a car engulfed in flame near the Kittansett Golf Club. A 75-year-old man was trapped inside the vehicle and had died by the time emergency crews were able to remove him from the car. The body was taken by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the exact cause of death.

According to the results of a preliminary investigation, the man was driving south of Point Road when he hit a fire hydrant, rocks, and trees. The car accident victim was semiretired and had been working part-time as a business professor at UMASS Dartmouth. The roof of his home had been destroyed by a chimney fire earlier this year.

It is not known if either of the fires were accidental or intentional, but here in Massachusetts, the penalty for attempting to burn a building or structure is ten years in prison. The fine for burning personal property over $25 or a vehicle is three years or $500. Authorities are still investigating the fatal car crash.

Source: Marion man dies in fiery crash, WickedLocal.com, December 23, 2010

Continue reading " Massachusetts Police Investigating Fiery Car Crash That Killed a Marion Man " »

A Yarmouth Port man died on Sunday after he reportedly walked in front of a bus at Walt Disney World’s Port Orleans resort. Witnesses say the 69-year-old Massachusetts man stepped into the path of a Disney bus traveling through the parking lot of the resort. A report states that the front of the bus hit the accident victim and knocked him to the ground. He later died at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

The bus accident occurred around 5:50pm, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The bus was driven by a 57-year-old woman who says she’s not sure how many passengers were in the bus at the time of the accident. No passenger injuries were reported. The man was not in a crosswalk, and the highway patrol says the bus had the right-of-way, so it’s unlikely that any charges will be filed in connection with the fatal pedestrian accident. The incident remains under investigation.

Earlier this year, a Disney bus struck and killed a boy who was riding his bike through Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort campground. The highway patrol said the accident may have been caused by the lack of air in the bike tires.

Source: Massachusetts man dies after walking in front of Disney bus at Port Orleans resort, South Florida Sun Sentinel, December 27, 2010

Continue reading " Cape Cod Man Killed by a Bus, Charges Not Likely " »

The Commonwealth deregulated the car insurance industry two years ago, and since then, five insurers have added an optional pet injury insurance option for pet-lovers who want to cover their animals. Like traditional car insurance policies which cover the medical costs of those injured in motor vehicle accidents, these pet policies cover $500-$1,000 for veterinary bills with no deductible.

Customers of the Quincy-based Arbella Mutual Insurance can pay $20 annually for the “Pet Lover’s Endorsement,” which covers up to $500 to treat injuries sustained by a dog or cat in a car crash. If Fluffy or Fido died as a result of an accident, burial or disposal costs might also be covered. So far, hundreds of policy-holders have added pet coverage.

In Boston, the Angell Animal Medical Center treats an average of two or three animals injured in accidents per month. According to a spokesman for MSPCA-Angell, typical injuries include whiplash, fractured bones, and injuries from the impact of airbags or windshields.

NOTE: Mentioning the names of insurance companies and policies should not construed as an endorsement. We encourage you to comparison shop on your own before signing up for an insurance policy.

Source: Auto insurers take on pets, Boston Herald, December 19, 2010

Continue reading " Massachusetts Auto Insurers Now Offer Pet Coverage in Case of Accident " »

A man was struck by a van on Main Street in Fitchburg on Friday. John Wirta, a 58-year-old, is in critical condition at UMass Memorial Medical Center after being hit by a 2004 Ford Econoline. The van was driven by Shannon Mannix, a 36-year-old from North Brookfield. The accident happened around 3:20 p.m., according to Telegram.com.

Source: Telegram.com, Man struck by van still in critical condition

Though very sad, it is not surprising that this man is now in critical condition. This is because pedestrian accidents frequently lead to fatalities and catastrophic injuries. We have seen many accidents involving pedestrians in recent weeks. Some have involved possible distracted driving. Others have involved failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Still others have involved criminal behavior. Some of the things that all of these victims and/or their families may have in common, however, are expensive medical bills, lost wages, inability to go back to work, and pain and suffering.

Our lawyers will work around the clock to help you get compensation for these things. We have been handling pedestrian accidents throughout Massachusetts for many years, and we use that experience to maximize our clients’ recovery. While we are aggressive advocates for our clients, we are also compassionate listeners. We’ve seen the pain that our clients go through after suffering an injury or losing a loved one, and that is why we make sure that they can always reach us.

Continue reading " Pedestrian in Critical Condition After Being Struck By Van in Fitchburg " »

A Massachusetts highway accident on December 8 claimed the life of a 61-year-old Dracut man. State police are still investigating the cause of this fatal accident, but a preliminary investigation shows that a 2006 Mercedes Benz driven by the man was headed south on I-93 when it swerved into the breakdown lane and crashed into a disabled tractor trailer. According to police, the tractor trailer was parked away from the roadway and had its hazard lights flashing.

The driver of the Mercedes was pronounced dead at the scene of the traffic accident, which occurred around 10:43pm. It was unclear if anyone in the tractor trailer was injured.

The details of the fatal collision are still being investigated by Massachusetts State Police with assistance from the State Police Crime Scene Services Section and State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section.

Source: State Police still investigating fatal Medford crash, Medford Transcript, December 16, 2010

Continue reading " Medford Car Crash Kills Dracut Man, Police Investigating Accident " »

Earlier this week, the family of a Massachusetts man who died in a minivan accident spoke out against Ford Motor Co., saying the company didn’t publicize a vehicle recall widely enough. One week after Sean Bowman died, his family received a safety recall notice from Ford announcing that it was recalling over a half million older-model Windstars. The recall covered vans sold in 21 states where road salt can lead to rusted axles. Corroded metal could result in cracks and broken axles.

The Whitman man died after his vehicle’s rear axle cracked in half and the vehicle hit a building. According to Ford, there were seven accidents with three minor injuries as of September. The fatal accident occurred in October, and the auto company has declined to comment on this particular case.

However, Ford has recalled an additional 37,000 vans as of December 6. Cases like this require an experienced personal injury lawyer who can gather all the relevant evidence, consult with accident experts, and prepare the case for financial recovery.

Source: Mass. crash victim’s family blames Ford ‘stealth’ recall, Boston Herald, December 15, 2010

Continue reading " Whitmore Man Killed on the Road, Family Blames Ford " »

Matthew M. Cox, a 33-year-old from Westwood, was killed in an SUV rollover on Route 128 Wednesday. The rollover occurred around 4 p.m. when his Ford Explorer, which was travelling in the left lane, veered to the right and hit a guardrail. Cox was ejected from the SUV and declared dead at Needham’s Beth Israel Deaconess-Glover Hospital. He hadn’t been wearing a seatbelt, according to police.

Boston Globe, One killed in rollover on Route 128 in Needham

This is one of many rollovers that have happened in recent weeks. Notably, Ford Explorers have been the subject of design-defect controversy in the past, given the frequency of Explorer rollovers, but NHTSA reported that Explorers are no more likely than other SUVs to roll over.

When a rollover happens after hitting a guardrail, as here, it is called a “tripped rollover.” Of all rollovers, 95% are tripped rollovers.

This story raises the issue of driver/occupant ejection. When persons are ejected from vehicles in accidents, they are three times more likely to die than persons who are not ejected. They are also far more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Here, Cox was not wearing a seatbelt. Sometimes, though, even those who wear seatbelts are ejected from their cars and trucks because of seatbelt defects. Defective door latches can also cause occupant ejection.

Continue reading " 33-year-old Killed in SUV Rollover on Route 128 " »

Early Saturday morning, a 16-year-old passenger died after his twin brother reportedly drove a 1999 Saturn into a utility pole. The pole snapped in half, trapping both boys inside the vehicle. A Brockton resident described hearing a loud noise when the Saturn hit the utility pole. She rushed outside to find a mangled car covered in shattered glass. The driver’s hand was caught between the door frame and the body of the car, and she talked to the car accident victims as they waited for emergency responders to arrive.

Firefighters spent half an hour cutting through the wreck before they were able to free the brothers from the vehicle. The injured driver was transported to Brockton Hospital and later transferred to Boston. He has been charged with several motor vehicle offenses, including using a motor vehicle without authorization, driving under the influence of alcohol, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and speeding. However, Brockton police captain said there could be additional charges filed following the investigation.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 16 and 20. Each year, thousands of teen drivers die of injuries sustained on the road, and male teen drivers are more than one and a half times more likely to be involved in a fatal auto accident.

Source: Brockton woman recounts efforts to help victims in fatal crash, EnterpriseNews.com, December 15, 2010

Continue reading " Brockton Car Crash Kills Local Teen " »

Julio Vaquerano, a 36-year-old from Revere, was killed in a Chelsea hit-and-run Tuesday night. A car hit Vaquerano around 10 p.m. near the intersection of Blossom and Maple streets and fled the scene. Vaquerano died of his injuries at Massachusetts General Hospital. Chelsea and state police are investigating and asking for informational tips.

Source: Boston.com, Man killed by hit-and-run driver in Chelsea

This is a tragic, and unfortunately, largely characteristic pedestrian accident. The vast majority of pedestrian accidents happen in urban areas, like Chelsea, between 6 p.m. and midnight. Fatalities are such a strong possibility in pedestrian accidents because pedestrians don’t have anything protecting their bodies from injury. When a pedestrian is struck by a car and killed, the driver may be liable. Here, in addition to the criminal charges that this driver will ultimately face when caught, he could find himself involved in a wrongful death action.

At Altman & Altman, our Massachusetts wrongful death lawyers have what it takes to handle these complex cases. We understand that if you have lost a family member, no amount of money will ever bring him/her back or ease your emotional pain. We also know that medical treatments, the process of laying your loved one to rest, and losing his/her earnings can put a huge financial burden on you, and damages may help with that.

Continue reading " Pedestrian Killed in Chelsea Hit-and-Run " »

Following a Woburn car accident that injured a motorist and a state trooper, Massachusetts State Police have charged the 21-year-old motorist with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to slow down for workers or equipment in the road, failure to obey signs and signals, and failure to wear a seatbelt.

The driver allegedly drove his sedan into a road construction set-up on Monday evening on Route 93 outside of Woburn, hitting a state trooper on paid detail in a marked cruiser. Authorities say the driver disregarded warning signs and hit the rear of the cruiser, followed by the right guardrail.

Emergency medical crews took the trooper by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was treated for injuries and released overnight. The driver was treated for minor injuries at Lahey Clinic in Burlington.

Here in Massachusetts, drivers cited for Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle are subject to a $250 fine. The fine for failure to wear a seatbelt is $25 for drivers or any person over the age of sixteen, plus an additional $25 fine for each passenger between the ages of twelve and sixteen who fails to wear a seatbelt.

Source: Tewksbury man charged in Woburn crash, WickedLocal.com, December 14, 2010

Continue reading " Tewksbury Driver Charged After Injuring Trooper in Crash " »

A driver was injured Tuesday when a tractor trailer rolled over on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Weston. Claudio Garcia, a 45-year-old Haverhill man, was driving westbound, entering an Interchange 15 ramp when his Mack truck rolled over on the side of the road. Garcia was taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and no one else was hurt.

Highway exit and entrance ramps are a common place for rollovers to happen, especially for those driving tractor trailers and other tall, heavy vehicles. It is important to approach ramps at an appropriate speed. Trucks often roll over when the driver is going too fast when entering the ramp or underestimates the sharpness of the curve.

Truck drivers exiting or entering on a ramp should remember that the posted speed limits are largely meant for passenger vehicles, not tractor trailers or big trucks. Truck drivers should slow down even more when entering a ramp or curve because studies show that even when travelling at the speed limit, it’s not unusual for trucks to flip over. With bad weather approaching, slowing down is even more crucial.

Drivers like Garcia, who are involved in single-car accidents, might wonder about their ability to pursue compensation for their injuries. This will depend on the circumstances, and the only way to find out is to contact a personal injury lawyer in your area.

Source: The Boston Globe, Driver injured in Pike truck rollover

Continue reading " Man Injured in Mass. Pike Rollover " »

A person walking a dog near Dover Road in Millis found the body of an unidentified man who died after his pickup truck veered off the road and into the Charles River. A spokesperson for Norfolk District Attorney William R. Keating said the fatal truck accident most likely occurred between 6am and noon on Sunday.

Investigators are trying to determine if the truck crash was weather-related. Less than a quarter-inch of rain in the Millis area around the time of the accident, but that’s more than enough to create slippery and dangerous driving conditions.

Icy roads across parts of Massachusetts led to multiple smaller car accidents yesterday morning. State police said conditions had improved by mid-afternoon. Several crashes involved vehicles that veered off the highway into the median along Route 20 in Waltham, according to a State Police spokesman. In fact, Waltham police issued an advisory to drivers around 7am yesterday after 15 motor vehicle accidents were reported in the area.

Because snow and icy roads can put drivers at greater risk for an accident, it’s especially important to drive responsibility in times of inclement weather.

Source: Man found dead after pickup veers into Charles River, Boston Globe, December 13, 2010

Continue reading " Man Dies in Millis Truck Accident, Weather May Have Been a Factor " »

Fifteen car accidents were reported in the Waltham area on Sunday morning as a result of icy roads, causing warnings from Waltham police to stay at home if possible. The accidents included one six-car crash on Route 128 and a tractor trailer accident on the Route 20 rotary. Most of the accidents involved spin-outs, skidding, and steering into the Route 20 median. No major injuries were reported, and roads became less dangerous as the mixed precipitation turned to rain.

Although those involved in Sunday’s accidents were fortunate that no serious injuries occurred, others were not so lucky this weekend. There were three fatal accidents on Saturday, and four are dead as a result. A 16-year-old Westport male died in a Fall River crash on Route 24 after losing control of his Jeep Wrangler. A 20-year-old woman was thrown from her vehicle after a Walpole two-car accident on I-95. Two others were killed in a two-car crash on I-91 in Longmeadow. That accident happened when one of the cars was going north on the southbound side.

While not all of these accidents have been officially linked to weather, our car accident attorneys would like to take this opportunity to remind you to drive safely as we begin to see harsher weather conditions. Here in Massachusetts, we are no strangers to snow, ice and rain. All too often, this kind of weather causes drivers to skid and lose control of their vehicles. It is important to remember to take due care when driving in bad conditions. For example:

• Drive more slowly.
• Leave more space between your car and the car in front of you.
• Clear snow off of your car, and make sure your windshield isn’t foggy.

Although snow, ice and bad roads can make car accidents more likely to happen, we still have the responsibility to drive carefully.

Continue reading " Several Weekend Accidents, Some Fatal, as Roads Get Slippery " »

A dump tuck reportedly spilled debris which hit a vehicle, causing delays during the morning commute on 195 near the Plymouth Avenue exit. A spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police said the roadway accident occurred at 9:45am. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

The Massachusetts Highway Department came to clean up the spill, and traffic was routed to a passing lane so that crews could clear the debris as of an hour following the accident.

In addition to debris hitting vehicles or causing distractions, highway accidents can also occur as the result of driver fatigue or inattention, speeding, equipment failture, and negligent maintenance.

Source: Dump truck spills debris on 195, casuses one accident with no injuries, December 9, 2010, Herald News

Continue reading " In Fall River, Dump Truck Accident Causes Accident on 195 " »

According to an article in the Boston Herald, a bus crash last Friday injured 16 University of Massachusetts at Amherst students who were en route to Canada for a ski trip. The bus driver sustained head injuries and some internal injuries but was listed in stable condition at Darthmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center on Monday.

State police said the bus driver apparently had a pre-existing heart condition, but it’s unclear if that was a factor in Friday’s bus crash. They added that the driver has shown no signs of taking evasive action. They are still investigating the bus accident.

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, there are several parties who can be found at fault for injuries from a bus accident. These include the bus company, bus maintenance companies, bus manufacturers, the bus driver, and drivers of other vehicles.

Source: Cops: Bus driver in UMass ski crash had heart woes, Boston Herald, December 7, 2010

Continue reading " UMass Bus Crash Injures 16 Students " »

Christopher Kaszyk, a state trooper, was hit by a car on a Fall River highway Wednesday. The accident occurred where Route 97 merges onto Route 24.

The trooper was outside of his car helping with a previous single-car accident around 6:30 a.m. when a driver attempting to merge hit him as well as the car he had stopped to assist. Kaszyk was taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Police are investigating, and no charges have been filed.

We know that being a police officer is a risky job in terms of fighting crime, but it can easy to forget the personal injury dangers that come with being a cop. Officers are frequently injured in circumstances like this one or while on details like directing traffic. Chases, emergency responses and long hours patrolling in cruisers also increase officers’ chances of becoming involved in a serious crash. In fact, car accidents are the most common cause of police officer deaths. Recent statistics show that 35% of officer deaths were vehicle-related, with only 3% of those occurring during vehicular pursuits or chases. In addition Injured- On- Duty pay, police injured on duty may be able to collect other compensation.

If you have been injured in a car accident, call Altman & Altman to discuss your options with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Source: The Boston Globe, Trooper injured in Fall River highway accident

Continue reading " Trooper Hit by a Car on Fall River Highway " »

A 28-year-old New Bedford man was killed in a Taunton car crash today. State police say the accident occurred when an 81-year-old Rhode Island woman lost control of her Buick Century while exiting Route 24 onto Route 140 north. They say she drove across a median and slammed into the driver’s side door of the man’s Oldsmobile Bravada SUV, causing a rollover. The man was ejected from the vehicle. He was not wearing a seatbelt. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Providence’s Rhode Island Hospital, and the woman suffered serious injuries. No one is facing civil or criminal consequences yet, but the investigation continues.

This is the second Massachusetts fatal car accident in weeks involving an elderly driver. About 8 percent of fatal crashes in our state involve a driver over the age of 75. Of course, this may be because elderly persons are less likely to survive a crash than younger individuals. Still, some may be alarmed by the fact that drivers age 75 or older account for 7 percent of license holders and 3.6 percent of all crashes in our state.

There are many possible factors that contribute to the frequency of older-driver accidents. As we age, it may become more difficult to see or read signs, navigate complex intersections and stay alert. Health conditions such as hearing and vision loss, dementia, and decreased reaction time (as well as taking medications to treat medical conditions) can cause elderly-driver crashes.

No matter our ages, we can all decrease dangers to others and ourselves by making sure that we are able to drive safely before we get on the road.

Sources:
Wickedlocal.com, New Bedford man dies after Route 24 on-ramp crash in Taunton

The Boston Globe, New Bedford man killed in Route 24 crash in Taunton, State Police say

Continue reading " Crash on Route 24 in Taunton Leaves a New Bedford Man Dead " »

A 16-year-old junior at Shrewsbury High School was killed today when his 2002 Honda Accord crashed into a Central Street tree near Woodland Estates. The teen, a student leader and member of the Shrewsbury High golf team, was the only occupant of the car. Authorities aren’t sure whether or not he was on his way to school. He was flown by LifeFlight to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and died shortly later.

There was one witness to the crash, and Boylston and state police are investigating the incident.

The principal of Shrewsbury High e-mailed parents about the death, and the school is making counselors available for students.

As an earlier blog post notes, teens have the highest fatal car accident rate of all age groups.
Every year, more than 5,000 persons between the ages of 16 and 20 are killed in crashes, and 400,000 are injured. Teen drivers are four times (per mile driven) more likely to crash than other drivers. Teen-aged males, like this student, and their passengers are significantly more likely than their female peers to become involved in fatal car accidents. Although this accident occurred on a school day, most teen- driver car crashes take place over the weekend between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. As far as school day accidents go, a new study indicates that earlier school start times may increase teen car accident rates. This is not very surprising, as fatigue is a common cause of car accidents in all age groups.

Source: Telegram.com, Shrewsbury High student killed in morning crash

Continue reading " Shrewsbury Teen Killed in Morning Accident " »

According to federal data released earlier this year, the number of teens applying for driver’s licenses nationwide is on the decline. While 44.7% of 16-year-olds got their driver’s license in 1988, that number had dropped to 30.7% in 2008.

Safety experts say there are several factors involved in this trend. One of them may be the rise of Facebook and other social networking sites that allow teens to stay in touch with friends without hanging out in person. The economy and the high cost of insuring teen drivers is thought to be another factor. A report from the U.S. Department Transportation shows that teens have the highest fatal crash rate of any age group, so safety concerns (both among parents and teens) could be playing a role in delaying applications for driver’s licenses.

Here in Massachusetts, teens are eligible to apply for a learner’s permit at age 16. In order to receive a Junior Operator License, the driver must be at least 16 and a half years old and have held a learner’s permit for at least six months. Junior Operators must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when driving between the hours of 12:30am and 5am. Massachusetts teen drivers may not use cell phones while driving at any time day or night.

Source: Fewer 16-year-olds applying for driver's license, South Florida Suntinel, November 30, 2010

Continue reading " Fewer Teens Applying for Driver’s Licenses Across the Country " »

Last Wednesday evening, a Boston car accident killed a 79-year-old woman from Beverly and injured two others. The woman was declared dead at the scene. The collision occurred on the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge when a Lexus reportedly collided head-on with a taxi approaching in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Lexus, a 58-year-old man from Beverly, was hospitalized with serious injuries, as was the 46-year-old cab driver. State troopers closed the bridge for roughly two hours while an accident reconstruction team investigated the cause of the fatal crash.

Investigators have not indicated to the public if any charges will be filed. Massachusetts is a no-fault state, so drivers are typically covered by their own Personal Injury Protection Insurance (PIP); however, sometimes medical costs surpass PIP policy limits.

Source: One dead in Mass. Ave. bridge crash, Boston Herald, December 2, 2010

Woman Killed In Mass. Ave. Bridge Crash, The Boston Channel, December 1, 2010

Continue reading " Collision on Massachusetts Avenue Bridge Kills One " »

A bus carrying UMass Amherst students on a ski trip to Canada crashed on a Vermont highway Friday. The crash happened when the 49-year-old bus driver lost consciousness. According to owner of bus company, Tour World, the driver felt a tingling and started to pull over, but it was too late.

The bus was carrying 44 passengers when it swerved across the I-91 median into an embankment and flipped onto its side. Sixteen of the student passengers were treated for injuries including concussions, wounds and back injuries. Four of them were taken to the emergency room for critical injuries.

According to the bus company owner, the driver had no known medical conditions and passed a physical 6 months ago. He was hospitalized overnight at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.

The ski trip was organized by a private group, but UMass sent university vehicles to the scene to transport students back to campus. Some of the students continued on to Canada.

The driver and passengers are fortunate that no one was killed in this accident. More than 250 people are killed and more than 15,000 people are injured every year in bus accidents like this one. Although the media has said that no serious injuries have been reported yet, concussions, like all other head injuries, are very serious. Sometimes it can take weeks for a doctor to recognize a traumatic brain injury, and repeat concussions can lead to devastating consequences. So the risks are amplified here, given the fact that some of these students may have suffered concussions and went on to ski where they could suffer more blows to the head.

It is unclear whether anyone could be held responsible for injuries suffered from this accident. It seems that the driver may have been driving carefully and suffered an unexpected heart attack, but an experienced personal injury lawyer could look into all of the facts and circumstances and assess your case.

Sources:
MSNBC, Ski bus flips on I-91 in Vermont

Boston Globe, Driver of bus carrying UMass students that crashed in Vermont expected to be released from hospital; no serious injuries reported

Daily Collegian, UMass Ski and Board Club bus overturns on I-91

Continue reading " Bus Carrying UMass Students Flips Over in Vermont " »

A Massachusetts woman was killed and two other people were injured on Sunday afternoon when a Sport Utility Vehicle slammed into a Cumberland Farms store. The 43-year-old SUV accident victim was reportedly a customer in the store. Another customer and a worker were taken to Springfield’s Baystate Medical Center and treated for minor injuries.

The SUV was reportedly driven by an 81-year-old man, who was hospitalized with serious injuries. No charges have been filed thusfar, but the fatal crash is still being investigated.

Here in Massachusetts, legislators have been pushing for stricter standards on drivers over the age of 75, citing the number of recent accidents involving older drivers. However, advocates for older adults have called the proposed legislation arbitrarily discriminatory.

Source: Woman dies when SUV smashes into Chicopee store, Boston Globe, November 29, 2010

Continue reading " SUV Kills Woman When It Crashes Into Chicopee Store " »

Christina Anderson, a 79-year-old Beverly woman, was killed in a head-on collision yesterday. Cheryl Anderson-Young, a 58-year-old of Beverly, and Ibrahim Nabile, a 46-year-old of Malden, were seriously injured in the crash.

The accident occurred on Massachusetts Avenue Bridge in the Back Bay around 5:40 p.m. Anderson-Young, driving a 1997 Lexus travelling from Cambridge to Boston, crossed the line and crashed into Nabile’s 2008 Ford Crown Victoria taxi. Anderson was declared dead at the scene, while Anderson-Young was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Nabile was taken to Boston Medical Center. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Head-on collisions like this one frequently cause serious and fatal injuries. There are two ways that head-on collisions can happen. As was the case here, a driver can fail to stay in his/her own lane and go forward into oncoming traffic. A head-on collision can also happen in a wrong-way type of scenario where a driver ventures down a one way in the wrong direction, enters the highway on an off-ramp exit instead of the on-ramp, etc.

Usually when there is a lane departure head-on collision, the cause is swerving, driver distraction, inattention or fatigue, or passing other cars in an unsafe manner. Head-on collisions can result in catastrophic injuries including spinal and head injuries, serious fractures, internal injuries, and more. If you have been hurt in a head-on collision, our Massachusetts car accident lawyers can tell you whether you have a claim, investigate, and begin building your case for recovery.

Source: The Boston Globe, Beverly woman killed, 2 hurt in crash

Continue reading " Beverly Woman Killed and Two Seriously Injured in Mass. Ave. Bridge Head-On Collision " »

A car crashed into a Chicopee bedroom around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. William Flores and his girlfriend woke up to debris and the car inches away at the foot of the bed. Neither the residents nor their two dogs were injured, but firefighters are concerned about the stability of the home’s front wall.

According to police, the car driven by 66-year-old Patricia Naimey smashed into a street light, a stop sign, and a fire hydrant before hitting the house. They are investigating how she lost control.

This was the second time within a three-day period that a car hit a Chicopee building. On Sunday, 43-year-old Kimmy Dubuque was killed inside a Cumberland Farms when an SUV driven by 81-year-old Edwin Skowyra crashed through the front of the store. In addition to the shopper who was fatally injured, another customer, the clerk and the driver were injured. Police say that the car was travelling through the intersection at Front and Grove Streets and then went over a barrier and through the store. Police are looking into the possibility that a medical issue caused the driver to lose control.

Sources:

Cbs3springfield.com: Chicopee police release names in fatal crash; Continue to investigate cause

Cbs3springfield.com: Car smashes into Chicopee bedroom

Drivers can lose control of their cars for many reasons. Speed, inattention, and mechanical defects are among the common causes. The possibility of a medical issue in this second incident raises the issue of physical infirmities. These kinds of infirmities can be considered in determining the reasonableness of conduct. For example, if this driver suffered an unforeseeable heart attack that caused him to lose control of his SUV, he would not be responsible. If, on the other hand, he knew that was subject to some medical condition that would cause him to lose control of the vehicle but drove anyways, he could be liable in a negligence action.

Continue reading " Car Crashes into a Chicopee Building for the Second Time in Three Days " »

On Monday afternoon, a car rolled over on Route 24 in Avon, Massachusetts. Police said the 20-year-old driver refused medical treatment following the traffic accident. The Brockton man was reportedly driving a 2000 Ford Mustang. The car accident occurred at 1:52pm near the Route 27 exit, and police said the scene had been cleared by 2:30pm.

The cause of this Avon car crash remains under investigation.

Although there were no injuries in this instance, crashes involving cars, bikes, trucks, SUVs, or pedestrians can result serious and even deadly injuries. With insurance claims for personal injury, lost wages, and damage to your vehicle, these cases can pose a number of complicated legal challenges that require the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney.

Source: Car rolls over on Route 24 in Avon, no injuries, The Enterprise, November 29, 2010

Continue reading " No Injuries Reported in Avon Car Rollover " »