Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Phyo Kyaw, a 2010 Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate, age 23, was killed on campus on Tuesday night after his bicycle was hit by an oil tanker. At approximately 7:40 p.m., he was riding his bicycle at the intersection of Vassar Street and Massachusetts Avenue when the oil tanker was turning from Massachusetts Avenue onto Vassar Street, towards Main Street. Kyaw was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Kyaw, from the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar, graduated from MIT in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical-biological engineering. According to the MIT News Office, Kyaw was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. After he graduated, he was working as a research scientist at Soane Labs in Cambridge.

Cambridge police said that there have been 27 recorded accidents at the Massachusetts Avenue and Vassar Street intersection since January 2010. MIT Chancellor Eric Grimson commented “This death, so tragic and so close to home, touches and concerns our entire community…Our thoughts go out to Phyo Kyaw’s family, friends, and classmates. We share their sense of loss and grief.”

The Middlesex District Attorney’s office is leading the investigation into the crash and is working with the Cambridge and MIT police departments. The truck driver was uninjured in the accident and he has not been charged.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, from 2002 through 2009, approximately 400 car crashes, fatal and non-fatal, were involving cyclists. Statistics additionally reveal that more bike and car accidents happen in Cambridge more than in any other Massachusetts community. As a preventative measure to bike accidents with vehicles, MassDOT provides these helpful safety guidelines for bicyclists:

• Give yourself space from cars
• Ride in the same direction as traffic
• Always wear your helmet
• Stop at red lights and stop signs
• Put front and back lights on your bike at night

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2009 alone, 630 cyclists were killed in the United States. In addition to this, 51,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic accidents. Cyclist deaths thus made up 2% of all motor vehicle accident fatalities. Approximately 70% of all bicycle fatalities happen in urban centers or college campuses, such as the case here, where there are more cars and bikes on the road together. The NHTSA also reports that bicycle helmets are 85% to 88% effective at preventing head injuries and death. However, the statistics show that less than 25% of all bicyclists wear a helmet.

If you have been injured or involved in a Massachusetts car or bike accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts lawyer.

Sources:

Cyclist killed in Cambridge accident ID´d, The Boston Herald, December 29, 2011

MIT graduate is identified as victim in bicycle-truck collision, The Boston Globe, December 28, 2011

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Continue reading "Bicyclist Hit and Killed by Oil Tanker in Cambridge" »

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Edwin Nelson, 65, was killed when his motorized wheelchair was hit by oncoming traffic earlier this week in Brockton. According to witnesses, Nelson was crossing in a crosswalk on Belmont Street, also known as Route 123, when a Hyundai Elantra driven by 26-year-old Frank Dernoga, of Taunton, crashed into his wheelchair. He was knocked off his wheelchair near the crosswalk and rolled into the street. He was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center and was pronounced dead.

Nelson was living at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center which is located less than a mile away from the crash site. He was a Vietnam veteran with a spinal cord injury that led to the amputation of both of his legs. His son, Geoff Nelson, wrote that his father had been a part of research to help pioneer spinal-cord medicine over the past 36 years, along with many other spinal-cord injury patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Nelson’s fatal accident has drawn attention to safety issues for pedestrians on Belmont Street, especially for disabled veterans who frequent the notoriously busy street. A spokeswoman for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Pallis Wahl, said that a treatment team including a doctor, nurse, and social worker, evaluates each patient on an individual basis to determine the necessary care and whether or not a patient needs to be escorted when outside of the facility. It was determined that Nelson was fit to be outside of the facility without supervision from an escort. Wahl said, “It’s a case-by-case basis.”

Some local residents believe that the disabled patients should always have an escort for their own safety given the circumstances of Belmont Street. One resident commented, “It is sad…I’ve seen the conditions of driving on Belmont Street. It’s atrocious.”

Police are reportedly reviewing surveillance video from a business close to the scene of the accident that captured the crash. There has not been any decision as of this week as to whether Dernoga will face charges.

If you have been injured in a Massachusetts car accident or involved in a pedestrian, wheelchair, or bike accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts lawyer.

Sources:

Disabled vet killed in Brockton accident helped pioneer spinal-cord medicine, Taunton Daily Gazette, October 26, 2011

Military veteran killed in Brockton road crash, www.Boston.com, October 24, 2011

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Continue reading "Man in Wheelchair Killed on Busy Street in Brockton" »

A Bridgewater woman has been charged with drunken driving in a crash last weekend that killed an Easton woman. Patricia Neville-Colp, 48, was arraigned on September 12 in the Stoughton District Court for motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, for leaving the scene of an accident, and for 7 other related charges. Her cash bail was set at $100,000, which was ten times higher than the bail sought by prosecutors. Such a high bail is an example of lawmakers´ recent attempts to crackdown on repeat dangerous drivers.

Neville-Colp’s state driving record revealed seven surchargeable accidents. Under Massachusetts law, a driver may incur a surcharge for any of the following reasons:

• pays the fine assessed
• is found guilty or responsible by the court
• is assigned by the court to a driver alcohol education program or a controlled substance abuse treatment or rehabilitation program
• defaults on the citation by failing to pay the assessed fine or attending the hearing

Three of these surcharges occurred within the past five years and Neville-Colp received four speeding fines since 1982.

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), who is responsible for last month´s bill to toughen penalties for repeat dangerous drivers, said “We have to have some system in place that recognizes the cumulative nature of these offenses — and today we don’t…With each passing day, we see more tragedy on the roadway of the commonwealth, and we need to address it.”

State police report that Neville-Colp’s Jeep Grand Cherokee smashed into the side of a Kia Sportage just after 11 p.m. Saturday on Route 24. Kia passenger Maureen O’Brien Ellis, 57, of Easton was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Kia, Steven H. Cadoff, 64, and passenger Martha A. Cadoff, 63, were hospitalized with injuries.

State police reported that Neville-Colp was obviously intoxicated when they pulled her over on Route 25. Trooper Brian Berry reported: “Her eyes were bloodshot and glassy…Her speech was slurred and thick-tongued.” Neville-Colp first told police she was coming from work but then later admitted she had been drinking at a local bar. State troopers also reportedly found 17 marijuana cigarettes and a bottle of pills in her car.

If you have been involved in a road accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Sources:

High bail set for Mass. woman in fatal car crash, Boston Globe, September 12, 2011

Crackdown urged after deadly crash, The Boston Herald, September 12, 2011

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Continue reading "Woman Charged for Fatal Crash in Stoughton Held on $100,000 Bail" »

Authorities are investigating a fatal car crash in Warren on the Massachusetts Turnpike that killed a woman from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on September 2. Police report that 62-year-old Kathleen Meats died after her left rear wheel had dislodged from her vehicle which caused her to lose control of her car. Her vehicle hit a guardrail, spun out of control, and crashed into an embankment.

Kathleen Meats was taken to the Palmer Wing Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead. Meats´ 24-year-old daughter, Kathleena Meats, was a passenger in the vehicle and was wearing her seatbelt. She was also taken to the Palmer Wing Memorial Hospital and is reported to have suffered minor injuries from the accident.

The accident remains under investigation with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. State Troopers were assisted at the scene of the accident by the Warren and Brimfield Fire Departments and the Department of Transportation Highway Division.

Although the details of this accident are still under investigation, this accident could potentially be a defective products case as the tire was possibly defective or not properly attached to the vehicle. Investigators would need to know whether or not Meats´ vehicle had any recent tire maintenance.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that seatbelts save over 13,000 lives per year. The NHTSA provides the following tips on the importance of seatbelt safety:

• Wearing a seatbelt is the best way to protect yourself in an accident
• Airbags do not replace seatbelts
• To buckle-up correctly, the lap belt and shoulder belt should be secure across the pelvis and rib cage
• Everyone should wear a seatbelt despite age or condition. Pregnant women, obese, and elderly, can all effectively buckle-up safely.

If you have been injured in a Massachusetts car accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer.

Sources:

NH woman dies in Mass. car crash, Boston Herald, September 3, 2011

Massachusetts turnpike crash in Warren claims life of Kathleen Meats, 62, of Portsmouth, NH, MassLive.com, September 2, 2011

Woman killed when tire comes off on Mass. Pike, Worcester Telegram, September 3, 2011

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Continue reading "Wheel Separates from Vehicle and Causes Fatal Accident in Warren" »

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on Sunday near 335 Lee Burbank Highway in Revere, Sothany Pen, 22, was hit and killed by a vehicle that fled the scene of the accident. Jon J. Ravida, 47, who struck Pen, reportedly returned to his mother´s house after the accident, hid his damaged Ford Explorer, and then drove past the scene of the accident in his mother´s vehicle. He is also accused of bleaching the stain on his vehicle and trying to hammer out the dents in his vehicle. Megan O’Rourke, Suffolk County assistant district attorney, said during Ravida’s arraignment in Chelsea District Court that he went to great lengths to try to cover up his involvement in the accident.

A Revere police account reported that a witness saw Ravida purchasing cigarettes at a Hess gas station. Ravida and the witness ended up in the same flow of traffic on the northbound side of the freeway and the witness noticed Ravida cross from the left lane and then back to the right lane before swerving back to the left lane. The witness noticed an object fall off of Ravida´s roof which he believed at the time to be a piece of luggage. He then saw Pen lying in the street and pulled over to help her and called 911. At this point, Ravida reversed his vehicle and turned around to go south on the road despite the witness´s attempt to flag him down. Pen had severe head injuries, was not breathing, and had no pulse by the time police arrived.

Another witness, John Merullo, said that he was sitting in the employee parking lot of Capitol Waste Services, a trash hauling company in East Boston, and saw the suspect pull up next to him at 5:35 a.m., immediately following the accident. Merullo commented “I could see fear on his face…Then he very calmly backed out, like he didn’t want to arise suspicion. But the front of his Explorer had a lot of damage to the front, and it was obvious to me that something serious had just happened.’’ Merullo then drove a short distance before finding the scene of the accident and told police what he had just observed and that the employee parking lot has surveillance cameras. Police also retrieved video surveillance footage from the gas station.
Police arrested Ravida on Monday based on the surveillance evidence and witness accounts. Inhis arraignment, O´Rourke reported that Ravida told police that he hit something but didn´t know what it was on his way to work at Logan International Airport.

Ravida´s license has been suspended four times and he was charged with being at fault in two previous accidents. The defendant pleaded not guilty to charges of motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury or death. He is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing on September 23. Judge James Wexler set Ravida’s bail at $25,000, citing the defendant’s alleged attempt to cover up his involvement in the fatal accident.

If you have been injured in a Massachusetts car accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer.

Source:

, Boston.com, August 31, 2011

Fatal Hit And Run Accident in Dorchester Kills 39-Year-Old Mother

Continue reading "Driver Accused of Trying to Cover-Up Involvement in Fatal Hit-and-Run in Revere" »

A Jamaica Plain man has died after a two-car crash early on Sunday morning in Quincy. A preliminary investigation by State Police reveals that the 50-year old Jamaica Plain man was driving a 1995 Ford Explorer on Quincy Shore Drive northbound when another vehicle driven by a man from Plymouth, 28-year-old Anthony Deicicchi, was driving southbound and crossed over the center divider line into the opposite lane of traffic. Deicicchi hit the Explorer head-on. The 50-year-old driver and his passenger, a 22-year-old Dorchester man, were both taken to Boston Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. The 50-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the hospital. Deicicchi´s passenger, a 27-year-old man from Hull, was taken to Boston Medical Center, also with serious injuries.

Deicicchi will be arraigned for the death of the driver in Quincy District Court. State Troopers found that Deicicchi was under the influence at the scene of the accident and arrested him. He has been charged with motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence, two counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily injury for the two surviving victims, operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and for violating marked lanes.

The accident is under investigation by Troop H of the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section.

Massachusetts General Law, Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 24, (1) (a) (1), states that “Whoever, upon any way or in any place to which the public has a right of access, or upon any way or in any place to which members of the public have access as invitees or licensees, operates a motor vehicle with a percentage, by weight, of alcohol in their blood of eight one-hundredths or greater, or while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or of marijuana, narcotic drugs, depressants or stimulant substances…shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years, or both such fine and imprisonment.”

Although the circumstances and the cause of the accident are still under investigation, it is very likely that this accident was due to Deicicchi´s inebriation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that in 2006 alone, 17,941 people died because of alcohol-related collisions in the United States.

As summertime approaches its midpoint, we unfortunately see more of these tragic accidents. Failing to use common sense while drinking and driving can have catastrophic consequences on your life and the lives of others. You have heard this a thousand times before but it can’t be said enough - if you choose to drink, drink responsibly. Whether it requires to take a cab, leave your car, call a friend, our just stay where you are until you are able to safely drive, please do it.

If you have been a victim of a road accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Source:

Plymouth man charged in fatal crash, Wicked Local Plymouth / Enterprise News, July 11, 2011

Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 24

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The driver of a fatal accident over two months ago in Somerville has been indicted and will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on July 6. Kenneth Belew, 21, from Somerville, has been indicted on two counts of motor vehicle homicide. He was allegedly driving under the influence and crashed his vehicle. The crash resulted in the death of two of his five passengers.

Belew has been indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury on charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and two counts of motor vehicle homicide by operating under the influence of liquor.

On April 21, Belew allegedly left a local bar after alcohol consumption and met up with a group of people at a house in Somerville where he reportedly continued to drink. At 3:15 am, Belew and a group of five people left the house to drive to local restaurant. Belew was asked to slow down by his passengers after speeding and running a red light. At this point, three of the passengers in the vehicle put on their seatbelts. The two deceased teenagers were sitting on the laps of two other passengers in the backseat and remained unrestrained. According to investigators of the accident, Belew was driving excessively fast before losing control of his vehicle. His passangers were thrown forward upon impact and were ejected from the vehicle. All of the victims were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where their injuries were treated. This is a tragic situation and is a needless end to two lives of his passengers.

Although the charges against Belew are allegations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty, his blood alcohol was measured at the scene of the accident as 0.17 which is more than twice the legal limit of blood alcohol content.

While we have limited facts as to how much alcohol he consumed at each location, one of the questions that needs to be addressed is whether or not he may have been over served at the bar he went to. Also, when he went to the house, who served him the alcohol- -an issue to be investigated is whether there is a social host liability issue? No matter who did the serving, this is a horrible tragedy that could have been avoided.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said “This defendant is alleged to have driven under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol level over twice the legal limit, while recklessly driving erratically and at a high rate of speed along a public highway…This defendant’s alleged actions resulted in killing two young girls and injuring three passengers. Impaired driving is a serious public safety concern that can have life changing consequences, as is alleged to be the case here.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 17,941 people died because of alcohol-related collisions in the United States in 2006 alone.

If you have been involved in a road accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Source:

Somerville man indicted on motor vehicle homicide charges, The Somerville News, July 1, 2011

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A woman has been charged with drunk driving after causing a fatal accident in Burlington on Saturday night. Nicole Parziale, 39, from Amesbury, was driving on Interstate 95 around 10:30 p.m. when she quickly turned left and crossed the middle lane into oncoming traffic. State Police report that Parziale´s Pontiac Grand Am hit the rear side Kayla E. Trenholm´s 1998 Buick sedan. The Buick came to rest in the third lane of traffic and the Grand Am came to rest on the left lane´s guard rail.

Trenholm, 20, from Hope Valley, R.I., and her passenger, David N. Torrey, 19, of Shannock, R.I., were taken to Winchester Hospital for potential minor injuries.

Parziale and her two passengers, Glenn Robichaud, 55, from Bedford, and Denis J. Splaine, 53, from Boston, were taken to the Lahey Clinic in Burlington. Splaine was released from the hospital after his injuries were treated and Parziale was listed as being in stable condition yesterday. Police report that Robichaud died from his injuries sustained in the accident.

A State Police spokesman, David Procopio, said that Parziale will likely also be charged with motor vehicle homicide. The charges against her currently include operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. This is Parziale´s second offense for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The accident is still under investigation and being conducted by Troop A of the state police, the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, the Middlesex County State Police Detective Unit, the Lexington Police and Fire departments, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's highway division.

If you have been involved in a car accident in Massachusetts, it is in your best interest to contact a Massachusetts car accident lawyer.

Source:

1 killed, 4 hurt in I-95 crash, The Boston Globe, May 16, 2011

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After a single-car accident at 3:30 a.m. on Friday in Somerville, two teenage girls aged 16 and 17 have died. The first teenager died at the scene of the accident, and the second died on Saturday at Massachusetts General Hospital from her injuries sustained from the crash. Their names have not been released. State Police report that neither girl was wearing a seatbelt.

The teenagers were passengers of Kenneth W. Belew, 21, of Somerville. David Procopio, State Police spokesman, said Belew faces two charges of motor vehicle homicide, drunken driving, a marked lane violation and speeding. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in Somerville District Court. Three other passengers, Jerry Altidor, 21, from Somerville, Rafaela Pereira, 19, from Everett, and Rudolph Reis, 20, from Somerville, were all wearing their seatbelts and sustained only minor injuries.

State Police report that this is not Belew´s first driving violation. He has been cited seven times for speeding, violating lane markings, driving without an inspection sticker, and a seat belt infraction.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. and are the cause for more than one in three deaths for teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19. In 2009, eight teenagers in this age group died from car accidents every day. They further report that in 2008, three out of every four teenagers killed in car crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.

If you or your loved one has been involved in a Massachusetts car accident, it is advised that you contact a Massachusetts car accident lawyer.

Sources:

2d teen in Somerville crash dies of injuries, The Boston Globe, April 25, 2011

Teen Drivers, Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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A fatal two-car accident on Interstate 395 is under investigation. Police report that Dina Senibaldi, 26, of Everett, Massachusetts, was driving southbound between exits 77 and 78 when she hit the car in front of her. She was arrested at the scene for driving while under the influence, and for possession of marijuana and narcotics. Although she refused medical treatment, her passenger, Marirose Lynch, 25, also from Everett, was taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for a cut on her forehead.

The car that Senibaldi hit was carrying Edmund L. Davis, 52, from New Haven, Connecticut, and Lisa Delprete, 45, from North Haven, Connecticut. Davis lost control of his vehicle after the impact and crashed into the guardrail on the passenger’s side of the vehicle where Delprete was seated. Delprete was reportedly taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for severe head injuries. She was pronounced dead later that day. Davis was also taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for severe head and chest injuries. State police report that because of the severity of his injuries, he has been transported to Yale New Haven Hospital and is in critical condition.

The Department of Transportation reports that the accident happened just after 11 p.m. on Friday night. Emergency personnel requested for a medical helicopter but it was too cloudy for flight.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that almost one-third of all traffic deaths involve drunk or impaired drivers. If you have been injured in an accident, contact on of our experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers for a free consultation.

Alleged Drunk Driving Accident Claims Life of North Haven Woman, North Haven Patch, April 9, 2011

Impaired Driving, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "Massachusetts Woman Arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Causing Fatal Accident on I-395" »

A fatal accident in Dorchester is under investigation in which a 39-year-old mother was killed. The other passenger in the car was the sister of the deceased. Police report that the accident was caused by another driver who fled the scene. The sister informed authorities that they slammed into a tree after they were hit by another car who was trying to pass them. The hit and run accident occurred at the corner of Washington Street and School Street, at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.

In the event of an accident in Massachusetts, drivers are required by law to stop at the scene of the accident and exchange information with the other driver. If the accident occurred on someone’s property, then the driver is also required to exchange information with the owner of the property that was damaged. It is illegal for a driver to flee the scene of an accident. The minimum punishment for fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in death is 2 and a half years of imprisonment and a fine of no no less than $1,000.

Boston Police are searching for a small to medium-sized black car that was seen within the vicinity of the accident.

If you are the victim of a hit and run accident, contact on of our experienced Boston hit and run accident attorneys for a free consultation.

Source:

Mother of 3 killed in hit and run, FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com, April 4, 2011

Continue reading "Fatal Hit And Run Accident in Dorchester Kills 39-Year-Old Mother" »

Earlier this week, a man responsible for a 2007 fatal car accident in Somerville was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in state prison, after which he has a 15-year probation on the condition that he is not allowed to operate a vehicle or does not try to reinstate his driver’s license. According to the Office of Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone, Javier Morales, 29, from Somerville, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, subsequent offense, and failure to stop for a police officer.

Morales caused the accident in May 2007 by failing to pull over for State Police on Route 16, who then proceeded to pursue him through Somerville. It is reported that he was driving 76 mph without his headlights on at about 1:30 a.m. before he crashed his SUV into a taxi. The driver of the taxi was Walid Chahine, 45, of Methuen, and the passengers were Paul Farris, 23, of Medford and a woman who has remained unidentified. Both Chahine and Farris died from their injuries incurred in this accident and the woman was extensively hospitalized. She is said to still be affected by her injuries from the accident. All passengers in the taxi were wearing their seatbelts but the force and speed at which Morales was traveling caused an impact that the seatbelts could not withhold.

In a statement released by District Attorney Gerard Leone, he explained that “This defendant pleaded guilty to causing a horrific car crash that resulted in the death of two innocent men and left a third victim with life-long injuries…This defendant had numerous opportunities to stop for the police officer, yet continued to make decisions to drive unsafely at high rates of speed through densely-populated areas, endangering those around him. By pleading guilty today, this defendant is admitting to these troubling charges and will remain off the roads and out of communities for an extensive period of time.”

If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident because of a negligent driver, our experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers are here to help with over 25 years of experience and a free consultation.

Source:

Driver In Somerville Motor Vehicle Crash Pleads Guilty To Two Counts of Manslaughter, Office of Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone Press Release, March 28, 2011

Continue reading "Man Responsible For Fatal Somerville 2007 Car Accident Found Guilty of Manslaughter" »

Two and a half years after a fatal accident on Mt. Hope Bridge, Jamie Pretti of Plymouth has been charged with one count of driving under the influence resulting in death and to leaving the scene of the accident resulting in death. On September 12, 2008, Jamie Pretti was driving with his friend, Timothy Macleod, of Plymouth, from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth to Roger Williams University for a party. Pretty is reported to have lost control of his vehicle when he tried to pass another vehicle on the Mt. Hope Bridge, resulting in the death of Macleod. The Office of the Attorney General said that a breath test confirmed that Pretti’s blood alcohol was more than twice the legal limit.

Since the accident, Pretti has been out on $100,000 surety bail but is now in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Pretti pleaded no contest to his sentence of 15 years, with seven to serve, three and a half of which will be held at Adult Correctional Institutions and three and a half years on home confinement. He also lost his license for five years and has been ordered to pay $5,000 in fines.

Drinking and consumption of alcohol on or around campuses affect almost all college campuses. College Drinking Prevention reports that approximately 3,360,000 college students drive under the influence of alcohol in one year. The National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a part of the National Institutes of Health, has recently conducted research projects in which colleges and their surrounding communities attempt to reduce excessive alcohol consumption by targeting local drinking settings and implementing prevention strategies in an attempt to minimize college-related alcohol abuse and drunk driving.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers for a free consultation.

Massachusetts Man Sentenced in Connection with Fatal Crash on Mt. Hope Bridge, Bristol-Warren Patch, March 14, 2011

NIH-Supported Study finds Strategies to Reduce College Drinking, National Institutes of Health, November 11, 2010

Continue reading " Plymouth Man Sentenced for Fatal Crash in 2008" »

In Lynnfield, Massachusetts, a fender-bender turned into a fatal accident. After a taxi rear-ended a Chevrolet Cobalt, both of the drivers pulled over and exited their vehicles to inspect the damage. William Halpin III, 25, from Melrose, who was under the influence of drugs in a passing vehicle, hit both the taxi driver and the parked Cobalt. The taxi driver, from Lynn, died after he was taken to the hospital. Police arrested Halpin for vehicular homicide and for driving under the influence. The other injured victim was a six-year-old boy who was sitting in the Cobalt when it was struck by Halpin.

When pulled over on the side of the road, it is very important to assess the situation of passing vehicles. Although the driver in this case was under the influence, one must always look carefully for oncoming traffic. Remember to turn on your hazard lights and carry the necessary roadside accident supplies in your trunk, such as a reflective hazard indicator to put on the street and a reflective florescent vest.

In the event of a collision, Sheila Varnado, of the Driving School Association of the
Americas, suggests the following:

• Make sure that you are out of harm's way. Once you are outside of your vehicle, you are at risk of being hit by oncoming traffic.
• If you are disoriented or injured, stay in the car.
• First check yourself for injuries, then check others.
• Only provide medical assistance that you are capable of and trained in. Vernado says: "Anytime you're involved in a collision, only render aid within your ability."
• Call 911. You are required to call the police or highway patrol if anyone is injured. Dial 911, or program the highway-patrol number into your cell-phone.
• Write down the other driver’s name, address, date of birth, phone number, car make and model, and license plate number. Varnado says, "Get the full information of all drivers, passengers, and witnesses…This includes driver's license numbers, vehicle registration and proof of insurance with policy number."
• For legal and insurance purposes, take pictures using a cell-phone or disposable camera. That way, Varnado says, you can "see how the intersection looked, the weather conditions, icy roads, exactly how much damage was done to the cars, the position of the vehicles, where the vehicles ended up, and the severity of the collision for example."
• Inform your insurance company.

If you have been injured in an accident and would like a free consultation, feel free to contact one of our attorneys who have over 25 years of experience representing car accident victims.

Sources:

Car accident in Lynnfield, Mass. claims one life, NECN, March 5, 2011

What to do if you get into an accident, The Boston Globe

Continue reading "Rear-End Accident Turns Fatal in Lynnfield" »

Early on Saturday morning, 19-year-old Christopher Ward of Woburn lost control of his car on I-93 in Somerville. He swerved off of the overpass and fell at least 30 feet onto Route 28 below. He later died at Massachusetts General Hospital.

State police reported that 31-year-old Lawrence Capriotti Jr. hit Ward’s car either when it first impacted the ground or directly after. He initially fled but then returned to the scene of the accident approximately an hour later. Although he does not face charges relating to Ward’s crash off of the overpass, police have charged him with leaving the scene of an accident, resulting in personal injury, and leaving the scene of an accident, resulting in property damage. The reason for Ward losing control of his car is unknown and the accident is still under investigation by state police.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 20 and account for more than one in three deaths in this age group.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident or have a question on a case, feel free to give us a call for a free consultation to speak to one of our experienced attorneys.

Sources:

Teen dies after overpass plummet, Boston Herald, February 6, 2011

A Comprehensive Approach to Teen Driver Safety, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, February 2011

Continue reading "Woburn Teen Dies After Crash in Somerville" »

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 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" »

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 70-year-old Pittsfield man who was involved in a motor vehicle accident last month has died at Albany Medical Center, apparently from serious injuries he sustained in the October 19 accident.

Pittsfield police say they are continuing to investigate the fatal accident, which involved a 49-year-old woman who was cited for failing to stop for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk. They are asking anyone who witnessed the pedestrian accident to call (413) 448-9700.

Authorities are reviewing the circumstances around the crash to determine if the driver will be held criminally responsible. Cases where a driver may be found criminal responsible include when the driver is found to have been driving too fast, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or driving recklessly with willful and wanton disregard for the probability that the driving may cause an accident. Driver negligence is considered less severe than reckless driving.

Source: Pittsfield Fatal Accident Police continue investigation, The Berkshire Eagle, November 19, 2010

Continue reading "Police Investigating Fatal Pittsfield Car Accident" »

A boat capsized early Monday morning, claiming the life of a 64-year-old Massachusetts man and injuring his brother. The two were found in Boston Harbor by Coast Guard after family members called and said they did arrive home as expected. Rescue helicopters found one of the brothers around 5:52am. He was taken by rescue helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital.

The other brother was located around 8am but was unresponsive according to Coast Guard. A rescue helicopter crew brought the man back to Station Point Allerton before we was reportedly transferred to local EMS and later died. It’s not known why the two brothers were on Boston Harbor but it’s been conjectured that they attempting to retrieve lobster traps near Hull Gut.

Because of the hazards associated with being on the water the Massachusetts Boat and Recreation Vehicle Safety Bureau prohibits operating boats under the influence of drugs or alcohol, operating at greater than headway speed within 150 feet of a swimmer, or operating in an overloaded condition. It’s unclear if any of these were a factor in the fatal boating accident.

Source: 1 Brother Rescued, 1 Drowned In Boston Harbor, TheBostonChannel.com, November 15, 2010

Continue reading "Boating Accident Kills Weymouth Man, Injures Another" »