Articles Posted in Pedestrians

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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.
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A 14-year-old Andover girl was hit by a car on her way to the bus stop today, Andover police told the Boston Globe. The accident occurred near 200 Andover St. at 7:15 a.m. The girl was sent to Lawrence General Hospital, and her condition is not yet known.

The driver was a 17-year-old girl who has been charged with a school bus violation and impeded operation.

As this news illustrates, car accidents can happen at any given time. You can be on your way to school one minute and be suffering from a serious personal injury the next.

It also raises another common theme in Massachusetts car accidents: teen driver safety (or lack thereof). Teen drivers are uniquely prone to car accidents for many reasons. Inexperience, immaturity, and the sense of invincibility that commonly comes with youth can contribute to accidents involving teen drivers. Teens can also be more susceptible to peer pressure and image concerns and therefore speed, not wear seatbelts, text while driving, or even drink and drive. Because of these and other factors, teenaged drivers frequently find themselves involved in car accidents.

The fact that this teen driver was charged with a school bus violation and impeded operation could indicate that she was negligent or reckless. In Massachusetts, the violation of a statute or ordinance is evidence of negligence where there is a causal connection between the violation and the harm and that kind of harm is the kind that the statute was meant to prevent. Even though this driver is a minor, driving is an adult activity and she will be held to the same standard of care as an adult.

Source: The Boston Globe, Teen struck by vehicle in Andover
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According to WickedLocal.com, a 2004 Honda Civic hit a 17-year-old pedestrian last week. The accident occurred around 6pm last Thursday near TD Bank in Lexington. The male teen was reportedly crossing Massachusetts Avenue in a crosswalk when he was struck by the car.

The driver involved in the accident said he could not see around the van in front or him and hit the pedestrian’s lower leg. Police officers responding to the accident said the pedestrian may have sustained injuries to his wrist. The incident resulted in minor damage to the Honda’s hood above the left headlight.

Massachusetts law states that drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Failure to do so could result in a $100 fine. Massachusetts drivers hit an estimated 10,000 pedestrians each year.

Source: Pedestrian struck on Mass. Ave. in Lexington Center, WickedLocal.com, November 18, 2010 Continue reading

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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

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The Massachusetts State Police are currently on the lookout for a hit-and-run driver that struck a police cruiser and injured a civilian. The accident occurred on I-395 in Chicopee early Saturday morning.

A state police trooper was stooped on the side of the Chicopee stretch of the highway near exit 4 assisting a motorist with a flat tire. A few moments later, as the motorist stood by the driver’s side window of the state police cruiser speaking with the trooper, an SUV swerved into the breakdown lane on I-395, colliding with not only the state police cruiser, but also the pedestrian standing at the window.

Following the accident, the SUV fled the scene of the crash. Police have described the SUV as being light in color and it will likely have heavy front-end damage as the result of the accident.
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This past week, a four vehicle car accident occurred on Route 2 in Lexington. The accident occurred around 2:30 p.m., when a vehicle headed eastbound crossed over the median into oncoming westbound traffic.

The vehicle then collided head –on with three automobiles driving in the westbound lanes on Route 2. The accident occurred at a high rate of speed. The driver of the vehicle which crossed the median and struck the other cars was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to state police, another individual involved in the accident was in “very bad shape” and was transported to the hospital for treatment of the injuries sustained in the collision. Reportedly, all but one of the people involved in the four-car accident were transported to the hospital. The one individual that was not taken to the hospital was able to walk and was treated at the scene.
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An 80-year-old driver was injured yesterday when his car struck a utility pole before coming to rest on the lawn of a Quincy home. The car accident occurred around 11 a.m. on Beal Street. The driver had to be removed from his Buick LeSabre by rescue workers utilizing the Jaws of Life.

The operator of the vehicle, a resident of nearby Milton, is currently in fair condition at Boston Medical Center. The man reportedly suffered head trauma in the collision. The Quincy Police stated that the lack of skid marks at the scene indicate that there was no attempt made by the driver to stop the vehicle. The authorities further stated that the 80-year-old driver likely suffers from a medical condition which caused him to veer off the road.

Witnesses reported that the LeSabre jumped a curb, hit a utility pole and then struck the hedges on the front lawn of a Beal Street home. Fortunately, the vehicle did not collide with any of the pedestrians that were walking along the street at the time of the accident.
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The MA personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman have been made aware of a fatal accident this morning on route 495 in Westford. An unidentified woman was walking along the highway when she was struck and killed by a 2009 Toyota RAV SUV. The vehicle was operated by a Lowell resident whose name has not been released by the local authorities.

The pedestrian accident caused all three northbound lanes of Route 495 to be shut down for over two hours. A preliminary investigation has shown that the pedestrian was possibly struck by multiple vehicles, including the Toyota SUV.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an automobile accident, please contact the attorneys at the law firm of Altman & Altman for an initial consultation free of charge. Our firm has successfully handled thousands of car accident cases and our lawyers are available to answer all of your questions and help to put your mind to rest.
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Our Boston car accident lawyers have learned that a Lynn man is charged with leaving the scene of personal injury, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle lights violation, unregistered motor vehicle, uninsured motor vehicle, failure to stop and or yield, crosswalk violation, number plate violation and failure to appear upon recognizance. He allegedly hit another vehicle and injured a pedestrian on Monday evening as officers pursued him.

The motorist reportedly jumped out of the 1995 Honda Civic he was driving and attempted to flee the scene before being caught by several officers. Police also tended to the 22-year-old pedestrian accident victim, who sustained serious injuries and was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.

The driver was arraigned at Lynn District Court and ordered held in lieu of $20,000 cash bail. His pre-trail hearing is scheduled for early September.

Source: Driver arraigned after accident injures pedestrian, The Daily Item of Lynn, August 11. 2010 Continue reading

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On Sunday afternoon, a traffic accident in Newburyport, Massachusetts injured three people. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. Authorities are investigating the minivan accident to find out why the 91-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle just after the Yankee Homecoming Parade.

A husband and wife were hit as they crossed High Street. They were in a cross walk. The wife was listed in serious but stable condition at a local hospital, and the husband was treated and released from the hospital. A third person was hit by the minivan but refused medical attention.

It’s unclear whether the car crash was caused by driver error or a mechanical issue, so investigator inspected the vehicle earlier this week for possible accelerator problems.

Source: Police continue to investigate Sunday’s minivan accident, WickedLocal.com, August 2 Continue reading

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