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According to a recent study, hybrid cars are a greater risk to pedestrians than vehicles with internal combustion engines because of their quieter engines. Blind pedestrians are especially at risk, because they rely more heavily on auditory cues. In fact, a blind woman in Kansas City last year had her cane run over and broken by what she suspects was a hybrid vehicle.

Because of this heightened risk of a pedestrian accident, automakers are exploring ways to create noise and warn pedestrians, especially when a vehicle is driving under 10 miles per hour, when tires on pavement and other road noises are barely audible.

Congress also passed the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, which ordered a federal agency to examine the issue and potentially recommend a minimum amount of sound. Already, American drivers kill approximately 4,500 pedestrian and injure 70,000 others each year. And as hybrid cars gain in popularity, the issue of safety becomes even more important.

Safety experts fear electric cars too quiet, KansasCity.com, September 26, 2009 Continue reading

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Last week, a dirt bike rider in Carver, Massachusetts lost control of his vehicle and suffered serious injuries. The 22-year-old dirt bike rider reportedly hit a trench, causing his bike to flip end over end. When emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene of the bike accident, they found the victim unconscious and unresponsive. He suffered serious head injuries.

The injured dirt bike rider was transferred to Jordan Hospital and later flown to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where his condition was listed as serious.

According to the property owner, the two dirt bike riders were illegally trespassing on his property. The Massachusetts Environmental Police are responsible for investigation all ATV-related accidents and plan to investigate this dirt bike accident.

Dirt bike rider injured on cranberry bog, WickedLocal.com, September 24, 2009 Continue reading

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Last Wednesday, a car crash on Interstate 495 southbound in Bolton killed two people and injured three more. All five were riding in the same vehicle when the driver lost control of the vehicle, exited the road to the left, and rolled over before coming to rest against a tree in the median.

The driver was seriously injured and was transported by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, according to police. The other two seriously injured passengers were transported by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center. One passenger was pronounced dead at the scene after being trapped inside the vehicle and suffering serious injuries. Another was thrown from the vehicle during the crash and later pronounced dead after being taken by ambulance to University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Following the single-vehicle accident, there was a 90-minute lane closure and traffic diversion to allow the medical helicopter to land safely. Police rerouted traffic onto Route 117 at Exit 27. The accident remains under investigation.

State police investigate fatal car crash on Interstate 495 in Bolton, WickedLocal.com, September 24, 2009 Continue reading

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Last Friday, an Uxbridge man was seriously injured after driving his car into a tree on Park Street just before 2am. The 20-year-old man suffered severe head trauma, according to the Mendon Police and Fire Chief.

The motor vehicle accident victim was taken by LifeFlight to UMass Memorial Medical Center. His passenger suffered minor injuries and was treated at Milford Regional Medical Center. They were not wearing seat belts.

The car crash is still being investigated by the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Reconstruction Team and Mendon Police. Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in the auto accident, but it is still unknown if the driver will be charged.

Driver still critical after crash, Milford Daily News, September 22, 2009 Continue reading

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Earlier this month, a second-grade boy was pinned under an SUV as he ran to catch a school bus. The SUV accident occurred in the morning around 7:30am. The motor vehicle accident victim was rushed to MetroWest Medical Center, where he was treated for serious check injuries.

Police spent much of the morning investigating the motor vehicle accident.

As children head back to school and traffic increases with school buses and parents dropping off their kids, it is especially important for drivers to be alert and watch for children crossing the street. Our Massachusetts traffic accident attorneys previously blogged about tips for preventing a car accident during back to school season.

Framingham boy pinned by SUV as he ran to catch school bus, NECN.com, September 11, 2009 Continue reading

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Over the weekend, a Massachusetts woman was thrown from her motorcycle and suffered minor injuries as she was driving in the rick Rockland-bound lane of the Tappan Zee Bridge.

The motorcycle accident occurred just after 11am when a car suddenly stopped in front of her and her brakes locked up. She reportedly landed on her back and complained of pain around her ribs. The motorcycle accident victim was wearing a helmet and remained conscious as she was taken by ambulance to Nyack Hospital. Traffic was backed up as it squeezed into the middle and left lanes.

According to police, the site of the motorcycle accident was cleared with half an hour.

Woman injured in motorcycle accident on Tappan Zee Bridge, LoHud.com, September 19, 2009 Continue reading

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The Boston Globe reports that a commuter rail accident earlier this week injured 18 people. The MBTA crash occurred on the Worcester line as it entered South Station Tuesday morning. The engineer controlling the commuter train reportedly mistimed the train’s entry into the station and hit a metal bumping post. The impact knocked passengers off their feet, onto the floor, and into seats around them. Most of their injuries were minor.

A total of 13 people were taken to local hospitals. Nine passengers were carried from the scene of the accident on backboards. Five people were treated for minor injuries at the scene of the accident but refused to go the hospital. Five other patients were taken to Boston Medical Center, and four were expected to be released within a couple of hours, according to the chairman of emergency medicine. The firth person was taken in for observation.

A preliminary investigation of the train accident has ruled out issues with signals, dispatching, and equipment. In accordance with the MBTA’s policy, the driver was taken out of service and tested for drugs and alcohol. The 35-year-old had no disciplinary incidents in his personal record.

S. Station commuter train crash injures 18, Boston Globe, September 16, 2009 Continue reading

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On Tuesday afternoon, a dump truck hit a school bus head on. The truck driver reportedly told police his brakes had given out, so he attempted to swerve around a line of stooped cars and slammed into the bus, which was stopped to let students unload. Several students cut their lips or suffered bumps and bruises in the bus accident. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries.

Asphalt in the truck bed went flying onto the bus and onto the road. The owner of a nearby auto repair shop pried open the driver’s door for fear that the truck would catch fire. He said the driver was semi-conscious and the brakes were to the floor. The truck driver was transported to Caritas Norwood Hospital with cuts on his face.

Wrentham police are still investigating the head-on collision and will determine whether to issue a ticket to the truck driver.

Dump truck slams into school bus; several hurt, NECN.com. September 15, 2009 Continue reading

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Last week, a motorcycle accident injured two bikers, sending them to the hospital. The accident occurred in Putnam, Connecticut. Both of the motorcycle accident victims, ages 30 and 36, were transported to University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.

The traffic accident was reported just after 6pm on Saturday evening. Police said one of the motorcyclists appeared to be traveling east on Grove Street when he crossed into the westbound lane and hit a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer carrying six passengers. The driver, a 37-year-old woman from North Grafton, was not injured, nor were her passengers. The second cyclist hit a 2004 Mercury Sable, but the driver and his two passengers were also unharmed.

The motorcycle accident is still being investigated.

2 motorcycle riders hurt in Putnam accident with car, SUV, Norwich Bulletin, September 6, 2009 Continue reading

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In Leverett, Massachusetts, authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred last Thursday just after 1:20pm. A pedestrian was reportedly hit and killed by an Amtrak Vertmonter train. A spokesperson for Amtrak said the person was trespassing on the tracks.

According to a spokesperson from the University of Massachusetts, the train accident victim was a sophomore political science and philosophy major who was originally from Dax, France.

There were no other injuries. The train was traveling southbound from St. Albans, Vermont, to Washington, DC when the pedestrian accident occurred. It was carrying 63 passengers at the time of the accident and was held on the tracks while the investigation was completed.

UMass student from France killed by Amtrak train, Boston Herald, September 11, 2009
Person struck, killed by train, MyFOXBoston.com, September 10, 2009 Continue reading

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