Posts Tagged ‘“Boston car accident lawyers”’
Car Accident Deaths Rise Among Teens
After several years of decreases in U.S. teen driving deaths, new data shows the number climbed slightly in the first half of 2011.
Car accidents have long been the leading cause of death among U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three fatalities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But new preliminary data collected by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) shows an increase in teen driving deaths as the number of overall highway deaths is declining – as is the number of overall teen deaths. The data was submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The data shows the number of 16-year-olds killed increased from 80 in the first half of 2010 to 93 in the first six months of 2011. The number of 17-year-olds killed rose from 110 to 118 during the same period.
The nation has not seen an increase in eight years. During that time, many states have passed graduated driving laws for teenagers with a goal of reducing car accident deaths. The Massachusetts Junior Operator Law states drivers under 18 cannot drive with another passenger under 18. The only exception is for for siblings. Teen drivers are also not allowed to drive between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. In September 2010, the Safe Driver Law took effect, prohibiting drivers under 18 from using cell phones while driving.
In a Washington Post article published Feb. 17, Barbara Harsha, executive director of GHSA, called on Congress to provide financial incentives to states which have strengthened teen driving laws and for the NHTSA to work on efforts to reduce distracted driving among teens and increase seat belt use.
A Pew Research Center study showed 43 percent of teens have talked on a cell phone while driving and 48 percent have been in a car with an operator who was texting while driving.
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Massachusetts Car Accident Insurance: What Coverage Do You Need?
Buying car insurance in Massachusetts can seem complicated, with various types of coverages and state laws which have changed in recent years. The state requires all drivers to carry some level of insurance, but in 2008, drivers gained new buying options as Massachusetts moved away from a highly regulated industry to managed competition. At the same time, insurers have started changing their policies, so not all companies use the standard Massachusetts policy.
In the past, the state had set rates. But under “managed competition,” each insurance company can set its own price and compete for consumers’ business.
If you are a Massachusetts driver, you should shop around to obtain the best rates while still buying adequate insurance to protect yourself in a car accident. Here, the Boston car accident lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck offer some tips on what to consider before purchasing auto insurance for you and your family:
Compulsory Coverage
Massachusetts requires drivers to buy basic car insurance coverage, including:
- Bodily Injury to Others: $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident
- Personal Injury Protection: $8,000 for medical bills and lost wages
- Bodily Injury from an Uninsured Driver: $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
- Damage to Another Person’s Property: $5,000
Optional Coverage
The compulsory coverage provides insufficient protection for car accidents. These other insurances offer additional protection.
- Bodily Injury: You can buy up to $500,000 per person per accident. If you cause a serious motor vehicle accident, this protects you from claims against your personal property.
- Underinsured Auto: You could be injured by another driver who does not have car insurance. You can protect yourself by purchasing up to $500,000 in coverage per person per car accident.
- Medical Payments: This coverage pays for medical expenses that exceed your $8,000 PIP coverage. You can obtain an extra $10,000 in coverage for a small cost.
- Collision Comprehensive. This coverage pays for damages to your vehicle in a car accident. This coverage is paid by the policy of the driver found to be at fault. Many people choose a high deductible to save money on their policy price, but this can cost you far more if you caused a car accident and have to pay a deductible for your own vehicle.
Click here for information on auto discounts and how to get additional insurance coverage through your homeowners’ insurance policy.
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Car Accidents in Massachusetts Would Be Reduced Under Cell Phone Ban
A ban on using hand-held cell phones behind the wheel was approved by the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee this week.
On Thursday, the committee voted 8-0 to move forward the bill which advocates say will reduce car accidents, driving injuries and motor vehicle deaths. Some lawmakers did not vote on the ban, which was also discussed in 2010. That year, a new law took effect to reduce motor vehicle accidents by banning drivers under 18 from using cell phones to talk or text. All other drivers were banned from texting while driving.
Under the proposed cell phone ban, drivers would still be allowed to use hands-free cell phones with Bluetooth and other devices. Many safety advocates say hands-free cell phones are safer and this type of ban will help police better enforce the law. Right now, police say it is difficult to differentiate between drivers dialing a phone number and sending a text message.
As a result, police only wrote 1,100 tickets for texting while driving in the law’s first year, according to the Department of Transportation. This averages one for every 200 speeding tickets issued among Massachusetts’ 4.7 million drivers in the same period.
The hand-held cell phone ban will now be sent to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate. The Ways and Means Committee may also consider the financial aspects of it.
If approved, Massachusetts will become the 10th state to ban any type of cell phone use while driving.
The national debate over cell phone use and car accidents has been growing stronger.
In December, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called for a nationwide ban on driver use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) while operating a motor vehicle. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said he opposed including hands-free cell phones.
Click here to read more about the proposed hand-held cell phone ban in The Boston Globe.
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Massachusetts Considers Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving
Massachusetts lawmakers will consider tougher laws this week to reduce car accidents associated with cell phone use.
The Legislature’s Joint Commission on Transportation will hold a hearing Tuesday to discuss several bills. One proposed measure would only allow drivers to use hands-free cell phones. Another would ban drivers from using any type of cell phone within school zones.
Just nine states and the District of Columbia prohibit all cell phone use while driving. Massachusetts joins 34 other states and the District of Columbia in banning texting while driving for all drivers.
In December, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended a nationwide ban on driver use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) while operating a motor vehicle. The recommendation would ban use of all non-emergency portable electronic devices and the board wants to follow the NHTSA’s model of high-visibility enforcement and focused safety communication campaigns. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is opposed to including hands-free cell phones in the ban.
Texting while driving, cell phone use and other distracted driving behavior causes a large number of car accidents across the country each year. In 2009, 16 percent of fatal motor vehicle accidents involved texting while driving and other distracted behavior. Twenty percent of car accidents resulting in injury involved distracted driving.
Massachusetts’ ban on texting while driving took effect Sept. 30, 2010. But Massachusetts, like other states, has found its ban hard to enforce. The law bans texting while driving in a moving car, as well as when behind the wheel at intersections. But critics say it is often difficult to tell whether a driver is texting or dialing a number.
Another challenge is Americans are sending more text messages than in the past. In June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent in this country, a 50 percent increase from June 2009, according to CTIA, the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry.
There is research which shows any type of cell phone use engages a driver enough to create a dangerous distraction. A Carnegie Mellon University study found using a cell phone behind the wheel reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. And a study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) found that headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use.
But when drivers text behind the wheel, they are 23 times more likely to get into a car crash than normal, the VTTI study found. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, which is the full-length of a football field for a car traveling at 55 mph.
Read more about Massachusetts’ proposed bans on cell phone use. Read more about the NTSB’s recommendation to ban driver use of ban portable electronic devices.
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Thanksgiving Driving Safety
Thanksgiving is a special time of year when family and friends gather for tasty food and warm conversation. But before the turkey can be carved, many people have to travel. The majority of holiday travelers are driving. As they plan their trips, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging travelers to buckle up through its campaign, “Buckle Up America. Every Trip. Every Time.” Other government agencies are stressing good planning to help drivers avoid motor vehicle accidents.
Seat Belt Use
During the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday travel weekend, 303 passenger vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle crashes, according to the NHTSA. The majority of these deaths occurred at night, making it important to buckle up at all hours.
Plan Travel Times
The Wednesday before the holiday and Sunday following are the busiest travel days. If possible, plan to travel at other times.
Massachusetts 511 Traffic Updates
Visit the Massachusetts 511 website before you travel. It reports on traffic, car accidents and travel conditions throughout the state. Click here for more information.
Fuel Up
Make sure your gas tank is full before you start traveling.
Slow Down
Expect to have to travel below the speed limit in heavy traffic and make sure not to follow other vehicles too closely.
Stay Calm
Expect to see aggressive drivers on the road. Move away and never engage them.
Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 car crashes each year, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths, according to the NHTSA. Rest up before making the drive.
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National Grid Backhoe Accident on I-495 Puts Focus On Safety
A deadly motor vehicle crash involving a National Grid truck hauling a backhoe on I-495 has put the focus on the safety measures commercial trucks must take to protect other drivers.
The National Grid dump truck was being taken on a test drive Friday, Aug. 12, 2011 when the 2007 Case backhoe/front-end loader it was hauling rolled off and landed on top of a 2000 Toyota Sienna van. The backhoe and the van were sent down a 20-foot embankment off I-495 in Southborough.
The van was carrying four people. A Westford woman in her 70s was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a 10-year-old and a 13-year-old, were transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with serious personal injuries.
The driver of the National Grid truck did not sustain injuries. The Registry of Motor Vehicles has suspended his license indefinitely, pending the outcome of the investigation of the National Grid backhoe accident. Prior to the truck accident, he had no recent driving violations, but minor infractions in the 1980s, including citations for speeding, failure to stop, an unregistered or improper equipment, reported the Boston Herald.
The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and State Police are investigating the National Grid truck accident. A National Grid spokesman told the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester that the truck was being taken on a test drive because employees had identified safety considerations with the vehicle.
State Police are investigating whether the vehicle, a 2010 Freightliner truck, had been recalled by Daimler Trucks North America, according to local media reports.
State Police are also investigating whether driver error and mechanical problems were involved, as well as whether the backhoe was properly secured.
Contact our Boston lawyers today
The Boston car accident lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck have over 80 years combined experience handling complex motor vehicle collisions involving commercial trucks, construction vehicles and construction equipment. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving construction vehicles or unsafe loads, please contact us today for a free consultation at 800-379-1244, or use our contact form.
New Child Safety Seat Recommendations
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics have issued new safety recommendations to protect young children from motor vehicle accidents. They are advising parents to keep children in rear-facing seats until age two, or until they reach the maximum height and weight requirements for the seat.
The previous recommendation from 2002 was also for children to ride in rear-facing car seats until they reached the maximum height and weight requirements – or until the child had reached a minimum of age one and 20 pounds. Using this standard, many parents turned the car seats around when their child reached age one.
The NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics issued the recommendation citing a 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention, which showed that children under age two traveling in rear-facing seats are 75 percent less likely to die or suffer severe injuries in car accidents.
The two groups made additional recommendations for booster seats, saying children should ride in them until they have reached four feet nine inches tall and are between eight and 12 years old.
The groups also recommend children ride in the backseat until they are 13.
The new recommendations come as motor vehicle accident deaths among children under age 16 have decreased significantly in recent years – 45 percent between 1997 and 2009, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
But motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of death for children ages four and older. More than 5,000 children, teens and young adults up to age 21 die in motor vehicle accidents each year. For every fatality, 18 children are hospitalized and more than 400 require medical care.
Massachusetts law requires child safety seats to protect children from car accidents. Children must be secured in child safety seats until they turn 7 years old.
Click here for more details about Massachusetts’ Child Passenger Safety Law.
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Preventing Tragedies from Teens Driving While Texting, Distracted
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Consumer Reports have put attention back on an important safety issue by announcing a partnership to help prevent car accidents by teens driving while distracted and texting while driving.
They released a poll that shows how widespread the problem remains, even after many states have adopted graduated licensing laws that ban teens from texting while driving or using cell phones in any capacity behind the wheel.
Among those polled, 63 percent of people under 30 said they have used a handheld phone while driving. Thirty percent admitted to texting while driving. Only a third said they feel such behavior is very dangerous and could cause motor vehicle accidents or pedestrian accidents.
Those rates were higher than for drivers over 30. Among those respondents, 41 percent admitted to using a cell phone while driving. Nine percent had texted while driving.
A 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute shows the risk for a car accident is 23 times greater when texting while driving. The study was financed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
LaHood and Consumer Reports have released a brochure called “Distracted Driving Shatters Lives,” offering tips for parents, including:
Set a good example and put away your own phone in the car. Some 40 percent of young people ages 12 to 17 say they have witnessed a driver using a cell phone in a way that threatened to cause a motor vehicle accident and result in personal injury.
Talk to your teen. Tell your teen it’s important not to use the phone or text while driving. Show them statistics about car accidents caused by texting while driving.
Establish driving rules and sign a pledge. Let your teenager know what you expect from them while driving. Put not using a cell phone while driving at the top of the list. Tell your teen what the punishment will be if they break the rules and have them sign a written contract to reinforce your message. And remind them they may face other penalties.
Many states, such as Massachusetts, have graduated licensing laws that ban drivers under 18 from using cell phones while driving. Under Massachusetts’ Safe Driver Law, drivers under 18 face a 60-day license suspension if they are caught using a cell phone behind the wheel. They must also pay a $100 fine and take an education class. The penalties increase for subsequent offenses.
To read the “Distracted Driving Shatters Lives,” brochure, click here.
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Teen Driver Safety Week
Parent-teen contracts are the focus as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration observes Teen Driver Safety Week Oct. 17-24.
It’s been well documented that teen drivers face more risks on the road than other drivers. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens. Teen drivers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes each year as all other drivers.
Safety officials are pushing a number of efforts this Teen Driver Safety Week, including parent-teen contracts, stronger junior operator laws, improving use of seat belts and reducing teen access to alcohol.
Parent Teen Contracts
The parent-teen contracts are available from insurance companies, auto club AAA and government offices. They cover areas such as seat belt use, passengers allowed in the car, alcohol and nighttime driving. While the contracts may offer teens an insurance discount, many advocates see them as a way to involve parents. The Center for Disease Control is stressing parent involvement with its “Parents are the Key” education campaign launched this week.
Junior Operator Law
Attention is also on junior operator laws this week. Massachusetts adopted its Junior Operater Law on January 3, 2007. The law banned teens from driving between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., implemented a passenger restriction and instituted harsh penalties for speeding, drag-racing and negligent operation.
The law was strengthened in September 2010, when Massachusetts teen drivers were banned from using cell phones and other mobile electronic devices.
Seat Belts
Seat belts are important for every driver and passenger. But this point needs to be stressed to teens. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teen drivers and their passengers are the least likely to wear safety belt – yet the most likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident.
Reducing Teen Access to Alcohol
The consequences can be deadly when teens mix alcohol with driving. Among 15- to 20-year-old drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2006, 31 percent of the drivers had been drinking and weren’t wearing a seat belt.
For more information on the Massachusetts Junior Operator Law, click here.
For information about Teen Driver Safety Week, click here.
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Child Passenger Safety Week Time to Check Your Child’s Car Seat
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) hosts Child Passenger Safety Week from Sept. 19 to Sept. 25, providing parents an opportunity to check the traveling accommodations for those they hold most dear: their children.
The NHTSA estimates three out of four parents are not properly restraining their children in the car. But car and booster seats provide your child the greatest amount of protection and are especially important in light of the fact that motor vehicle crashes are responsible for the majority of deaths among children ages four to eight years old. Child safety seats reduce injury rates by 58 percent.
Massachusetts law mandates use of child safety seats. The law, which was expanded in July 2008, now requires parents to restrain children five to seven years of age or up to 4′ 9″ tall. Previously, child safety seats were required for children under 5 years of age and under 40 pounds.
The new law also requires children ages eight to twelve to wear a safety belt.
Drivers who violate this law can be stopped by police and face a $25 fine, but the real price is far greater in respect to your child’s safety.
One problem parents face in securing their children is the proper method changes with age. Click here to learn more.
If you’re a parent, make sure your child’s safety seat is properly installed. On Sept. 25, police stations and other inspection sites across Massachusetts will be participating in National Seat Check Saturday. Visit this website and search for an inspection station near you.
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