Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accidents

An unfortunate accident in Dorchester left two children seriously injured. According to the Boston Globe, the man is being charged for driving under the influence.

The at-fault driver reportedly struck the children as they attempted to use the crosswalk at the intersection of Dorchester and Talbot avenues at about 6:00 p.m. Accident reports indicate that the 28-year-old drive appeared to be intoxicated and he failed a number of sobriety tests. He has been charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating under the influence of drugs and operation after license suspension. The child pedestrians were transported to Boston Medical Center.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that our child pedestrians are most at risk. Whether drivers are intoxicated or not, many of them overlook children. To make it even worse, these young pedestrians don’t always understand the workings of traffic and unknowingly put themselves at risk. Sit down and talk with the child in your family and make sure they know how to act near vehicular traffic — their safety relies on it.

According to SafeKidsUSA, there were close to 400 children under the age of 14 who were killed each year since 2000 in pedestrian accidents. In 2009, there were about 244 child pedestrian fatalities recorded in the U.S. In addition, there were close to 15,000 child pedestrians injured in these same scenarios. Although this number is on the decline, we’re still losing way too many of our youngsters.

With spring break approaching, our children are going to be spending more time outside and spending more time in dangerous situations. The maturity level of children under the age of 10 makes them less able to correctly gauge road dangers and renders them at greater risk for injury and death.

Talk to your child about always using a crosswalk or a street corner to cross the road. Make sure they know to look in all directions before stepping out. They need to know to never assume that a driver sees them. Always make sure that children make eye contact with drivers before attempting to cross.

When you’re walking with your child, make sure to hold their hand. This goes for sidewalks, when crossing the street and even when walking in parking lots.

You should always beware when sending children to the bus stop. Make sure they know to wait at the bus at least 5 giant steps from the roadway. Make sure they’re in bright clothing so that motorists can see them more easily. If they’ve got to walk along a road that has no available sidewalks, make sure that they know to walk facing oncoming traffic as far from cars as possible. You also want to teach them that this is no time for horseplay. Always stay aware of your surroundings.
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In February of 2012 KHOU.com reported that two young people had died in a fatal car accident in August when they were driving a Ford F-150 truck. The youths were on their way back to school when the tread came apart on the front right tire of the vehicle.

As a result of the tread coming apart, the pickup truck began to skid sideways and then rolled over, killing its 21-year-old and 18-year-old passengers. In response to the incident, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. recalled 41,000 tires that were used on SUVs, vans and pickup trucks. Although the accident happened in August, it was not until February that Goodyear Tire & Rubber actually recalled the tires.

The tragic accident raises some important questions on when a tire recall should occur. Our Boston injury attorneys believe that car manufacturers can and should take swift action if there is a potential danger associated with their tires. It is always better to err on the side of saving lives and car manufacturers should act promptly to make sure that they institute a recall as soon as they know there is an issue.

Making the Decision to Recall Tires
Following the August 2012 accident, Goodyear took action and instituted their recall because there was a chance that a small number of tires could tear and cause an accident. However, Goodyear did not act immediately and remove the tires from the market in August when the accident happened. Goodyear decided to recall the tires on February 16 and made plans to send notices to their customers about the recall by March 22.

Goodyear also limited the recall to only tires made during a 13-week period between March and June of 2009. Only six sizes were included in the recall. When writing a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about their proposed recall, Goodyear reportedly said that only a small number of tires would experience problems and only under a severe usage conditions.

Goodyear indicated that the reason for the delay in recalling the tires was because the tire company was conducting investigations of what had occurred. The results of this investigation may also have prompted Goodyear’s delay since they indicated to the NHTSA that they had discovered the tire had sustained damage from an external cause. Goodyear, therefore, may have been reluctant to take responsibility and to bear the costs of a recall, although they ultimately decided that the cost of a recall was better than the cost of warranty claims and potential lawsuits.

Unfortunately, while a more than six month delay after an accident seems like a long time to wait before recalling a potentially dangerous tire, Goodyear had actually waited even longer to take action. According to KHOU, Google had first seen an increase in warranty claims and property damage claims relating to the tires in May of 2010. This was 15-months before the fatal crash that led to the death of the two young people.

An attorney for the family of one of the young victims of the accident indicated that the crash might have been prevented if Goodyear had acted in a more timely manner once they started receiving property damage and warranty claims. Without this delay, if Goodyear had responded promptly to potential dangers, lives may have been saved.

Tire Manufacturers Should Take Prompt Action
This accident, and similar incidents where people have been hurt by a failure of a tire manufacturer to announce a danger, all indicate that it is better for companies to err on the side of caution and to warn the public as soon as a potential danger arises.

While companies do need to investigate to make sure that there actually is a link between their defective tires and the damages and accidents that are happening, these investigations should be swift and thorough and car manufacturers should take action as soon as possible in letting the public know of potential problems.
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A pedestrian accident in South Boston left an 81-year-old woman in the hospital.

According to ABC13, it all happened when the woman was stepping out of a local store. An 80-year-old driver hit the gas instead of the brake and slammed right into the elderly woman. Criminal charges are pending.

During this time of the year, our parking lots are packed. Residents and visitors are enjoying their holidays and getting those seasonal errands done. They’re out grabbing the goodies for family dinners, they’re out getting those last minute holiday deals and they’re enjoying their much-needed vacation time. Unfortunately, we see a significant number of parking lot accidents during this time of the year.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys are asking you to be safe, whether you’re traveling on foot or you’re traveling behind the wheel. According to the National Safety Commission, you’ve got to be extra cautious when you’re in parking lots. You have to protect yourself from predators and you have to keep an eye out for pedestrians walking in the area.

Pulling in and backing out of parking spaces can be tricky. Our vehicles have significant blind spots in which a pedestrian can be overlooked. For this reason, it’s important for you to physically look around your car before putting it into reverse. You can’t rely on your mirrors in these cases.

On the other hand, pedestrians are warned to be cautious of the vehicles around them. As we stated before, drivers can easily overlook you. Never travel too closely to vehicles and keep an eye out for those reverse lights.

You face some pretty significant dangers getting to and from your vehicle in a parking lot, too. To help to keep you safe, here are some safety precautions that should be taken:

-Make sure that your keys are always in your hand and ready.

-Always know where you parked the car before entering the parking lot. You don’t want to be roaming around clueless.

-Scan the area for anyone who may appear suspicious.

-If there’s a large vehicle parked next to the driver’s side of your vehicle, do not hesitate to get in through the passenger side. Predators tend to linger in these large vehicles.

-Look around your vehicle before you get in. You want to make sure that no one is lurking around with bad intentions.

-Once you’re in the vehicle, lock the doors and focus on getting out of there safety. Avoid sitting in the vehicle and doing other things before getting a move on.

Parking lots can be dangerous. Take all of the necessary safety precautions to not only help to keep yourself safe, but to help to keep others safe as well. If you spot any suspicious activities, you’re urged to contact local authorities — but do so in a safe place!
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A pedestrian accident near Gillette Stadium left one driver behind bars.

According to CBS Boston, the accident happened just before 1:00 a.m. A state police officer was working detail at the New England Patriots game and was told by a passerby that there was an accident just down the road. The officer headed down Route 1 and saw a pedestrian lying in the middle of the road moaning in pain. The 30-year-old pedestrian had bruises, cuts and a broken leg.

A trooper who was working a couple miles away saw a vehicle pass by with damage to the windshield and to the rear-view mirror. It was determined through police communication that this was the driver involved in the pedestrian accident back at the stadium. He was pulled over by the trooper and arrested from driving under the influence (for his second offense), leaving the scene of an accident and negligent operation.

Our Foxboro pedestrian accident attorneys enjoy the crowds surrounding New England Patriot games. Pedestrian accidents are more common during the evening hours anyway. When there are more fans along our roadways, the risks for these kinds of accidents skyrocket.

In Massachusetts, there were close to 50 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents in 2009. Most of these fatalities could have been prevented if drivers were to just pay a little more attention behind the wheel — and stay sober too! There were another 110 people killed in car accidents over the year in crashes involving at least one driver who was drunk at the time of the accident.

Before, during and after football games, we’re asking everyone to be on the lookout. Fans will hitting our roadways (hopefully in celebration) and we have to make sure that our driving doesn’t cause a needless accident. Drive carefully, keep an eye out for walkers and bicyclists and do your part to avoid a tragedy.

Pedestrians are asked to be safe out there, too. Review the following safety tips from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

-Only cross in a crosswalk or at a street corner.

-Keep an eye out for turning vehicles.

-Remember that fluorescent colors are extremely visible to motorists.

-Wear reflectors or carry a flashlight when walking at night.

-Never assume that a driver sees you.

-Avoid engaging in distractions while walking. Keep your eyes on the road and the traffic around you.

-Watch for vehicles backing out of parking spaces.

-If there is no sidewalk, walk along the shoulder, facing the traffic.
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The Mayor of Boston, Thomas M. Menino, recently announced improvements to walkways and pathways to parks in downtown. Crews have already started working on the areas commonly traveled by pedestrians on Boston Common, the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and the Public Garden.

According to the City of Boston, crews will be starting on the walkways that need work the most. In some areas, entire swaths of these walkways will be repaired while other areas will be “sport treated.” In areas being “spot treated,” these walkways have some serious tripping hazards and even have problems with puddling during and after rain. These walkways will be fixed with “minimal disturbance” to vegetation in the area. Officials plan on keeping tree canopies as they’re critical to the health of the parks as well as the appeal to residents and visitors.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that our city and property owners have a responsibility to keep sidewalks safe for residents and visitors. When this doesn’t happen — accidents do. Premises liability is the legal responsibility that property owners have for injuries that occur on their property due to slip and fall accidents. If someone slips, trips or falls because of a dangerous condition, then it’s usually the property owner who is responsible for the damages. In many cases, you’re able to collect medical expenses, pain and suffering and even compensation for lost work.

In most cases, construction crews will be adding a new layer of concrete. This is going to help to get the sidewalks back to an even surface. Where more work is needed, construction crews will go in and will repair the sub-base.

While these repairs are being made, pedestrians are asked to be careful. The one thing that might be worse than these aged sidewalks are the dangers presented with crews on the scene working to repair.

Mayor Menino is asking departments to start brainstorming on ways to help keep our sidewalks in good-working order. He says that the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will be using the near $1 million capital project to help to make sure that the sidewalks and other walkways in the area will make it through the year.

In Boston Common, construction crews will be installing an filtration basin underneath the walkway. This park has seen a lot of issues with puddling and other water-related problems with the recent storms. This new system will help to drain storm water and help it seep into the ground so that pedestrians can walk along walkways now engulfed in puddles.

If you’re walking through the area, you’re going to see fencing and other signs of constrution. Statutes in the area will also be covered for preservation. Pedestrians might also run into plywood covering artworks and other obstructions.

Officials say that the entire project may not be completed until Spring 2013.
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A 66-year-old pedestrian from Sadbury has been seriously injured in an accident. She was struck by a car on Fairbank Road. According to The Metro West Daily News, the accident happened at about 6:00 p.m. Officers say that the woman has sustained “potentially life-threatening injuries.”

The driver involved in the accident remained at the scene and cooperated with officials, according to Lt. Scott Nix, spokesman for the police. No one has been cited or has been charged in the accident, but it is still being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police and the Sadbury Police. Officers closed down the road for nearly 4 hours following the accident.

Our Sadbury pedestrian accident lawyers understand the risks. Residents and visitors to the area can simply walk to and from their destinations, or take longer journeys on buses, trains and subways. It’s a way of life here in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, inattentive or negligent motorists increase the risks for everyone. These on-foot travelers are involved in auto accidents all too often and one of the top causes of these accidents is driver inattention.

Recent reports conclude that more than 107 million Americans walk each and every day as a regular mode of transportation. The New England area accounts for more than 10 million of these walkers. That’s partially the reason why pedestrian accidents are so common in our state. Another reason why these kinds of accidents happen all of the time is because drivers just don’t recognize these travelers as legitimate traveler. They think that just because they don’t have a vehicle that they don’t matter along our roadways. Oftentimes they’re just overlooked and disregarded.

There are a number of reasons that people walk, including travel to and from school or work, recreation, personal errands, health benefits and even walking the family pet. No one walks around town searching for irresponsible drivers. Still the match is oftentimes made and serious accidents result.

Pedestrians are must less likely to survive an auto accident than the occupants of a vehicle.

Pedestrian accidents can be completely random and can affect some of the most responsible of walkers, but the href=”http://www.iihs.org/”target=”_blank:>Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) follows these accidents and can point out some pretty significant trends.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics:

-Pedestrians over the age of 70 have the highest death rate among and age group involved in pedestrian-auto accidents.

-About 70 percent of the pedestrians who were killed in traffic accidents in 2007 were male.

-If the victim is over 60-years-old, it’s likely that the accident happened in an intersection.

-Vehicles involved in pedestrian accidents are oftentimes speeding when the crash occurs.

-Pedestrian accidents are likely to occur over the weekend periods.

-Most pedestrian accidents happen in urban areas.

-More than 70 percent occur on major roadways.

To help to reduce these accidents, pedestrians are asked to use sidewalks whenever possible. You should only cross the road by using an intersection or by using a street corner. You have to stay one step ahead of the traffic around you. Make sure that you look drivers in the eyes before crossing in front of them. Smart travel and defensive travel is safe travel.
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As we recently reported on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, the state of Massachusetts has celebrated its 500th Safe Routes School Partner. This means that the 500th school has joined the program to help to get kids to and from school safely while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.

Recently, to celebrate the new participation, officials with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles teamed up with these teachers, students and parents to celebrate the program through International Walk to School Day.

Our Boston pedestrian injury attorneys understand that our young ones are the most vulnerable when it comes to pedestrian accidents. According to SafeKids USA, there were close to 250 kids who were under the age of 14 who were killed in pedestrian-traffic accidents in the United States in 2009. During this same time, there were close to 16,000 of these young pedestrians who were injured in traffic accidents. Parents, guardians and teachers need to step in and speak up about the importance of safe walking habits to help to keep our young ones safe. Drivers also need to take some responsibility in the matter and make sure that they keep a heads up for pedestrians, especially young ones, along our roadways.

“The Safe Routes to School program focuses on promoting healthy and sustainable transportation modes for students and their families,” said Registrar Kaprielian.

During the most recent celebration of the program, there were about 300 students from Waltham’s Northeast Elementary in Woburn who made the journey around the Common. This was the school that marked the 500th participant. All of the participants were between the ages of 7 and 12. Joining in on the action were students from Reading’s Parker Middle School, Whittier Schools, Everett’s Keverian, Somerville’s Kennedy School, Holmes Elementary, Russell Elementary and Malden’s Forestdale School.

Currently, officials with MassDOT are partnered up with more than 500 middle and elementary schools in the area with close to 250,000 students in more than 150 communities across the Commonwealth to help to promote safe child pedestrians and to enforce the Safe Routes to School program.

More than 40 countries were expected to participate in this year’s International Walk to School Day.

On average, there is a pedestrian-traffic accident fatality every 2 hours. A pedestrian is injured every 4 minutes. As a matter of fact, pedestrians are about 2 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to be killed in a car crash. Children are at the highest risks. In 2008, one in every five kids between the ages of 5 and 9 who were killed in traffic crashes was a pedestrian.

Parents are urged to make sure that children are never walking near vehicular traffic unsupervised. When your child is old enough to walk without you, make sure they never walk alone.
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The Boston Department of Transportation is working with the residents of Grove Street to make improvements to the roadways. These improvements are going to be used not only to improve traffic safety, but will focus on pedestrian safety as well.

“It’s important for residents to feel safe using neighborhood streets, and they should not have to be worried about their personal safety due to speeding cars and trucks,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

Our Boston pedestrian accident lawyers understand the appeal of walking in Boston. Keeping areas like West Roxbury pedestrian friendly is equally important. Earlier this year, residents in the area went to a City Council Hearing to discuss “Traffic Calming.” This meeting was headed by Matt O’Malley, the Boston City Councilor. During this meeting, one local resident spoke up about his concerns about the dangerous traffic on Grove Street, particularly the part between Washington Street and the Dedham line.

Those voicing concerns contend that traffic is just too heavy and it’s traveling too fast! Residents were also concerned with the trucking traffic in the area. BTD Commissioner Thomas J. Tinlin says that he is happy to announce that the new plan will help to fix all of these issues.

After the meeting, officials with the BTD’s Engineering Division completed a study of the area. They concluded that there was a 24-hour period back in March in which there were close to 1,000 vehicles that passed through a residential roadway. Even worse, more than 83 percent of the vehicles that passed through were exceeding the 30 miles per hour speed limit. To help to put an end to this, there will be a number of traffic safety measures that will be executed in the area. These are measures that have been proven to reduce the risks of pedestrian accidents, injuries and fatalities.

New Traffic Measures:

-There will be two crosswalks installed in the area.

-There will be four pedestrian ramps, equipped with signs, that will be installed at these new crosswalks.

-There will be two more speed limit signs installed on Grove Street. One will direct northbound traffic and one will direct southbound traffic.

-Officials will be laying down new pavement marking to help drivers to better see the 11 foot travel lanes that are in each direction.

The project to incorporate both pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Grove Street recently kicked off. Officials believe that the project will wrap up by mid-October. Officials will continue to monitor the area and will make adjustments to the project as needed.

Before, during and after this project, we ask drivers to on their best behavior in this area and keep an extra watchful eye out for pedestrians. Traffic of all kinds needs to work together to help make our city safe for all.
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You can’t rely on drivers. The truth of the matter is that defensive walking habits may be your best bet in staying out of a potentially fatal accident, especially if you’re walking near vehicular traffic.

Just as we stress the importance of paying attention behind the wheel, it’s equally important to pay attention to your surroundings when you’re walking around town. According to safety officials, it’s a growing problem and it’s putting far too many people at unnecessary and preventable risks.

We are talking about distracted walking.

According to USA TODAY, the number of people who landed in an emergency room after being involved in an accident while engaging in distractions has quadrupled over the last seven years. Unfortunately, these hospital reports are some of the only records. Transportation officials don’t keep stats on distracted walking accidents in Boston and elsewhere and therefor have no idea how serious the problem really is.

“With the smartphone technology these days and everything at your fingertips, it’s almost getting to be an obsession or a compulsion with people,” said Jim Fox, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s director of system safety and risk management.

According to what we do know, there were nearly 1,200 people who were treated in an emergency room because they suffered injuries from walking while engaging in an electronic distraction. Unfortunately, this is a statistics that officials think is actually much higher, saying that in most cases distractions are never reported by the victim.

Risks for pedestrians all around are getting worse. In 2010, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased by more than 4 percent and the number on injuries rose by nearly 20 percent. These numbers are only expected to increase more. Travelers beware!

Recent psychological studies show that most people aren’t able to focus on more than one thing at a time. When someone tries, their attention shifts back and forth from each activity and performance suffers. But just like drivers, pedestrians think that they’re safe to do both at once. When this happens, walkers can’t effectively keep their eye on the traffic and other surrounding hazards, leaving them an open target for an accident.

Just take a look at the recent headlines. Pedestrians are falling off curbs, they’re walking into fountains and they’re slamming into poles. You’re urged to keep an eye on your surroundings. Lookout for nearby motor vehicle traffic. By practicing safe and defensive walking habits and by staying one step ahead of the traffic around you, you can help to keep yourself out of a potentially fatal accident.

This is especially important in areas like Boston. In areas where pedestrians are likely to be found, so are the risks for these kinds of accidents.
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An overnight accident in Chelsea sent a pedestrian to Massachusetts General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Officials with the Massachusetts State Police are currently investigating the accident.

The accident happened along Revere Beach parkway just after midnight when the pedestrian was struck by a passing bus, according to NECN.

The Bolt Bus was being driven by a Brockton man. Currently, no charges have been filed.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that buses are a key form of transportation throughout the state. Many residents and visitors rely on this form of transportation to get to and from work and school. While we oftentimes focus on the safety of the passengers, it’s also important to focus on the pedestrians are the vehicles. These large buses pack a heavy punch when they’re involved in traffic accidents and oftentimes produce deadly results.

Pedestrians need to be cautious whenever traveling near motor vehicle traffic. In 2009, there were nearly 4,100 pedestrians killed on U.S. roadways. In addition to these fatalities, there were another 60,000 people injured in these accidents. Oftentimes, pedestrians are overlooked by vehicle traffic, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It’s important for pedestrians to make their movements near traffic predictable to make them better seen my motorists. These kinds of accidents are preventable. They just take some awareness from everyone.

According to the Cambridge Police Department, there are a few simple safety tips that pedestrians can use when walking around buses and bus stops to help them to avoid becoming the victim of a fatal bus-pedestrian accident.

Pedestrian Safety Tips:

-Pedestrians are required to follow all traffic control signals and directions of officers who may be out directing traffic.

-Pedestrians are required to use crosswalks to cross the street if they’re within 300 feet of one.

-Pedestrians are required to yield to the right of way to authorized emergency, funeral processions, regardless of what the traffic controls may be conveyed.

-When traveling at night, wear bright clothing and wear reflectors or carry a flashlight to be able to be more visible to motorists.

While we ask pedestrians to do their part to stay safe on our roadways, we also ask motorists and bus drivers to keep an eye out for on-foot traffic. The Cambridge Police Department also offers some safety tips for drivers to help to keep our roads safe.

Motorist Safety Tips:

-Motorists are to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

-Motorists are to never block a crosswalk.

-Always expect pedestrians. Be extra cautious in residential neighborhoods and be cautious when traveling near downtown areas and shopping/business districts.

-Motorists must slow down for pedestrians.

-Motorists may not open a car door into the travel lane of a bicyclist of a pedestrian.

-Motorists must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists when making a turn.
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