Pedestrian Accidents

April 30, 2012

Framingham Accident Kills Man Taking Out the Garbage

A local man was recently killed in a pedestrian accident while merely finishing up some household chores. The man was killed in Framingham pedestrian accident just a few steps from home. The 61-year-old man was taking out the garbage when he was hit by a passing vehicle. According to the Boston Herald, the man was walking down his sloping driveway located on Edmands Road. That roadway is a two-lane, shoulderless road where many locals complain about speedy traffic.

The man’s wife was home with their young son when a stranger knocked on the door with the news of the accident. It happened around 4:00 p.m. Officers have not released the name of the driver, but do say that he remained at the scene of the accident and an investigation is pending. A neighbor of the victim says that it was just a matter of time before an accident like this happened. She says their roadway is a very scary place for pedestrians. She says that she and her neighbors would love to see some speed bumps installed in the area to help to slow down traffic.

Our Framingham pedestrian accident lawyers understand that on-foot traffic faces some serious risks near motor vehicles. It’s critical for drivers to be cautious and alert when driving through residential neighborhoods. It’s in these areas where children and families enjoy the outdoors near the comfort of their own home. An alarming number of pedestrian accidents happen in residential driveways. It’s a team effort and both walkers and drivers need to work together to help make our roadways safer for everyone.

Experts report that about 40 percent of pedestrian accidents occur in residential neighborhoods while only about 35 percent happen in business areas. More than 40 percent of accidents happen at non-intersection areas, including parking lots, driveways, mid-block locations and off roadway locations. Roughly 38 percent of accidents happen at crosswalks and the other 62 percent happen at non-crosswalk location.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there are nearly 6,000 pedestrians killed every year. Another 90,000 are injured annually. Police throughout the state are urging pedestrians to be cautions when walking along our streets, even in the comfort of their own neighborhoods.

Tips for Pedestrians:

-Always use sidewalks when they’re available.

-Use crosswalks when you can.

-Dress in bright or light-colored clothing to help motorists to see you.

-Consider wearing reflective materials if walking during evening or early morning hours.

-Walk facing oncoming traffic if you have to walk along a roadway.

-Carry a flashlight if you have to walk during the evening.

-Don’t drink and walk. Just as alcohol hinders your ability to drive, it also hinders your ability to walk safely.

-Teach children to look left, right and left again before crossing the road.

-Make eye contact with drivers before attempting to cross.

-Curb distractions. Keep your eyes off your phone while walking along roadways.
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April 28, 2012

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Commonwealth Targeted by Walk and Bicycle to School Day

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

There’s going to be thousands of elementary and middle school students who will be celebrating this year’s Walk and Bicycle to School Day. This year’s program will include a number of events coordinated though the Commonwealth’s Safe Routes to School Program. Students are encouraged to join in on the 2nd of May!

In 2011, there were more than 160 schools from across the area that took part in the event, making it the largest one on the books. Since then, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation‘s (MassDOT) Safe Routes to School program has added more than 100 new schools to its list. In the program, MassDOT officials work with school staff, students, parents and local law enforcement officials throughout the Commonwealth to help to promote biking and walking to school. With help from the community, this program pushes to make biking and walking safer and reducing the risks of pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Boston and elsewhere.

Our Boston pedestrian accident lawyers understand that only about 15 percent of students walk or bike to school. During the morning rush hour commutes, more than 10 percent of the traffic is school-related traffic. This causes some congested roadways and a significant increase in air pollution. MassDOT has been organizing the statewide Walk to School Day since 2007. This campaign was designed to help to encourage our young ones to get out, get healthy and to encourage healthy choices.

“The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is committed to building infrastructure improvements near and around our community schools so that children can safely walk or bicycle to school,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO, Richard A. Davey.

There were nearly 250 pedestrians who experienced severe or incapacitating injuries in traffic-related accidents in the state of Massachusetts in 2008, according to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

There were 10 cyclists killed in the state of Massachusetts in traffic-related bicycle accidents in 2008. According to federal statistics, about a third of all bicycle accidents are the result of a motorist hitting a bike from behind or failing to yield. About 90 percent of these accidents occur at intersections of in driveways.

While we’re promoting riding, biking and walking to school for our young children, it’s important for parents and guardians to talk with their school-aged children about the importance of safe traveling habits. Traveling near motor vehicles needs to be taken seriously. Children should know to look both ways before crossing any street, to always cross at a crosswalk or at a street corner, to wear bright colored clothing to be seen by motorists, to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the roadway and to never walk alone at night. By reviewing just a few simple safety rules, we can help to keep our kids on a safe and healthy track to school.
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March 23, 2012

Reducing Risks of Accidents in Boston One Road at a Time

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Winter isn’t too nice to our roadways and sidewalks. The snow, ice and freezing-cold temps can wreak havoc on these surfaces, causing bumps, cracks and other serious dangers. To help fix this problem, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the “Mark It’ campaign. How it works is that the Boston Department of Transportation will be searching neighborhoods across the city looking for areas that were hit hard by the winter weather.

Officials will be looking to reinstall traffic turn arrows, lane lines, crosswalks, symbols in school zones, double yellow lines and other roadway and sidewalk makings that were damaged during this past winter. This effort will be joining the city’s $20 million Road Renewal program, which aims to reconstruct or repave nearly 40 miles of roadways that were damaged in the winter weather, according to the City of Boston‘s website. The goal of this program, aside from making our city more beautiful is to help to reduce the risks of injury in Boston.

“After such a harsh winter, I’m dedicated to ensuring all Bostonians have a safe commute through our city,” said Mayor Menino.

Our Massachusetts personal injury lawyers understand that the new program will be focusing heavily on reinstalling crosswalks, especially in areas that are near community centers, schools, senior centers and parks. The program will be visiting more than 600 crosswalks throughout the city. Smooth and safe walking surfaces are an important part of the city. In a city that relies heavily on pedestrian and bicycle travel, it’s important to keep these walkways safe for all.

In addition to the more than 600 crosswalks, officials will also be improving about a quarter of all of the city’s intersections and will be laying down new reflective thermoplastic material as the new markings. Areas with more pedestrian traffic, like areas near Fenway Park and Kenmore Square, will be receiving treatment first.

The intersections near the Mildred Avenue Community Center and Walker Park have already received the new additions of the new highly reflective thermoplastic crosswalks.

Transportation Commissioner Thomas Tinlin says that there are crews who are looking over areas in the city that need improvement. These crews are prioritizing jobs.

In the spring, the city will launch a new pilot program that will be repairing large cracks on our roadways that are 5 to 10-years-old in such a way to extend their usable lifetime by 7 additional years. This preventative program will be looking at roadways in neighborhoods throughout the city. Officials predict that this program could help to save the city millions.

To help to eliminate confusion on travelers’ behalf, the city will be sending out notifications to residents regarding which areas will be worked on when. The notifications will also be used as a way to communicate with businesses and residents to help make sure that any private utility work they’re planning doesn’t conflict with the city’s repair efforts.
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February 27, 2012

Student Injured in Pedestrian Accident on UMASS Amherst Campus

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

As we recently reported on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, there are some important and beneficial changes that have been proposed to state government to make our roadways safer for pedestrians. WalkBoston has made these proposals to officials and say they are the key to making our roadways safer for everyone, especially for pedestrians. In 2009, there were about 100 pedestrians killed on our state’s roadways. If something doesn’t change, we’ll continue to lose precious lives.

Just recently, there was another pedestrian accident in Massachusetts, this one on North Pleasant Street on the University of Massachusetts campus. In this case, a young female pedestrian was struck by a passing vehicle. Our state and the city of Boston necessitates on-foot commuting for many residents, students and visitors. Walking and biking are some of the most popular and convenient ways to get around town. Even with our roadways flooded with these vulnerable travelers, motor vehicle drivers continuously fail to recognize these people. They are simply overlooked and disregarded on our roadways. Much of this is the fault of roadway design and laws too, not just motorists.

Our Massachusetts pedestrian accident attorneys understand that the recent pedestrian accident that significantly injured the young student was serious enough to require three responding officers, yellow caution tape and blocked roadways. Reports indicate that there was shattered glass and blood covering the roadway. Unfortunately, this isn’t an uncommon sight in the area.

“UMass Amherst has recently been beset by motor vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents that have resulted in serious bodily injury to the pedestrians,” states the UMASS Amherst Police Department‘s website.

The University’s website also points out a very important pedestrian safety law, the one that states that a driver can be issued a citation if he or she doesn’t not stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, unless the traffic light says otherwise or if a pedestrian is not within five feet of a car’s side of the road. Still, pedestrians should never assume a crosswalk is safe only because they technically have the right of way.

Pedestrian Safety Tips from the UMASS Amherst Police Department:

-Pay full attention to your surroundings while walking.

-Always walk on a sidewalk. If you have to walk on the road, do it so that you’re facing traffic.

-Dress so that motorists can see you easily.

-When walking at night, put some reflective material on your shoes, hat or your jacket. These reflectors will reflect light from the headlights of the vehicles coming toward you and make you more visible to motorists.

-Only cross the street at crosswalks.

-Stop at the curb before crossing the street to look in all directions.
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February 18, 2012

Pedestrian Accidents in Massachusetts need Political Focus

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Boston streets are some of the busiest in the country. That’s the reason why risks for pedestrian accidents in Massachusetts are so high. You need to be on the top on your game to avoid one of these accidents along our state’s roadways.

An elderly resident was recently killed in a recent pedestrian accident in Worcester. The 69-year-old woman who used a cane to walk was hit by a teenage driver in a pickup truck as she attempted to cross Route 20 at roughly 7:00 p.m., according to the Boston Globe. Witnesses say that the elderly pedestrian flew nearly 30 feet in the air after collision. The Worcester police station reports that no citations have been issued.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys hear the vehicles zipping by nearly every day on our commute to the office. We understand the dangers that are presented on our state’s busy roadways. As we recently reported, Massachusetts’ highway safety division is working on a way to promote safe driving habits in 2012 to help to reduce the risks for our on-foot travelers. The number of pedestrian fatalities in our state is almost double that of the national average. In 2009, pedestrian deaths accounted for nearly 21 percent of all traffic fatalities.

In the state of Massachusetts in 2009, there were nearly 100 pedestrian fatalities as the result of motor vehicle-related accidents. In addition to these fatalities, there were another 235 pedestrians injured in these types of accidents.

According to national statistics, a pedestrian is killed every 2 hours and a pedestrian is injured every 9 minutes. It’s like a war zone out there!

Pedestrian travel is important in the state of Massachusetts and government officials are urged to treat it as such. There are a number of ways that we can help to increase the safety of pedestrians in the area.

Suggestions to Increase Pedestrian Safety from WalkBoston:

-Support legislation to reduce the speed limits in urban areas from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. The faster a vehicle is traveling when striking a pedestrian the higher the risks are for pedestrian death. At 30 miles per hour a pedestrian has a 40 percent chance of death — at 20 miles per hour the risks are only 5 percent.

-Use pedestrian-friendly design speeds for arterial and collector roadway projects. This means that new roads and the modification of older roadways should keep pedestrian safety as a top concern.

-Projects to create and modify bus, rail and rapid transit should include funding for pedestrian access.

-The quality of pedestrian data should meet that of vehicular data. Sometimes, it’s as if you’re not counted then you don’t count. Right now, the state’s data of bicycle and pedestrian accidents and injuries is up. Still, this data is poorly collected.

-Support legislation requiring local pedestrian advisory committees.
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February 6, 2012

Boston Road Safety, Part 6: Pedestrians

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Increasingly, a significant percentage of fatalities on our roadways involve pedestrian accidents in Boston and throughout the country.

According to the Safekids USA reports that other than the street, many young children are struck in driveways, parking lots and sidewalks.

The state’s highway safety division partners with WalkBoston to promote pedestrian safety in Boston. The non-profit promotes walking as a commuting option that is better for the environment, healthier for the workers and a cheaper alternative to a car, which can be costly in terms of gas and repairs.

But pedestrian safety must be a top priority.

SafeKids USA recommends the following actions by lawmakers to help make that a reality:

1. Reduce speed limits in residential areas.
2. Make sure pedestrians have adequate walkways.
3. Forbid vehicles from passing school buses while loading and unloading passengers.
4. Making sure there are enough crossing guards and ensuring pedestrians don’t cross the street anywhere other than designated crosswalks.

For parents, walking your child’s route to school with them can be a great way to become familiar with potential dangers they may face on the way to school, and to discuss with them how they can stay safe.
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January 13, 2012

Millions at Risk for Pedestrian Accidents in Boston

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to the Boston Public Health Commission‘s (BPHC) Walk This Way website, there are an estimated 2 million pedestrians in the City of Boston every day. Only about 600,000 people call the City of Boston home, but when you factor in workers and visitors to the city the number reaches roughly 2 million every single day.

With that many people walking through the city, Boston pedestrian accidents are likely and unfortunately going to happen. For that reason, the Walk This Way website is here to offer pedestrians in the city with some safety tips, quick facts and useful information to help to reduce the risks of pedestrian accidents in Boston.

Our Boston pedestrian accident lawyers understand that Boston roadways and sidewalks can be quite the hazard. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, there were nearly 50 pedestrian fatalities in 2009. During the first 6 months of 2010, there were already 25 pedestrian fatalities reported. With the cooperation of both motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians throughout the city, we can help to reduce these accident risks and make a city of safer travel for everyone.

According to a recent Walk This Way study:

-Only about 12 percent of pedestrians in the city wait for the “Walk” signal before crossing the street.

-Nearly 35 percent of pedestrians jaywalk at least 5 feet from a crosswalk.

-Approximately 95 percent of drivers yield to pedestrians when these on-foot travelers have the right-of-way. But only about 50 percent of drivers yield to pedestrians who cross against the light. Even fewer drivers slow down for jaywalkers.

The results of this study indicate that irresponsible pedestrian and driver behavior is a part of the dangerous risks for pedestrian-traffic accidents in the city. These habits are easily corrected with a little conscious effort towards safety from everyone.

Pedestrian Facts from the BPHC:

-The crosswalk in the safest place to cross the street.

-Check for traffic in all directions before stepping into a crosswalk to cross the street.

-If you’re at an intersection with both a crosswalk and a traffic light, push the button and wait for the “Walk” signal before attempting to cross the road.

-At intersections with a crosswalk without a traffic light, pedestrians have the right-of-way. Be sure that approaching drivers see you and come to a complete stop before starting to cross the road.

-Use a sidewalk when one is available to you.

-When a sidewalk is not available, walk on the left-hand side of the road facing oncoming traffic.

-Always wear brightly-colored clothes or carry a flashlight with you when walking during the evening or early morning hours.

-Keep a watchful eye out for vehicles that are reversing out of parking spots or driveways.

-Remember that the fine for jaywalking in the city of Boston is $1.

Pedestrians are urged to take the Walk This Way Trivia Quiz to test out their walking skills and to freshen up their walking knowledge for a safer commute.
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January 13, 2012

New Year’s Resolution to Help Curb Pedestrian Accidents in Boston

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Our Boston personal injury lawyers recently discussed the dangers of bicycle accidents at one main intersection in the city. While that intersection is definitely dangerous for bicyclists, it’s also extremely dangerous for pedestrians. We’re talking about the intersection of Vassar Street and Massachusetts Avenue. According to the Boston Globe, thousands of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians cross through this intersection every day. Since 2007, there have been approximately 55 accidents reported at that intersection. One of them fatal and nearly 25 of them resulting in injury.
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“For the amount of volume that goes through that intersection…I would say it is one of our highest accident locations in the city,” said Police Deputy Superintendent Jack Albert.

Our Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyers are concluding our 6-part blog series with a discussion of the risks, dangers and consequences of pedestrian accidents in the state. This is the 6th entry of our blog series discussing New Year’s Resolutions that residents can take in 2012 to make our roadways safer for everyone.

Road design enhancements were made to Massachusetts Avenue last year. But many believe that not enough has been done. Officials with MIT urged transportation officials to adjust the timing of the traffic lights to make the intersection more pedestrian friendly. Still, the Vassar Street and Massachusetts Avenue intersection remains one of the city’s top hot spots for these types of accidents. In 2011, there were nearly 20 accidents reported there, making it second in the top five most dangerous intersections in Massachusetts. The number one most dangerous intersections was at Gardner Street and Massachusetts Avenue in Harvard Square.

According to city records, of the 55 accidents that occurred at this intersection since 2007, three of them involved pedestrians. A majority of these accidents involved motorists making right-hand turns and colliding with bicyclists and pedestrians because they just failed to see them.

Nationwide statistics reveal that there are nearly 110 million Americans who walk regularly as a mode of transportation. The New England area accounts for more than 10 percent of these pedestrians.

According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Boston is ranked one of the most dangerous areas for pedestrian accidents out of the country’s 52 largest metropolitan areas. In Boston, an average of 485 pedestrians were killed on our city’s roadways from 2000 to 2009, according to Transportation for America.

Our Boston pedestrian accident lawyers are asking residents to be cautious when walking through the city. We understand the convenience that comes with walking in the area, but we ask that everyone be cautious when doing so. Be cautious and alert for passing motorists. Our sidewalks may be flooded with pedestrians, but our roadways are flooded with dangerous drivers. Let’s all work together to travel safely among one another to enjoy a safe 2012.
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January 13, 2012

Massachusetts Avenue: A Common Backdrop for Intersection Car Accidents in Boston

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

“This intersection makes me nervous,” Marcia Pearson, a Somerville bicyclist, told a newspaper recently.

What Pearson is talking about the intersection of Vassar Street and Massachusetts Avenue. According to local police officers, it’s an extremely dangerous intersection. Every day, there are thousands of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists who use the intersection near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus. Intersection car accidents in Massachusetts are common at this intersection because of the high volume of traffic that this intersection withstands all day long.

Our Boston car accident lawyers understand that Cambridge officers responded to nearly 60 accidents at this intersection in 2007. Of those, 24 involved vehicles and bikes. Many resulted in injury, and some in death, according to The Boston Globe. For this reason, officers are targeting this intersection as a part of a roadway safety campaign that is being used by officials to improve traffic safety across the city, cracking down on those who violate traffic laws.

According to Jack Albert, Police Deputy Superintendent, accidents are inevitable with so many people using this intersection daily, even though there have already been efforts made to make the intersection safer.

Last year, road enhancements were made on Mass Ave, but officials with MIT urge the state’s transportation department to change the timing to the traffic lights at the intersections to make the intersection safer.

But even with the improvements, there were 16 accidents at the intersection last year. According to the Police Department’s list of the top five most dangerous intersections of 2011 in the city, this intersection ranked second, right behind Massachusetts Avenue and Gardner Street in Harvard Square.

This is the fourth entry of a 6-part blog discussing simple New Year’s resolutions residents can make to increase the safety of all travelers on our roadways. This blog entry will be discussing simple adjustments that travelers can make at intersections to help reduce the number of accidents that we see every year in these areas.

Safe Driving Tips from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

-Always obey the speed limit. Remember that posted speed limits are the limits for ideal weather conditions. Slow down in poor weather conditions, like snow, fog and rain.

-Follow the two-second rule. Never tailgate. Allow vehicles around with you ample space. The more space between you and other vehicles the longer reaction time you allow yourself.

-Always use your turn signal to alert drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists about your intended maneuvers.

-Respect the crosswalk. You want to stop behind the line when stopping for a traffic light. Don’t block these walkways.

-Never blog an intersection. Make sure you can make it safely through the entire intersection safely before proceeding through.

-Put down the distractions. Passing through an intersection requires your full attention.
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January 3, 2012

Crowded Roadways Increase Risks for Pedestrian Accidents in Boston and Elsewhere

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A Worcester pedestrian accident killed a woman who was walking across the street on a marked crosswalk on Chandler Street. According to Worcester police officers, the accident happened just before 7 a.m. and upon arrival, the body of a 63-year-old woman was discovered. The female pedestrian was involved in a single-car accident and sustained severe injuries. She was taken to St. Vincent Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
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According to My Fox Boston, investigations concluded that a 51-year-old driver of a van slammed directly into the pedestrian who was using the crosswalk to get across the street. The driver was the only one in the vehicle at the time of the accident and he remained at the scene of the accident until officials arrived. The speed limit on that street is 30 miles per hour. Officials with the Worcester Police Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating.

Our Massachusetts pedestrian accident lawyers understand that our roadways are congested, especially during and after the holidays. We often hear warnings for drivers urging them to be cautious of one another on the roadways to avoid an accident, but many seem to forget the dangers that pedestrians face as well. Pedestrians face an increased risk for accidents just as motorists do when the roads are crowded. All travelers are urged to be cautious and courteous of one another throughout out the year..

The recent Thanksgiving holiday weekend provided a sneak peek into just how dangerous travel can be during holidays can be. According to the Boston Herald, a 47-year-old female pedestrian was killed while crossing a street in Worcester over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Another Thanksgiving holiday weekend accident turned fatal when a 75-year-old motorist from Somerville was hit by a passing vehicle as he got out of his car to exchange information with another driver that he had been involved in an accident with just seconds prior.

A third Thanksgiving accident injured two people as they were standing in the travel lane on Route 128 in Lynnfield and were hit by a passing motorist.

As we continuously ask drivers to be cautious, alert and courteous at the wheel, we also ask pedestrians to travel safely. Keep an eye on your surroundings to avoid a potentially fatal accident.

Pedestrian Safety Tips:

-Always use a crosswalk when one is available. Most pedestrian accidents happen at non-intersection areas because drivers don’t expect pedestrians to cross.

-If you’ve been involved in a motor-vehicle accident, stay inside your car until police get there, especially if the accident is on a busy roadway.

-Pedestrians should always carry a flashlight and wear bright, reflective clothing when walking during the evening hours.

-Always walk on a sidewalk when there’s one available. When there is no sidewalk, you should walk facing traffic to see oncoming cars.
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