Preventing Boston Pedestrian Accidents: Tips for Pedestrians and Drivers

Boston is an amazing city and many people choose to walk to and from their destination instead of drive. It is much more economical, environmentally friendly, and healthful than driving a car, but it is also much more dangerous. With the increasing incidence of distracted driving, pedestrians are at an extremely high risk of being struck, and likely killed, by a negligent driver. But there are ways both pedestrians and drivers can ensure that crossing the street does not require taking your life in your hands.

At the Kiley Law Group, our pedestrian accident attorneys have seen the damage that can be done by irresponsible drivers and hope that these tips will help prevent future accidents:

Tips for Pedestrians

• Cross only at intersections, at a crosswalk, or street corners.
• Where possible, always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk as far left on the street as possible, facing traffic.
• Obey all traffic signals before walking into the road.
• Never run into the road; always stop and check for traffic before crossing.
• Watch out for turning traffic, especially on a red light.
• Look both ways before crossing a street.
• Make sure traffic has fully stopped before walking into the road.
• Be wary of driveways, specifically the cars entering or exiting them.

Tips for Drivers

• Obey all traffic signals and follow all speed limits.
• Look for pedestrians at street corners and intersections even if there is no traffic signal or stop sign.
• Make sure the car’s headlights are on (and working) at night.
• Be very cautious near parks and in school zones.
• Keep as close to the center of the road as possible when there is no sidewalk.
• Always stop before sidewalks when entering or exiting driveways and look both ways for pedestrians.
• Always come to a full stop at red lights and stop signs.

When a Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

In an ideal world, all drivers would practice caution when pedestrians are present, but this is unfortunately not how it typically works in reality. If you or a loved one has been injured in a MA pedestrian accident as the result of a driver’s negligent actions, you may be entitled to pursue legal action.

 Contact the Kiley Law Group today to find out how you can obtain the compensation you deserve after an injury auto accident. For a free consultation, call (888) 208-1695.

Distracted Driving Claims Lives in MA Car Accidents

Distracted driving is a major cause for many accidents in the United States. Whether it’s taking calls on their cell phones or texting, snacking in the car or even grooming themselves while driving, the fact of the matter is that these drivers do not pay their full attention to what happens on the road. In some cases, a moment of inattention can cost them their lives.

Inexperienced drivers are especially at risk. Teenagers, who are more likely to own a cell phone than any other part of the population, are also more likely to text while driving. It is no wonder then that there are laws in many states that ban cell phone use while driving, especially for teenage drivers.

Massachusetts Cell Phone While Driving Laws

 

The state of Massachusetts currently bans:

• Texting while driving for all drivers. Fines include $100 for the first offence, then $250 and $500 for each subsequent offence.
• Cell phone use for drivers under 18. The fines are $100 for the first offence, $250 for the second offence and $500 for each subsequent offence, plus license suspensions.
• Cell phone use for school bus operators and other public transit operators. Fines are $500.

Distracted Drivers Cause Accidents

 

Earlier this summer, an 18-year-old driver was sentenced to jail for causing a fatal Massachusetts car accident while texting. The accident claimed the life of a 55-year-old New Hampshire man and seriously injured his girlfriend.

Police found that on the day of the crash the then17-year-old driver, sent 193 text messages, including some just minutes before the accident, and dozens more after it. According to police, his car crossed the center line of the street and collided head-on with the victim's vehicle. The 55-year-old victim was fatally injured and died 18 days later from his injuries.

Another recent Massachusetts car accident was also caused by distracted driving, in this case, from eating and driving. According to The Boston Globe, an 18-year-old female driver was reaching into a bag of fast food when she went through a flashing red light and collided with a trooper’s cruiser. Luckily no one was injured in this accident, but it goes to show that even a small distraction, such as reaching for food, can result in a car accident. She received several citations for her actions.

If You Have Been Injured in a Distracted Driving Accident

 

If you have been injured in a Massachusetts car accident that was caused by someone else’s negligent driving, it is in your best interest to consult with a Boston personal injury attorney about your accident. Depending on the causes behind your accident and the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Your attorney will examine all the details surrounding your accident and will determine the best course of legal action to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

 Call (888)208-1695 to schedule your FREE consultation.

“Ghost Bike” Memorials Remind Drivers to Share the Road

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 618 bicyclists were killed and another 52,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents in 2010. More than 70 percent of the fatalities occurred in urban locations, 30 percent occurred at road intersections, and more than 50 percent occurred between 4:00 p.m. and midnight. These deaths should not have happened.

Remembering Bicycle Accident Victims

Bicycles are a healthful, economical, and environmentally-friendly way to get around, not to mention being a popular recreational activity for children and adults alike, but there are still many drivers who do not know how to share the road with cyclists, and this often has deadly results.

Wrongful death bicycle accidents are common around the globe, and the worst part of it is that if motor vehicle drivers just took a minute amount of extra care and attention, these accidents may be avoided. In remembrance of the innocent victims who lost their lives and as a reminder to those who still use the road, family members, friends, and sometimes even compassionate strangers have installed “ghost bikes” in memory of bicyclists who have been killed. The bikes are usually spray painted white and are sometimes even beat up to represent the crash. There are hundreds of these bikes in countries across the globe. In Boston, Massachusetts, there are four.

Boston Ghost Bikes

There are currently four ghost bikes in Boston memorializing the victims of fatal bicycle accidents, although one was apparently removed by police after some residents complained. All four victims were 22-years-old when they were killed, although only three died as the result of traffic accidents. The fatal accidents occurred in 2007 (2), 2009, and 2010.

Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable

The death of a loved one is devastating, but it is even more traumatic when they are taken from you without warning in an incident that didn’t have to happen. At the Kiley Law Group, our car accident wrongful death lawyers in Boston, MA recognize how difficult it is to grieve, support your family, and find peace of mind after such a horrible event. We can’t reverse what happened, but we can commit all our knowledge and resources to holding the at-fault party responsible for their negligence in order to obtain the compensation you need to provide your family with the financial support you deserve. With financial security, you can focus on your emotional recovery.

To speak to one of our attorneys about your specific situation, contact us today at (888) 208-1695 for a free consultation of your legal rights and options. Even if you decide not to pursue legal action, it is best to be well-informed of the potential action you could take. With a free consultation, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Bike Accident Lawyers Discuss Common Bicyclist Errors that Cause Michigan Car Accidents

Our bike accident lawyers in Michigan have successfully represented injured bicyclists involved in car, motorcycle, or truck accidents for over 40 years. As a resource to bicyclists and motorists, we have provided some driver errors to help further your knowledge on what to avoid, what to be aware of, and what the most common types of collisions between a bike and car are so that you too may not become a victim of a bicycle accident.

Bicyclists make up 2 percent of all victims in traffic crashes annually. Statistics show that:

• 69% of fatalities on bikes happened in large cities.
• Bicyclist accidents are shown to happen typically around 5p.m. and 9p.m.
• 12% of bicyclists injured were between the ages of 5 and 15 years old.

Bike accidents were attributed to one-third of bicyclist death in 2009. Although the number of bicyclist injuries in the United States has decreased substantially since 1994, serious injuries from bicycle accidents are still a serious issue, as they can cause serious injuries to the victim, even wrongful death from a bicycle accident.  

Common Bicyclist Errors that Cause Car Accidents in Michigan

According to “The Safety Report,” these are errors that bicyclists make every day and should not be taken lightly:

• Running red lights
• Running stop signs
• Listening to iPods/ and or other devices while riding your bike (cannot hear street sounds that may alert to danger)
• Unpredictable riding behavior (weaving around and through cars, changing directions without hand signals

Victims injured in a Michigan bike accident do have legal rights. If you or a family member suffers injuries due to a car accident, call (800) 606-1717 now to discuss your case with one of the experienced Buckfire & Buckfire Michigan car accident attorneys. We will start working on your case immediately gathering all the evidence and witness statements to win and settle your case.

The above article is a guest blog post by the personal injury lawyers of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. The Buckfire Law Firm works with Michigan clients who have been hit on bike by car or any other serious injuries in a bicycle accident.

Virginia Automobile Accident Personal Injury Claims

If you have been injured in a Virginia motor vehicle accident and are thinking about making a personal injury claim, there are few things you need to know if you hope to be compensated for your physical and emotional suffering. The Virginia automobile accident attorneys understand that the legal process can be daunting and so we’re here to help clear a few things up and make you feel comfortable and assured in your personal injury claim.  

Negligence of the Other Driver
Under Virginia law, in order to successfully gain compensation for injuries that you have suffered in a car accident, you need to prove that the operator of the motor vehicle that hit you was “negligent.” This means you must prove that the other driver acted in an unreasonable manner considering the circumstances.

Often, one can prove the negligence of the other driver by demonstrating that they broke a traffic law, or other widely accepted “rules of the road.”

Some common examples of negligence include:

• Running a red light or stop sign
• Speeding
• Turning in front of oncoming traffic
• Changing lanes without using a signal

Contributory Negligence
If you are able to prove that the other driver was someway negligent in the accident, then the focus becomes your behavior behind the wheel, and whether or not you contributed in any way to the collision. If so, then your personal injury claim is over and you are entirely barred from collecting any compensation for your injuries.

This Virginia law is called contributory negligence, and while it may seem harsh, it means that even if you are 1% to blame in the cause of the accident, you get nothing. Contributory negligence is a favorite of insurance companies and is used as often as possible to make sure that you receive nothing for your claim.

Recovering Damages
If you are successful in proving both that the other driver was negligent and that you were not contributorily negligent in the accident, you can use your car accident personal injury claim to recover damages. Here are some common damages under Virginia law:

• Lost wages (both past and future)
• Permanent injuries
• Medical Bills (both past and future)
• Physical disfigurement/deformity/scarring
• Loss of earning capacity
• Inconvenience
• Pain and Suffering

To ensure that you present the best possible case in court, you need to contact the Virginia automobile accident personal injury lawyers, who have the inside information garnered from once working for insurance companies ourselves. They know the personal injury claim process inside and out and will fight for your fair compensation.

Call today at (703) 906-4229 or fill out a free case consultation form and tell us about your accident.

The above article is a guest blog post by the personal injury lawyers at The Parrish Law Firm.