Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

January 22, 2025

New Year’s Eve Drunk Driving Accidents

New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration, with people gathering to welcome the coming year. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most dangerous nights of the year for drivers and pedestrians. Drunk driving accidents spike during this holiday, leaving victims and their families to deal with devastating consequences. For those injured by an impaired driver, understanding your rights is essential to securing justice and compensation.

The Alarming Rise in Drunk Driving on New Year’s Eve

Statistically, New Year’s Eve and the early hours of New Year’s Day see a sharp increase in alcohol-related traffic accidents. According to safety organizations, nearly half of all traffic fatalities during this holiday involve alcohol impairment. Factors contributing to this include:

Celebratory Drinking: Alcohol consumption increases dramatically during New Year’s Eve festivities, with many individuals choosing to drink excessively.
Late-Night Driving: The celebrations often extend past midnight, leading to a higher concentration of impaired drivers on the road during early morning hours.
Lack of Safe Transportation: Despite the availability of rideshare services and public transportation, some partygoers still choose to drive under the influence.

These factors create a perfect storm of risk, endangering the lives of not only impaired drivers but also passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians.

January 5, 2025

Tragic Braintree DUI Accident Claims Teenager’s Life

by Altman & Altman

A recent tragedy in Braintree, Massachusetts, highlights the devastating consequences of drunk driving. An 18-year-old passenger lost their life in a head-on collision caused by an alleged drunk driver. This heartbreaking incident serves as a somber reminder of the dangers impaired drivers pose to everyone on the road. Beyond the immediate loss and suffering, such accidents often leave victims and their families grappling with the legal and financial aftermath.

A Fatal Drunk Driving Collision in Braintree

According to reports, the crash occurred when a vehicle driven by an allegedly intoxicated driver crossed into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with another car. The passenger, just 18 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle and others involved sustained injuries requiring medical attention. Police arrested the driver on charges including operating under the influence (OUI) and motor vehicle homicide.

As authorities investigate the events leading to this collision, questions about liability, insurance coverage, and the rights of the victim’s family come to the forefront. Tragedies like this not only devastate families emotionally but also create significant financial challenges, from medical bills to funeral costs and loss of future income.

June 25, 2024

Steps to Take if Injured by a Drunk Driver in Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

Being injured in a car accident is an inherently traumatic experience, but it becomes even more devastating when the accident is caused by a drunk driver. Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents are far too common in Massachusetts, and victims often face a long road to recovery.

According to mass.gov, drunk driving accounted for more than one-third of all motor vehicle deaths in MA in 2021. This is notably higher than the national average. If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, it’s essential to know how to protect your rights and seek compensation for your injuries. Below, we discuss some of the most important steps to take if you’ve been injured by a drunk driver.

Seek Medical Attention

May 20, 2024

I Was Hit by an Uber Driver in Massachusetts – Do All Uber Drivers Have Insurance?

by Altman & Altman

Getting into a car accident can be a traumatic experience, especially when the other driver is working for a rideshare company like Uber. If you’ve been hit by an Uber driver in Massachusetts, you may be wondering about your rights and whether the Uber driver has insurance coverage. Here’s what you need to know.

Understanding Uber’s Insurance Coverage

Uber provides insurance coverage for its drivers, but the amount of coverage depends on the driver’s status at the time of the accident:

February 6, 2024

Local Driving Hazards — Navigating Boston Traffic Safely

by Altman & Altman

Boston’s rich history, diverse neighborhoods, vibrant culture, and northern climate contribute to a unique driving experience. The city’s busy streets can be both exciting and challenging. Driving in Boston comes with specific hazards that drivers and pedestrians alike should be aware of.

Below are a few of Boston’s common driving hazards and how to avoid related injury or property damage. If you’ve been harmed due to another’s negligence, it is in your best interest to seek immediate legal counsel. You may be entitled to compensation for traffic-related injuries in Boston and the surrounding areas.

Pothole Predicaments

January 26, 2024

Avoiding Insurance Claim Mistakes After a Car Accident

by Altman & Altman

Car accidents in Massachusetts are a common occurrence, and the aftermath can be highly stressful and overwhelming. Even seemingly minor crashes can cause injuries and significant property damage. Fortunately, if you’ve been involved in a car accident due to another’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for any resulting damages.

One important aspect of recovering from a car accident is dealing with insurance claims. Making mistakes during this process can significantly impact your ability to receive compensation. To ensure a smooth and successful insurance claim, it’s important to avoid certain mistakes during the claims process.

Common Mistakes People Make Following an Auto Accident

October 23, 2023

Tesla Autopilot Accident Lawsuits

by Altman & Altman

Although self-driving cars are undoubtedly the wave of the future, they are not perfect just yet. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has investigated dozens of crashes involving Tesla vehicles believed to be using partially automated driving systems. Now, in a trial currently underway against Tesla in a California court, a lawyer for the plaintiff has criticized car manufacturers for selling “experimental vehicles” to consumers.

According to Reuters, the civil case stems from a 2019 accident in which a Tesla Model 3 — said to be equipped with a “beta” version of the full-self-driving package — suddenly veered off a highway at 65 miles per hour, hit a palm tree, and burst into flames. The crash killed the driver and seriously injured his two passengers, including an 8-year-old boy. The lawsuit blames Tesla’s Autopilot for the collision, and accuses Tesla of knowing the safety systems were defective when the car was sold.

Tesla Autopilot Accidents

September 7, 2023

The 10 Deadliest Highways in Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

Nearly 43,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2021, according to estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That figure marks a 10.5% increase in deaths from 2020 and the highest number of traffic fatalities in 16 years.

Fatal motor vehicle crashes in Massachusetts were responsible for 417 of those deaths. Of the total accident fatalities in the state, around 59% were the occupants of vehicles, 18% were pedestrians, 17% were motorcyclists, and 1% were bicyclists.

While Massachusetts still has one of the lowest rates of fatal crashes per capita in the U.S., some roads in the state are more dangerous than others. In order to identify which highways are the deadliest, Stacker ranked 2020 traffic fatality data compiled by NHTSA. Ties between locations were broken by the total quantity of crashes when possible.

August 3, 2023

Automatic Emergency Braking Systems May Soon Be Required on Nearly All US Vehicles

by Altman & Altman

A new regulation proposed in May by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would require new vehicles to come equipped with automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems. These systems detect potential collisions and automatically apply the brakes to lessen the impact of a crash — or avoid it altogether. NHTSA estimates that the new regulation could prevent at least 360 deaths and 24,000 injuries annually.

This technology has been available on many automotive models for years, but it hasn’t yet been mandated. If the new regulation is adopted as proposed, it would require almost all US passenger vehicles and light trucks to have AEB systems three years after the publication of a final rule. In addition, NHTSA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced in June that they plan to require AEB technology on heavy vehicles as well.

What Exactly is AEB Technology?

May 16, 2023

Deadly Pedestrian Crashes in Massachusetts Up 35% in 2022

by Altman & Altman

Fatal pedestrian accidents in Massachusetts spiked sharply in 2022, up 35% over the year before. According to a report from the statewide pedestrian advocacy group WalkBoston, 101 pedestrians died in traffic crashes in 2022 compared to 75 in 2021.

The rise in Massachusetts pedestrian fatalities seems to have outpaced last year’s nationwide increase. After reaching a 40-year-high in 2021, pedestrian deaths in the U.S. went up by 5% in the first half of 2022. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reported that drivers in the U.S. hit and killed an estimated 3,434 people in the first half of the year, an average of 19 pedestrian deaths every day.

New Report on MA Pedestrian Fatalities