Bike Accidents

July 18, 2011

20-Year-Old Bicyclist Victim of Hit-and-Run in Attleboro

A hit-and-run bicycle accident in Attleboro is under investigation. Just before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday night, a resident of Attleboro, Justin Duphilly, 20, was riding his bike on South Main Street when he was struck from behind by a vehicle that drove up onto the sidewalk and then drove off. Detective Sgt. Arthur Brillon said that the vehicle was a black sedan, which could have been a black Ford Taurus. Police are asking anyone who was near the scene of the hit-and-run accident at 456 South Main Street on Thursday night to contact the authorities.

According to authorities, Duphilly was flung into the air due to the collision and landed on the sidewalk. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence for numerous injuries, but none were life-threatening. He was released after treatment for stitches, an abrasion on his back, a gash behind his ear, and multiple bruises.

Duphilly´s cousin was with him at the time of the accident. He was riding his bike behind Duphilly and witnessed the accident but was not injured.

Police report that the driver did not stop after hitting Duphilly and fled the scene of the accident. He continued north on South Main Street in the direction of Attleboro´s city center. Because of the nature of the accident, it is possible that the car sustained damage on the front of the vehicle which could help police to identify both the vehicle and the driver.

The accident continues to be under investigation by officers Joseph Ryan, Brett Poirier, and Sgt. James MacDonald while police search for the vehicle and driver.

The 20-year-old victim stated, “I would like to know what he was on and I want him to get caught.”

According to Massachusetts General Law, Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 24, the first offense for knowingly fleeing the scene of an accident is: “a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than two years, or both.”

We have seen this spring and summer an increase of bicycle accidents in and around the Commonwealth. The warm weather, the expensive gas prices, and the exercise that bicycle riding provides leads to many more cyclists in the warmer seasons. In this case, the victim was very fortunate that the injuries weren’t life threatening.

The victim will still have to deal with his injuries and damage to his bicycle. There are different insurance avenues that one goes through when hit on a bicycle, and the issues become even more complex when the vehicle leaves the scene. For instance did the bicycle rider have an automobile policy, did a household member have an active insurance policy? Did anyone get the license plate of the vehicle? These among many other issues need to be identified to successfully assist someone that has been hit while riding a bike.

If you have been injured in a Massachusetts bicycle accident or involved in an accident with a bike and car, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer.

Sources:

Bicyclist struck by hit-and-run car, WPRI.com, July 16, 2011
Police seek help in crash probe, The Sun Chronicle, July 16, 2011
Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 24

Boy On Bike Hit By Police Cruiser in Avon

by Altman & Altman

An accident in Avon involving a young boy and a police cruiser yesterday evening is under investigation. Anthony Charette, age 7, was riding his bicycle when he was hit by a Holbrook police officer. Charette first landed on the cruiser´s windshield and then fell into the street. He was taken to Boston Medical Center with serious injuries, but reportedly not life-threatening. He is reported to have multiple broken bones. Police report that the police cruiser was travelling at a slow speed. The boy was out with his grandmother and younger sister and had just come out of the driveway and onto the street at the time of the accident. The name of the cruiser´s driver has not yet been released.

This bike accident comes at the time of National Bike Safety Month and last week was Massaschusetts´ Bay State Bike Week, from May 14th to 20th. MassBike and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, along with several statewide departments, have created Same Roads. Same Rules., a helpful safety resource for bicyclists of all ages.

Safety guidelines for all bicyclists are to:

• Give yourself space from cars • Ride in the same direction as traffic • Always wear your helmet • Stop at red lights and stop signs • Put front and back lights on your bike at night • Give pedestrians the right-of-way
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that children under the age of ten should not ride in the street as is recommended for older bicyclists. They recommend that the sidewalk is a safer place for a child under ten to ride their bike. The NHTSA also reports that 630 bicyclists were killed in 2009 in the U.S. and 51,000 bicyclists were additionally injured in accidents with cars.

At Altman and Altman we have been representing individuals who have been injured in bike accidents, motorcycle accidents and mo-ped accidents for over three decades. We have seen that once springtime arrives, bicyclists hit the roads after a long winter hiatus. Drivers are not often used to seeing bicyclists, which often leads to an increase bicycle accident injuries. When a bike accident occurs often times it is confusing for the cyclist. There are insurance coverage questions, lost wage issues, and bike repair bills that need to be addressed.

In addition, bicycle accidents can sometimes be catastrophic. If you have been involved in an accident, it is generally in your best interest to get a lawyer involved sooner than later. Preserving the evidence, hiring experts, bringing in accident reconstruction teams, often has to be done immediately after an accident. These types of steps among others are often needed to identify which party was at fault.

If you have been injured in a Massachusetts bicycle accident or involved in an accident with a bike and a car, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer.

Sources:

Child hit by police cruiser, Fox25/ MyFoxBoston.com, May 23, 2011
Same Roads. Same Rules., MassBike.org
Bicycles, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Related Blog Posts:

Keeping Safe on the Roads; May is National Bike Safety Month

74-year-old Bicyclist Killed in Boston

SRPEDD Releases List of 100 Most Dangerous Intersections in SE Massachusetts

Sedan Injures Boy on Bike in Lowell Traffic Accident
Continue reading

May 12, 2011

Keeping Safe on the Roads; May is National Bike Safety Month

by Altman & Altman

May is National Bike Safety Month. Bike fatalities and bike accidents with other vehicles plague the whole of Massachusetts in cities, on college campuses, and in rural areas alike. Because bicyclists have very little protection against cars or other large vehicles, the effects are more often than not, very severe. Unlike riding in a car, where the driver and passengers have protection such as seat belts, airbags, and other protection, bicyclists´ only protection is a helmet.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2009 alone, 630 cyclists were killed in the United States. In addition to this, 51,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic accidents. Cyclist deaths thus made up 2% of all motor vehicle accident fatalities. Approximately 70% of all bicycle fatalities happen in urban centers where there are more cars and bikes on the road. The NHTSA also reports that bicycle helmets are 85% to 88% effective at preventing head injuries and death. However, the statistics show that less than 25% of all bicyclists wear a helmet.

Here in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) have joined forces during National Bicycle Month to create Bay State Bike Week, from May 14th to 20th. Throughout the week, statewide events will be held to celebrate bicycle transportation and to promote bike safety.

In order to ensure a safe ride and to help prevent collisions with cars, here are some valuable safety tips:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Know the rules: just like motor vehicles, bikes must stop at stop signs and red lights, and only proceed when the light is green.
• Make sure your bike is in good condition before riding, especially if it has been neglected during the winter. Check the brakes, wheels, and tires.
• Always keep an eye out for open car doors, especially on narrow or busy streets.

If you have been involved or injured in a bicycle accident in Massachusetts, it is in your best interest to contact a Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer.

Sources:

Bay State Bike Week, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Bicycles, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Related Blog Posts:

74-year-old Bicyclist Killed in Boston

SRPEDD Releases List of 100 Most Dangerous Intersections in SE Massachusetts

Sedan Injures Boy on Bike in Lowell Traffic Accident
Continue reading

January 26, 2011

74-year-old Bicyclist Killed in Boston

by Altman & Altman

Police have confirmed that a man was killed Monday morning in a collision with a car near the corner of Tremont and Arlington streets in the South End of Boston. The white sedan hit the man while he was on his bike, facing in a direction where the solar glare can cause problems for drivers at that time of day. The driver was interviewed by police and was not cited as of Tuesday.

“It is sad to get such a vivid reminder that despite the good progress our city has made on bicycle safety in recent years, crashes like this can still happen,” said Pete Stidman, director of the Boston Cyclists Union, which advocates for rider safety.

Stidman said he recently was hit by a car on Dorchester Avenue, but was unscathed. He said it is important for cyclists to report such accidents.

“I talk to cyclists all the time and remind them to report to police or the city whenever they’re involved in an accident because we need to know where the accidents are happening in order to fix the problem,” he said.

Source:
Bicyclist, 74, killed in South End collision, Boston Globe, January 25, 2011 Continue reading

November 15, 2010

Driver in Fatal Connecticut Car Accident Sues Victim’s Parents

by Altman & Altman

David Weaving, a 48-year-old Connecticut man who struck and killed a 14-year-old bicyclist, is suing the child’s parents for letting the child ride without a helmet. It is a countersuit to a filing by the family alleging negligence. Both Weaving and the family are seeking more than $15,000 in damages.

Weaving is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for manslaughter.

According to prosecutors, the fatal crash occurred when Weaving passed a car at more than 80 mph in a 45 mph zone. Weaving asserts that he was driving at the speed limit. Weaving was previously convicted of drunk driving four times before the crash.

Source: The Boston Herald, Driver in fatal crash sues victim’s parents over boy’s lack of helmet
Continue reading

September 2, 2010

Sedan Injures Boy on Bike in Lowell Traffic Accident

by Altman & Altman

On Monday, a traffic accident in Lowell, Massachusetts sent a 12-year-old boy with the hospital with serious head injuries. The boy was riding his bike when Williard Street around 2pm when he was reportedly hit by a red Sedan. Witnesses said the boy went flying and the car crash sounded like two vehicles colliding.

Police said the bike accident victim was airlifted from the scene of the bike accident to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The victim was not wearing a bike helmet and sustained serious head and neck injuries.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the Lowell bike accident.

Source: Boy struck by car while riding his bike in Lowell, WHDH.com, August 30, 2010 Continue reading

August 31, 2010

Moped Rider Seriously Injured Following Collision with an Alleged Drunk Driver

by Altman & Altman

A Lynn man was seriously injured when the moped which he was operating was struck by an allegedly drunk driver. The collision took place at the intersection of North Street and Liberty Hill Avenue in Salem at approximately 1:30 a.m. this past Saturday morning.

Following the accident, the driver of the moped was transported to North Shore Medical Center before being transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

The operator of the moped was struck by an allegedly drunk Peabody woman driving a Volkswagen Passat. Police reported that they smelled an odor of alcohol on the 25-year-old driver’s breath and that her speech was slurred and her eyes were both bloodshot and glassy.
Continue reading

July 9, 2010

Martha’s Vineyard Truck Accident Kills Bicyclist

by Altman & Altman

On Tuesday afternoon, a Melrose bicyclist was killed in a truck accident on Martha’s Vineyard near downtown Vineyard Haven. According to Massachusetts state police, the 40-year-old woman lost control of her bike, falling into the path of an 18-wheeler.

She was riding her bike westbound on the sidewalk along State Road with a group of cyclists. At the same time, a tractor trailer was also traveling west on the same road. She reportedly last control as the truck passed her.

The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the traffic accident at roughly 2pm. The road was closed for about three hours during the preliminary investigation. Authorities are still investigating why she lost control of her bike, and no charges have been filed.

Sources: Melrose Bicyclist Dies In Vineyard Truck Accident, Melrose.Patch.com, July 7, 2010
Bicyclist killed on State Road in Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Vineyard Times, July 7, 2010 Continue reading

May 19, 2010

Man Dies in Newton Bike Accident

by Altman & Altman

Monday marked the start of Bay State Bike Week, and the annual event kicked off on a somber note after a Colorado man died in a Newton bike accident near city hall. Police said the 21-year-old bicyclist collided with a 2007 Honda SUV after the bicyclist ran a red light. The man was not wearing a helmet.

As part of Bay State Bike Week, bicyclists gathered on Tuesday for a previously schedule “Ride of Silence” to memorialize bicyclists who have been killed or injured in the past year. A spokesperson for MassBike predicted that this year’s “Ride of Silence” would be especially poignant in light of this recent bike fatality and several others. Cyclists rode from Seven Hills Park in Somerville through Cambridge and Boston, stopping at the Charles Street Entrance to Boston Common. The man’s coworkers were also planning a candlelight vigil.

The mayor of Newton said the town’s transportation advisory committee is examining transportation issues, including pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Source: Friends plan candlelight vigil tonight to remember bicyclist killed in Newton accident, Boston.com, May 18, 2010 Continue reading

April 30, 2010

Brookline Students Rally for Stepping Up Bike Lane Parking Fines

by Altman & Altman

A group of Brookline school children have approached the town’s transportation administration about creating stricter fines for drivers parked in bike lanes. Currently, Brookline issues $25 “double parking” tickets to cars parked in bike lanes, but there isn’t a steeper fine to protect the bike lanes. According to the websites for Boston and Cambridge, those cities each have $100 fines for cars parked in marked bike lanes.

Cars parked in bike lanes can pose a safety risk to bicyclists, who are forced to maneuver around parked cars or in traffic. Just a few weeks ago, a 22-year-old bicyclist died after being hit by an MBTA bus. While bicycle activists say that traffic fatalities are rare, they point out that it’s very common to see motorists parked in bike lanes while they drop someone off or make a delivery.

Almost 700 bicyclists died in traffic accidents in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ten of those fatalities were in Massachusetts.

Source: Brookline kids pitch fine for parking in bike lanes, WickedLocal.com, April 14, 2010 Continue reading