Articles Posted in Car Accidents

The Commonwealth deregulated the car insurance industry two years ago, and since then, five insurers have added an optional pet injury insurance option for pet-lovers who want to cover their animals. Like traditional car insurance policies which cover the medical costs of those injured in motor vehicle accidents, these pet policies cover $500-$1,000 for veterinary bills with no deductible.

Customers of the Quincy-based Arbella Mutual Insurance can pay $20 annually for the “Pet Lover’s Endorsement,” which covers up to $500 to treat injuries sustained by a dog or cat in a car crash. If Fluffy or Fido died as a result of an accident, burial or disposal costs might also be covered. So far, hundreds of policy-holders have added pet coverage.

In Boston, the Angell Animal Medical Center treats an average of two or three animals injured in accidents per month. According to a spokesman for MSPCA-Angell, typical injuries include whiplash, fractured bones, and injuries from the impact of airbags or windshields.

NOTE: Mentioning the names of insurance companies and policies should not construed as an endorsement. We encourage you to comparison shop on your own before signing up for an insurance policy.

Source: Auto insurers take on pets, Boston Herald, December 19, 2010 Continue reading

Early Saturday morning, a 16-year-old passenger died after his twin brother reportedly drove a 1999 Saturn into a utility pole. The pole snapped in half, trapping both boys inside the vehicle. A Brockton resident described hearing a loud noise when the Saturn hit the utility pole. She rushed outside to find a mangled car covered in shattered glass. The driver’s hand was caught between the door frame and the body of the car, and she talked to the car accident victims as they waited for emergency responders to arrive.

Firefighters spent half an hour cutting through the wreck before they were able to free the brothers from the vehicle. The injured driver was transported to Brockton Hospital and later transferred to Boston. He has been charged with several motor vehicle offenses, including using a motor vehicle without authorization, driving under the influence of alcohol, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and speeding. However, Brockton police captain said there could be additional charges filed following the investigation.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 16 and 20. Each year, thousands of teen drivers die of injuries sustained on the road, and male teen drivers are more than one and a half times more likely to be involved in a fatal auto accident.

Source: Brockton woman recounts efforts to help victims in fatal crash, EnterpriseNews.com, December 15, 2010 Continue reading

Following a Woburn car accident that injured a motorist and a state trooper, Massachusetts State Police have charged the 21-year-old motorist with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to slow down for workers or equipment in the road, failure to obey signs and signals, and failure to wear a seatbelt.

The driver allegedly drove his sedan into a road construction set-up on Monday evening on Route 93 outside of Woburn, hitting a state trooper on paid detail in a marked cruiser. Authorities say the driver disregarded warning signs and hit the rear of the cruiser, followed by the right guardrail.

Emergency medical crews took the trooper by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was treated for injuries and released overnight. The driver was treated for minor injuries at Lahey Clinic in Burlington.

Here in Massachusetts, drivers cited for Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle are subject to a $250 fine. The fine for failure to wear a seatbelt is $25 for drivers or any person over the age of sixteen, plus an additional $25 fine for each passenger between the ages of twelve and sixteen who fails to wear a seatbelt.

Source: Tewksbury man charged in Woburn crash, WickedLocal.com, December 14, 2010 Continue reading

Fifteen car accidents were reported in the Waltham area on Sunday morning as a result of icy roads, causing warnings from Waltham police to stay at home if possible. The accidents included one six-car crash on Route 128 and a tractor trailer accident on the Route 20 rotary. Most of the accidents involved spin-outs, skidding, and steering into the Route 20 median. No major injuries were reported, and roads became less dangerous as the mixed precipitation turned to rain.

Although those involved in Sunday’s accidents were fortunate that no serious injuries occurred, others were not so lucky this weekend. There were three fatal accidents on Saturday, and four are dead as a result. A 16-year-old Westport male died in a Fall River crash on Route 24 after losing control of his Jeep Wrangler. A 20-year-old woman was thrown from her vehicle after a Walpole two-car accident on I-95. Two others were killed in a two-car crash on I-91 in Longmeadow. That accident happened when one of the cars was going north on the southbound side.

While not all of these accidents have been officially linked to weather, our car accident attorneys would like to take this opportunity to remind you to drive safely as we begin to see harsher weather conditions. Here in Massachusetts, we are no strangers to snow, ice and rain. All too often, this kind of weather causes drivers to skid and lose control of their vehicles. It is important to remember to take due care when driving in bad conditions. For example:

• Drive more slowly.
• Leave more space between your car and the car in front of you.
• Clear snow off of your car, and make sure your windshield isn’t foggy.

Although snow, ice and bad roads can make car accidents more likely to happen, we still have the responsibility to drive carefully.
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Christopher Kaszyk, a state trooper, was hit by a car on a Fall River highway Wednesday. The accident occurred where Route 97 merges onto Route 24.

The trooper was outside of his car helping with a previous single-car accident around 6:30 a.m. when a driver attempting to merge hit him as well as the car he had stopped to assist. Kaszyk was taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Police are investigating, and no charges have been filed.

We know that being a police officer is a risky job in terms of fighting crime, but it can easy to forget the personal injury dangers that come with being a cop. Officers are frequently injured in circumstances like this one or while on details like directing traffic. Chases, emergency responses and long hours patrolling in cruisers also increase officers’ chances of becoming involved in a serious crash. In fact, car accidents are the most common cause of police officer deaths. Recent statistics show that 35% of officer deaths were vehicle-related, with only 3% of those occurring during vehicular pursuits or chases. In addition Injured- On- Duty pay, police injured on duty may be able to collect other compensation.

If you have been injured in a car accident, call Altman & Altman to discuss your options with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Source: The Boston Globe, Trooper injured in Fall River highway accident
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A car crashed into a Chicopee bedroom around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. William Flores and his girlfriend woke up to debris and the car inches away at the foot of the bed. Neither the residents nor their two dogs were injured, but firefighters are concerned about the stability of the home’s front wall.

According to police, the car driven by 66-year-old Patricia Naimey smashed into a street light, a stop sign, and a fire hydrant before hitting the house. They are investigating how she lost control.

This was the second time within a three-day period that a car hit a Chicopee building. On Sunday, 43-year-old Kimmy Dubuque was killed inside a Cumberland Farms when an SUV driven by 81-year-old Edwin Skowyra crashed through the front of the store. In addition to the shopper who was fatally injured, another customer, the clerk and the driver were injured. Police say that the car was travelling through the intersection at Front and Grove Streets and then went over a barrier and through the store. Police are looking into the possibility that a medical issue caused the driver to lose control.

Sources:

Cbs3springfield.com: Chicopee police release names in fatal crash; Continue to investigate cause

Cbs3springfield.com: Car smashes into Chicopee bedroom

Drivers can lose control of their cars for many reasons. Speed, inattention, and mechanical defects are among the common causes. The possibility of a medical issue in this second incident raises the issue of physical infirmities. These kinds of infirmities can be considered in determining the reasonableness of conduct. For example, if this driver suffered an unforeseeable heart attack that caused him to lose control of his SUV, he would not be responsible. If, on the other hand, he knew that was subject to some medical condition that would cause him to lose control of the vehicle but drove anyways, he could be liable in a negligence action.
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On Monday afternoon, a car rolled over on Route 24 in Avon, Massachusetts. Police said the 20-year-old driver refused medical treatment following the traffic accident. The Brockton man was reportedly driving a 2000 Ford Mustang. The car accident occurred at 1:52pm near the Route 27 exit, and police said the scene had been cleared by 2:30pm.

The cause of this Avon car crash remains under investigation.

Although there were no injuries in this instance, crashes involving cars, bikes, trucks, SUVs, or pedestrians can result serious and even deadly injuries. With insurance claims for personal injury, lost wages, and damage to your vehicle, these cases can pose a number of complicated legal challenges that require the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney.

Source: Car rolls over on Route 24 in Avon, no injuries, The Enterprise, November 29, 2010 Continue reading