Car Accidents

September 15, 2015

Public Hearing on Uber Services and Taxi Services Set For Tuesday Morning – Regulations Forthcoming?

The increasing tension that has been building between Uber services and taxi services is being taken to the next level as the two companies have a hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning at the State House. The public hearing is slated to take place at 11:00 AM and is being held by the Financial Services Committee. The hearing will oversee bills filed by Governor Charlie Baker, among others, which have been aimed against Uber and another ride-hailing service known as Lyft.

The ongoing tension between the companies is a consequence in part due to the difference in regulation standards applied to each service. Taxi companies face heavy regulations, whereas the ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft face little to no regulations. It seems as though anyone can sign up to be an Uber driver so long as they have a valid license and access to their own vehicle. And while the Uber Company has released statements recently claiming that they do in fact regulate their drivers—it still appears as though they have a lot of work to do. Employees of taxi companies believe that if each of these companies is offering the same general services to individuals that they should all be held to the same standards of regulation. The bill proposed by Governor Charlie Baker calls for a heavier regulation to the Uber and Lyft services—regulations that would more closely mirror the ones implemented in regards to the taxi companies.

Governor Baker’s bill calls for the requirement of Uber drivers and other ride-hailing services to undergo state criminal background checks. There has been an increase of Uber related issues in the past few months and those closely following the cases will agree that criminal background checks should have been required from the beginning of the company’s creation. Women have been sexually assaulted by their Uber drivers, and others have suffered through car accidents during their Uber rides as well. In addition to Governor Baker’s call for criminal background checks, he is also calling for each ride to carry at least $1 million in liability insurance. The hope is to not only settle the disagreement between taxi companies and ride-hailing services, but also to ensure the safety of each customer partaking in these services.

September 4, 2015

Woman Driving 100 MPH Crashes Car in VT – Causes Two Fatalities

by Altman & Altman

One woman’s reckless driving has caused a fatal crash in Vermont that took the lives of two people. The crash occurred Thursday at approximately 12:30 PM in Fonda Junction, Vermont along Route 7. Route 7, which is also known as St. Albans Road, had to be shut down for about six hours following the accident.

Investigators responding to the scene have stated that the driver of the vehicle that had been traveling erratically has been identified as 35 year old Maria Carlson of Swanton, Vermont. According to preliminary reports, Carlson had been driving her truck northbound along Route 7 when she lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a nearby telephone pole. Carlson did not stop there however. After hitting the telephone pole, Carlson drove through a neighboring yard and back out onto the road. Once she reached the road, she drove head-on into a car that had been driving past. Both individuals in that other vehicle were killed during this accident.

The victims have been identified as 68 year old Diane Bohannon and 67 year old Robert Benjamin, both of Alburg, Vermont. Diane Bohannon was driving the car at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead on scene. Robert Benjamin was transported to Northwest Medical Center where he died a short time later. Maria Carlson was treated for non-life threatening injuries following the crash. The extent and nature of her injuries was not made immediately available.

September 3, 2015

3 Year Old Child Struck by Car In Lynn – Cause of Accident Unclear

by Altman & Altman

A young child is in critical condition after an accident that took place in Lynn, Massachusetts on Wednesday afternoon. Initial reports have indicated that a 3 year old boy was struck by a car as the vehicle was turning a corner. According to police officers responding to the scene, the boy had been standing on the sidewalk with his older brother when the older child lost his hold on the young boy. Shortly thereafter, the young boy ran into the street and was struck by a vehicle that was reportedly being driven by an elderly individual. Identities for the victim and the driver of the vehicle have not been released at this time.

Lynn Fire Chief Steve Archer has stated that the accident took place Wednesday afternoon around 1:00 PM at the intersection of Western Ave and Franklin Street in Lynn. The young boy and his older brother had apparently being waiting outside while their mother was finishing up at a laundromat just steps away. Following the accident, the child was immediately transported via ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital where he is currently listed as being in stable but critical condition in the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit. Reports have indicated that the child was conscious at the time that he was being transported to the hospital. According to the law enforcement officials investigating the matter, the child had suffered a broken leg after being hit by the vehicle. The child had surgery on Wednesday night at approximately 8:30 PM following his admittance to the hospital in an effort to repair the damage. Lynn Police Lieutenant Dave Brown has stated that all reports indicate that the child is expected to be okay. Lieutenant Dave Brown went on to say that authorities are not immediately aware of any internal injuries the child may have suffered in addition to the broken leg.

The investigation into the matter is ongoing. Police have not indicated if they are going to pursue charges against the elderly driver in regards to the accident. It appears as though the individual operating the vehicle may not have been able to see the small child dart into the street prior to striking him. Lieutenant Glenn Dunnigan has indicated that the child had gone underneath the vehicle after being struck but that he had not been pinned underneath the car following the accident. Law enforcement officials have not stated if there were any additional factors that could have contributed to this accident taking place. It appears as though there may not have been enough time between when the child ran into the road and when he was struck for the operator of the vehicle to have proper time to react and avoid the situation. It is not clear at this time if the driver of the vehicle suffered any injuries during the incident.

September 2, 2015

Study Shows That Boston Has Worst Drivers in The Country

by Altman & Altman

If you have ever driven in Boston, you are familiar with the difficulties this provides on a near constant basis. Rotaries, one way streets, freeway exits appearing almost out of thin air when you’re trying to figure out how to get out of the tunnel and over to the airport. Government Center to Logan and back again. These situations would be difficult to navigate on their own—but when you add in the fact that Boston is currently listed as having the worst drivers in the country—it makes these issues even more problematic to deal with.

In an annual ranking conducted by Allstate Insurance, Boston was found to have the worst drivers in the country out of a list of 200 large cities. Two other cities in Massachusetts, Springfield and Worcester, also finished in the bottom five, with Springfield placing at number 196 and Worcester at number 199. When Allstate conducted the same research last year for their 2014 report, they found that Worcester, Massachusetts had the worst drivers in the nation. Apparently, they have become slightly less terrible in the past year and now Massachusetts’ largest city has taken over the bottom tier ranking. Nearby Providence, Rhode Island also placed poorly, finishing at number 195 on Allstate’s “America’s Best Drivers” report. It must be a New England thing.

Of the cities pooled to create the report, Allstate found that Kansas City drivers were the best nationwide. Brownsville, Texas finished as the runner up coming in second place behind Kansas City. Other notable cities that were found to be in possession of the best drivers were Boise, Idaho, Fort Collins, Colorado, followed by Cape Coral, Florida to complete the top five spots on the insurance company’s list. Continue reading

August 31, 2015

Back to School Safety Advisory: Ensure Kids Get To And From School Safely

by Altman & Altman

With the new school year beginning this week in many Massachusetts communities, Altman & Altman would like to pass along some valuable safety information and tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and remind all drivers, students and parents to make safety a priority this year.

NHTSA 41-15

“Students travel to school by a variety of means: school bus (the safest means of transportation to and from school), walking, bikes, public transportation, or in vehicles with family or friends. It is everyone’s responsibility to use caution and stay focused and alert around traffic to ensure children can travel to and from school safely.

August 31, 2015

Driver Taking Selfie Crashes Into Tree – Citation Issued

by Altman & Altman

Distracted driving can lead to a number of serious accidents—sometimes with fatal results. A few states have recently placed a new law in effect that bans drivers from being on their phone, whether to take a call or send a text, while they are operating a vehicle. The hope is that if people were to put down their phones, they would remain alert to their surroundings and drive safely. A recent incident in Maine is proving, however, that even if the driver isn’t the one holding the phone, they can still become distracted by the devices anyway. A man from Hampden, Maine lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree after he attempted to take a “selfie” with the passengers in his car. That’s right—he took his eyes off the road in an effort to squeeze himself into a picture that was being taken inside of the vehicle he was actively operating.

29 year old Jordan Toner has officially been charged with failing to maintain control of a car while being distracted following the incident that took place in Orient, Maine on Saturday. According to reports provided by Maine State Police, Toner lost control of his 2014 Mazda CX5 and crashed into a tree shortly after 1:30 PM. Jordan Toner was driving along Deering Lake Road with several passengers when one of his friends decided they wanted to take a “selfie”. Toner allegedly leaned over in an effort to join in the picture taking, and that was when he swerved off the road and into a nearby tree. Reportedly, two women were in the front seat beside Toner and neither of them had been wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. The two women experienced the most serious injuries during the crash, with one suffering a fractured nose and facial lacerations and the other sustained neck and back injuries from the impact. Continue reading

August 31, 2015

Common Causes of Teenage Car Accidents in Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of teen fatalities in the United States. Every year, an estimated 5,000 teens die and approximately 400,000 are severely injured. When comparing statistics to those for adults, the risk of a collision is four times greater for drivers between the ages of 16 and 19. Lack of experience and maturity are largely to blame for the high rate of collisions among teens. Additionally, misinterpreting or underestimating the risks involved with certain driving behaviors can lead to hazardous choices.

Teen males are particularly susceptible to motor vehicle accidents. In fact, statistics show that young males are over one and-a-half times more likely to die in a crash than females. To lower these statistics, it is essential for parents to educate their teens on common causes of teen crashes. By stressing the importance of utilizing safe driving practices, and the consequences of risky behaviors, you can help reduce the number of serious accidents involving teenage drivers.

Speeding

About one-third of fatal teen car accidents involve speeding. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Research Institute interviewed teen focus groups across the country. The majority of those polled considered speeding to be “over 10 miles above the speed limit,” and more than half admitted to regularly speeding. The Governor’s Highway Safety Association reports that teen speeding fatalities were up from 30% in 2000 to 33% in 2012. Many agencies, such as the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, are concerned that the recent focus on teens and distracted driving has taken attention away from working to decrease teenage speeding accidents.

Drinking and Driving

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that one in 10 high school teens drinks and drives. When the CDC surveyed high school students over the age of 16, a substantial number of students admitted to driving while under the influence at least once within the past 30 days. Although teenage drinking and driving has decreased by 54% since 1991, approximately 85% of those polled reported binge drinking (having five or more drinks) within two to three hours before driving. Perhaps the most common form of teenage rebellion, exploration, and peer pressure, teen drinking and driving greatly influences the high rate of car accidents involving young people in the United States. Continue reading

August 21, 2015

Erratically Driven BMW Crashes Into Toll Booth – Killing Driver, No Other Injuries

by Altman & Altman

A car that had been driving erratically, nearly avoiding multiple crashes, ended up colliding with a toll booth yesterday and killed the driver of the vehicle following the impact. The fiery crash happened on the Everett Turnpike in Merrimack, New Hampshire on Thursday afternoon. New Hampshire State Police arrived on scene shortly after the accident occurred.

According to reports, a 2006 red BMW had been reported for driving erratically earlier in the afternoon, around 1:00 PM. The car had been traveling south toward Bedford and Merrimack at the time of the initial call for their behavior. It was during this time that the driver of the BMW, who has yet to be identified by police pending family notification, narrowly avoided causing multiple accidents while reaching speeds close to 100 MPH. The BMW had apparently caused a minor crash with a pickup truck during this time period before they barely swerved out of the way in time to avoid a motorcyclist as well as a dump truck traveling along the same highway. Continue reading

August 17, 2015

Renowned Batman Impersonator Dies in Highway Accident

by Altman & Altman

A man who was renowned in the Washington D.C. area for the countless hours he spent impersonating Batman at local hospitals has died following a car accident on a highway in Maryland. The man, 51 year old Leonard Robinson of Owing Mills, Maryland, was struck and killed while he was attempting to check the engine of his “Batmobile” along the eastbound I-70 highway on Sunday night. According to police reports, the crash took place at approximately 10:30 PM that evening.

Responding officers have stated that Robinson was hit by a Toyota Camry shortly after he pulled over to inspect the engine of his vehicle, a Lamborghini he had customized to look like a real-life Batmobile. Robinson was apparently coming home from a car show when he suddenly had to pull over in the fast lane in order to check issues he appeared to be having with his engine. It was around this time that the unidentified driver of the Toyota Camry struck Robinson’s Lamborghini, which in turn struck Robinson following the impact—he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota Camry did not suffer any injuries during the accident, and investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is still ongoing. State police responding to the scene have said that no charges have been filed against the driver at this time.

Leonard Robinson first gained national attention after he was filmed being pulled over by police in 2012 while he was driving his Batmobile in full Batman attire. Before then, however, he was well known for adorning himself in a replica Batman suit in order to visit sick children at nearby hospitals. Reports have indicated that Robinson made his fair share of wealth in the cleaning business and made the decision to purchase over $25,000 worth of Batman shirts, toys, and books that he then gave to the children he was visiting in the hospital. Those who knew Robinson as the man and not just the hero have revered his dedication to bringing smiles to the children who needed it the most. He would frequently visit the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, and on one visit he took time to reflect on the vast injustices these children were facing every single day. Robinson himself had three healthy children—perhaps a driving factor in his decision to devote so much time to children who weren’t as fortunate.

August 14, 2015

Property Damage Coverage and Disputes

by Altman & Altman

Dealing with property damage insurance claims after a motor vehicle accident that takes place in Massachusetts can be overwhelming and confusing. The questions of which party caused the accident, whether it was based on negligence, and what kind of insurance policies both drivers have are all taken into consideration. A basic understanding of policy limits, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage can be immensely helpful in the event of an accident. If you are involved in an accident, it is in your best interest to contact an attorney immediately. Without legal representation, knowing your rights and interpreting certain information may be a challenge. For example, the insurance adjuster may present a damage repair estimate that is much different than the one you have obtained. Understanding the legal aspects of motor vehicle accidents and property damage is essential to protecting your rights and obtaining compensation if the other driver is at fault.

Understanding Policy Limits

When damage to your vehicle is a result of another driver’s negligence, it can be covered only up to the policy limit of that driver’s insurance coverage. Their insurance company is only required to pay out the amount available in the plan they have chosen. If the damage is less than their policy offers, the other driver’s insurer will send a check for the full amount of damages determined by estimates and property worth. However, if the damage exceeds the amount their plan covers, you will have to examine your own policy’s collision coverage to determine if the difference will be covered.

Understanding Collision Coverage

With collision coverage, your insurance policy will cover the amount of damage to your vehicle (minus the deductible) regardless of who was liable. However, the amount may not exceed policy limits. In order to use your collision coverage to subsidize the difference between the damage amount and the other driver’s property damage coverage, your collision coverage must exceed the at-fault driver’s property damage coverage. This only applies to auto insurance. If a building was damaged, such as a garage or home, your homeowner’s insurance policy would determine how to proceed. Continue reading