Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

February 6, 2015

Braintree, MA Train Accident Injures One

One passenger was injured in a Braintree, MA train accident on Wednesday. The incident happened when a commuter train hit the cab of a tractor-trailer after the truck’s wheels had gotten stuck on the track. Fortunately the trucker was able to jump out of the vehicle in time.

Some 60 people were in the train when the crash happened. According to CBS Boston, the injured train passenger, who reported back pain, was transported to the hospital.

In Massachusetts, our Boston train crash lawyers represent passengers and vehicle occupants with injury and wrongful death claims. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today.

January 31, 2015

Monday Promising More Inclement Weather: Tips for Staying Safe on the Roads

by Altman & Altman

After what promises to be an exciting weekend with the Patriots in the Superbowl, many New Englanders are yet again, going to have to brace themselves for heavy snowfall on Monday morning. With the added layer of snowfall the streets (which are still in the midst of cleanup from last Tuesday’s storm), we at Altman & Altman would like to offer some reminder tips (sourced from Boston.com) on how to keep you and your family safe on the roads this winter.

1. Remove snow from your entire vehicle before hitting the roads

This is one of the most crucial steps every driver should take before hitting the roads after it snows.

January 27, 2015

$15M Products Liability Lawsuit Blames GPS Maker Garmin for 2013 Massachusetts Bus Crash

by Altman & Altman

11 people are suing GPS device maker for $15 million over injuries they sustained in a 2013 Massachusetts bus collision. The plaintiffs are claiming products liability for what they contend was a defective/unsafe navigation device.

The bus, transporting more than two dozen high school students and their chaperones, was going back from Boston to Philadelphia, when the charter vehicle hit a bridge, causing its roof to collapse. 35 people were hospitalized. Student Matthew Cruz, who sustained a spinal cord injury in the bus crash, is the complaint’s lead plaintiff.

In their Boston product defect case, the plaintiffs argued that if the GPS device had been designed for commercial vehicles, the driver would have been directed to go around the bridge. They say that the packaging of the navigation device should have indicated that it was not appropriate for charter bus use.

January 23, 2015

Plymouth, MA Woman Injured In Big Rig Truck Accident Involving Detached Trailer

by Altman & Altman

A Plymouth, Massachusetts woman now has to undergo physical therapy after she was involved in a truck accident involving a runaway trailer. Patricia Jordan was driving an SUV when the trailer, which had detached from the truck after the vehicle went into a slight curve, hit her RAV 4, causing it to slam into a concrete barrier. The 48-year-old mother experienced soreness in her neck and back after the incident.

According to investigators, the trailer was not properly locked into place. It also was overloaded, exceeding the authorized weight limit by 8,000 pounds at 88,280 pounds. The truck was transporting corrugated cardboard.

While runaway trailer accidents are a rare occurrence, they can be deadly. Often the trailer may be moving at a fast speed and carrying a heavy load. Causes of runaway trailer accidents:

January 16, 2015

Rider Sustains Leg Injury in Framingham, MA Bicycle Accident

by Altman & Altman

A male bicyclist sustained a serious injury to his leg when he was involved in a Framingham, MA traffic crash with a car. Police said that after the vehicle struck the rider he was thrown onto the car’s hood and windshield before falling to the ground. The driver of the car was reportedly driving at only 15 mph but was unable to stop in time to prevent striking the bicycle because there was loose sand and ice on the road. The pedalcycist says he may have been distracted.

According to an article published in the Boston Globe last year, the number of bike accidents in the state has gone up now that there are more cyclists on the road. Greater Boston area bicycle crash death figures have risen by three times over. From 2010 to 2012, reports the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, close to 70% of the bicycle accidents that occurred resulted in injuries. Crash data examined by The Globe revealed that in 66% of bicycle accidents a vehicle was involved.

The state has been encouraging more people to ride their bikes and its towns and cities have added bike lanes. Unfortunately, many drivers remain unaware that bicyclists’ have rights.

January 9, 2015

More Than A Dozen Hospitalized After Plymouth, MA Bus Accident

by Altman & Altman

15 Plymouth elementary school students were transported to a local hospital after being involved in a school bus accident late yesterday afternoon.

The West Elementary School bus was involved in the crash with a small sedan (which suffered serious front-end damage) around 3:45 p.m. According to witness reports, the bus tipped over slightly before tipping back to its regular balance.

One student said, “When we crashed, it was very scary. A lot of kids started to cry and there were a few injuries.”

Eight area ambulances, several other emergency crews and the superintendent of schools responded to the scene of the accident. The school bus driver and 6 of the 35 kids on board were transported to area hospitals for minor bumps and bruises. No serious injuries have been reported.

Plymouth fire officials and EMS say the driver of the sedan appeared to be uninjured and declined to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
Students who didn’t go to the hospital were sent home with their parents, but kids are a bit nervous about getting back on the bus, rightfully so. Plymouth school officials say they expect transportation will be normal on Friday. The cause of the crash still remains under investigation-it is unclear who may have caused the accident.
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January 7, 2015

Family Settles Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit for $2.25 Million

by Altman & Altman

The family of a 61-year-old motorcyclist has reached a $2.25M wrongful death settlement with the driver of the pickup truck that struck him in May 2012. Robert Kegler was riding his motoricycle when he was hit by a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck driven by 17-year-old Andrew Kebalo. The teen driver was making a left turn even though Kegler had the right of way on the road at the time.

The impact of the motorcycle collision threw Kegler from his bike. The rider had to be flown by chopper to a hospital where he was pronounced dead just hours later.

Kebalo reportedly told police that even though he saw the motorcycle approaching he figured that he had enough time to take the turn. The 17-year-old was charged with failing to yield the right of way and criminal negligent homicide.

December 30, 2014

Old Cars Are Another Cause of Teen Crash Fatalities, Says Study

by Altman & Altman

According to a study authored by two researchers at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, almost 50% of teen drivers in the 15 to 17 age group that died in motor vehicle crashes from ’08 – ’12 were operating vehicles were six to eleven years old. Close to a third of those that died were riding in small autos. The results from the study, based on the government’s FARS data, were published earlier this month in Injury Prevention.

The study’s leader, IIHS Sr. VP of Research leader Anne McCartt, said that a lot of the teen drivers who are dying are doing so in the “least protective types of vehicles.” Older vehicles tend to lack the best technology when it comes to safety, such as side air bags, electronic stability control. Also, the smaller the vehicle, usually the less protection there is from impact during a collision.

It should be noted that the number one cause of fatalities among U.S. teens is car accidents. These younger drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a traffic crash.

December 26, 2014

Three Fatalities, Two Injuries Sustained in Recent Massachusetts Traffic Crashes During Christmas Week

by Altman & Altman

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a Massachusetts motor vehicle crash please contact our Boston car accident law firm right away. Unfortunately, serious collisions can happen during the holiday season. You want to speak with an experienced attorney to explore your legal options.

On Christmas Eve, one man died in an East Boston pedestrian accident when he was hit by a truck. No criminal charges have been filed against the driver. The pedestrian was in his sixties.

On Monday, a Charlton multi-vehicle crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike seriously injured one person and killed another. The collision happened in heavy traffic when two cars and a tractor-trailer collided. Another tractor-trailer then hit one of the cars, a 2011 Toyota Camry. The driver of the car was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead but was later revived with critical injuries. His wife, a 64-year-old woman, died.

December 19, 2014

NHTSA Reports 326 Massachusetts Traffic Deaths in 2013

by Altman & Altman

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reporting a decline in both the number of Massachusetts motor vehicle crash fatalities as well as how many occurred in total in the U.S. According to the figures for 2013, there were 326 traffic deaths in the state last year, which is a decline from the 383 fatalities in 2012. Alcohol was a factor in 118 of the Massachusetts traffic deaths in 2013.

Nationally, the country lost 32,719 people in roadway crashes in 2013. This is also a decrease from the 33,782 traffic deaths from the year previous.

Overall, between 2012 and 2013, the U.S. saw a reduction in deaths and injuries of truck occupants, passenger car occupants, pedestrians, and young drivers, as well as in accidents where alcohol was a factor.