by

According to a new study published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, highway crashes cost the United States nearly $871 billion in economic loss and societal harm every year.

In a breakdown of this cost, the report found that all together, crashes cost $277 billion in economic loss or $900 per person living in the United States, and $594 billion in societal harm, from the loss of life and pain and the decreased quality of life because of crash-related injuries.

In a statement obtained by USA Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx stated, “No amount of money can replace the life of a loved one, or stem the suffering associated with motor vehicle crashes. While the economic and societal costs of crashes are staggering, today’s report clearly demonstrates that investments in safety are worth every penny used to reduce the frequency and severity of these tragic events.”

According to an article by USA Today, in a similar study published by AAA in 2011, the popular auto club found that each fatal crash in 99 urban areas carries an economic toll of about $6 million. The estimate, according to USA Today, was based on Federal Highway Administration data that place dollar values on 11 components including property damage; lost earnings; loss of household activities; medical costs; emergency services; travel delays; vocational rehabilitation; lost time at work; administrative costs; legal costs; and pain and lost quality of life.

Similarly, NHTSA’s study, “The Economic and Society Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010,” centers on some of the behavioral factors that contributed to that year’s nearly 33,000 highway fatalities, 3.9 million injuries and 24 million damaged vehicles. Three driver behaviors according to the study-speeding, drunken driving and distracted driving-accounted for 56% of the economic loss to the nation and 62% of the societal harm.

The breakdown (obtained by USA Today):
Continue reading

by

A New Jersey man and his wife were awarded more than $19 million in one of the state’s largest jury verdicts last week, stemming from a motorcycle accident in which he was rear-ended by a pickup truck.

62-year-old Steve Vissagio and his wife Barbara, 60, received their verdict on May 22, 2014, concluding four days of testimony before Superior Court Judge Edward Gannon. The case involved addressing injuries Steve Visaggio had sustained in 2007 after he was rear-ended on his motorcycle by a pickup truck while traveling on Route 23 in Sussex Borough. Visaggio now suffers from permanent spinal, neck, and shoulder injuries. Because of the severity of these injuries, Visaggio, who is a father of eight children, was unable to return to running his business several months following the incident, and will likely in the future, according to his attorney, require spinal surgery in addition to already undergoing shoulder surgery.

According to court documents, the Visaggio family and their representing attorney Andrew Fraser of Laddey Clark & Ryan, had pursued settling the case out of court and had requested the plaintiff motor vehicle operator’s insurance carrier, Geico, to pay the family $250,000 in compensatory damages. Geico refused that offer and did not make a rebutting offer to the family prior to the Visaggios filing a lawsuit against the company. Mr. Vissagio was awarded a total of $15.5 million for his injuries and suffering, and Mrs. Vissagio was awarded $3.8 million in per quod damages.
Continue reading

by

L’Tonya Johnson was a star athlete and mother of two equally athletic children. The lifelong track and field runner has a passion for leading an active and healthy lifestyle. As a track coach, Johnson pushed other children to live more active lives and took pride in her job. On the morning of December 19, 2010, her life was dramatically altered at the hands of a drowsy driver. Jeremy Wilson, a driver for Southeastern Building Services, Inc. attempted to make a left turn in front of Johnson’s Honda and crushed her car. Court documents reveal the driver “had been out all night with a friend and had not slept.”

After a two day trial in the Alachua County Circuit Court, a Florida jury awarded L’Tonya Johnson $664,328 for “compensatory damages for her past and future medical expenses, and her past and future pain and suffering.” Johnson suffered neck and back injuries that have yet to heal, four years later. “Her injuries have severely damaged her ability to engage in the activities she most enjoys in life,” her attorney Lance Avera said. “Her life passion is coaching children in track and field.”
Continue reading

by

Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year-with an expected 36 million people traveling (31.8 million by car), according to AAA. With so many people on the roads this weekend, the team at Altman & Altman would like to remind you to take some proper precautions to keep you and your family safe while on the road.

One of the most important things you can do to avoid a hiccup during your travel is to plan and prepare ahead of time. AAA, RepairPal and Safekids.org pulled together a list of helpful tips that we’d like to pass along to you.

1. Take a test run: Take your car for a test drive-ride up and down hills to check your brakes, and check that the little things like: the A/C is working to full capacity; the windows, door locks and handles are all functioning; and blinkers and lights all work.

2. Get a check-up: Regular maintenance is the key to ensuring your car will run properly and will last. Additionally, taking your car in for its yearly check-up can help identify small problems before they manifest into larger ones that end up costing you thousands in repairs, or could lead to inconvenient and unexpected breakdowns during your trip. If you suspect your car is due for a check-up or if you’re traveling a long distance, it’s always advised to visit your mechanic for a tune-up.

3. Read carefully: While many of us let our car manuals sit in the glove compartment to collect dust, it’s important to get familiar with it before taking off for any long distance trip. Knowing what the dashboard signals mean, should they turn on, will help you identify what’s wrong and knowing those signals can prepare you for what to do.

4. Beat the heat: The Department of Transportation has noted that excessive temperatures can wreak havoc on vehicles-engines can overheat, breaks and tires may wear out more quickly than normal, and high temperatures can severely damage electrical, battery and cooling systems. If you notice your car becoming too hot, pull over and allow it to cool down.
Continue reading

by

Rising fuel prices and warmer temperatures are feeding an increase in pedestrian traffic through the upcoming summer months. Boston is a famously walkable city, as are many scenic cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth. Though crosswalks and warning lights help to keep pedestrians safe, drivers and walkers still face a significant amount of danger when they intersect. Smart Growth America recently published extensive data outlining pedestrian safety by Massachusetts counties and metro areas between the years 2003-2012.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that traffic fatalities increased in 2012 (the most recent year in which data is available) for the first time since 2005. For the third straight year, pedestrian fatalities have risen significantly on a national level. Smart Growth America’s Massachusetts data provides insight into specific categories and ways in which the state can make life-saving improvements in pedestrian safety.
Continue reading

by

A massive multimillion dollar verdict was upheld by a Pennsylvania appeals court in the case of a dump truck losing control, causing a multivehicle accident resulting in serious injuries. The original case revolved around a dump truck which lost control and barreled down a hill at 45 miles per hour, slamming into one car and causing it to rear-end another. Court documents allege the truck did not have adequate working breaks and was not properly inspected before the construction vehicle left the garage, ultimately resulting in serious, life-altering injuries to the victims.

According to the National Trial Lawyers, Theodus Williams was operating the vehicle owned by Valvano Construction, Inc. when he “became lost, the brakes failed, and the truck barreled down a hill in excess of 45 miles per hour, striking [Doreen and Steven] Mazur, who rear-ended [Holly Ann] Kuchwara.” Holly Ann Kuchwara filed suit against the truck driver and the construction company, citing numerous injuries including, “lacerations to her face and fractures to her leg, ankle, and back.” The injuries were severe enough to be considered life altering according to court documents. She has since undergone several procedures and suffers from chronic pain, embarrassing facial scars, and a noticeable limp.
Continue reading

by

An MBTA driver and seven passengers were injured yesterday when their bus crashed through a guardrail over the Massachusetts Turnpike in Newton.

Authorities say the bus crashed through the guardrail of an overpass on Washington Street at Newton Corner and could be seen from exit 17. Emergency responders at the scene said that there was no threat of the bus ever falling down onto the state highway.

Passengers as well as the bus driver were treated at the scene, and some were taken to area hospitals for further evaluation. State Police and MBTA officials are investigating the crash.

This is the second MBTA bus accident in less than a week. Last Tuesday, several passengers were injured when the bus they were traveling on veered off of the road and crashed into a utility pole in Randolph, according to WCVB.

Joe Pesaturo, a spokesperson for the MBTA said that the #240 bus, which was traveling on Route 28, did in fact strike a utility pole and that several passengers were injured in the accident. Passengers of the crash suffered minor injures-some of which reported experiencing neck and back pain.
Continue reading

by

The driver involved in suspected hit-and-run crash in Leominster has been found and arrested according to local police. Daniel Brand, 34 was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and intimidating a witness when he turned himself in on Friday. His arrest stems from an accident in which Brand allegedly hit a teenager riding his bike and left the scene without stopping. The bike was dragged under the car for about a mile before the driver was seen tossing it over a fence in an effort to cover up evidence.

Sixteen-year-old Joshua Carillo was riding his bike along Route 12 in Leominster last Monday night when he was struck hard by a driver in a Honda sedan, leaving him with two broken legs. Understandably, Joshua’s mother was very upset and publically pleaded with the driver to do the right thing and come forward.
Continue reading

by

Residents in the South Shore town of Marshfield, MA voted 88 to 73 in a town meeting this week to approve a citizens petition to implement three-point seat belts on all school buses transporting children to and from school, sporting events and class trips.

The petition was created by resident Stephen Lynch out of safety concerns. Lynch, who is a father of three, discussed the stark reality of school bus accidents occurring each day-resulting in serious injuries to students and even death.

“Many of these injuries could have been prevented through seat belts,” Lynch stated in the meeting. Retrofitting buses, Lynch added, “Does not compare with the millions of dollars we spend at Town Meeting on discretionary projects that do not save lives.”

The amended petition would not take effect until 2016, when the Marshfield Public School District’s current bus contract expires. The Marshfield School Committee will also spend the next year reviewing the petition and vote, as well as negotiations with bus companies. Cost, according to Committee Chair Marti Morrison, will be a factor in deciding which bus company to contract services with. Marshfield Superintendent Scott Borstel said that it could cost up to an estimated $10,000 to retrofit buses with seat belts. Additionally, many attendees of the meeting raised the question of the sizes of seat belts and how these three-point safety systems would work for both small and large children. Once installed in buses, students will have the option to buckle up, but they will not be required to.

Currently there are six states in the U.S. that require seat belts on school buses: New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Massachusetts does not currently require the use of seat belts on school buses, but some school districts, including Wellesley and Waltham, have already outfitted buses with the life-saving device. According to Borstel, buses weighing more than 5 tons are designed to protect passengers in the event of an accident-that is why there are currently no laws in place for passenger buses that large, and why buses weighing less than 10,000 pounds are required to have seat belts.
Continue reading

by

Despite monumental improvements in vehicle safety, the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway traffic Safety Administration reports that traffic fatalities increased in 2012 for the first time since 2005. The number of car accident fatalities rose to 33,561, which was 1,082 more than the previous year. Data shows that the large majority of these fatalities occurred in the first quarter of the year and mainly involved motorcycle and pedestrian incidents.

The NHTSA notes that despite the fact that the number of accident-related deaths rose in 2012, “highway deaths over the last five years remain at historic lows.” Even factoring in the small jump in 2012, the fatalities are still consistent with those of the year 1950. Early data analysis from 2013 indicates fatality numbers have fallen once again.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx released a statement explaining, “Highway deaths claim more than 30,000 lives each year and while we’ve made substantial progress over the past 50 years, it’s clear that we have much more work to do. As we look to the future, we must focus our efforts to tackle persistent and emerging issues that threaten the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians across the nation.”
Continue reading

Contact Information
Cambridge, MA
Main Office
675 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617.492.3000Fax: 617.491.3299Toll Free: 800.481.6199
Boston, MA
675 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617.547.1205Toll Free: 800.481.6199
Needham, MA
250 First Avenue 2nd Floor
Needham, MA 02494
Phone: 781.675.2329Toll Free: 800.481.6199

Some Select Cases are referred to other attorneys for principal responsibility

By publishing this information on this Website, the Boston, Massachusetts law firm of Altman & Altman LLP is not claiming to represent any clients or cases mentioned here. The content provided is designed to inform readers and is not intended as legal advice.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2025, Altman & Altman LLP
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design