Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

April 28, 2011

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Warns of Vehicle Safety and Odometer Fraud

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recently reported on odometer fraud and the importance of thoroughly inspecting a used car before purchasing it. When purchasing a used car, buyers usually inspect seatbelts, brakes, and air bags. However, the NHTSA’s Office of Odometer Fraud Investigations, is urging used-car buyers to also now consider odometers in order to prevent possible car accidents and ensure a safe drive.

The Office of Odometer Fraud Investigations (OFI) advises used-car buyers to be exceedingly scrupulous in order to guarantee that a car’s safety features have not been tampered with or that a seller has not rolled back the odometer. Because car professionals and automakers recommend part replacements, tune-ups, and oil-changes based on a car’s mileage, a faulty odometer reading can jeopardize the overall safety of a vehicle and result in a car accident. OFI reports that even a newer car’s odometer can be tampered with, leading one to believe that a car is safer and more valuable than it actually is.

Under Federal law, the odometer law (49 U.S.C. Chapter 327/Public Law 103-272) prohibits the disconnection, resetting, or alteration of a car’s odometer with intention of changing its number of miles.

When inspecting the safety features of a vehicle, some key items to help determine whether or not an odometer has been tampered with are:

• The overall performance and condition of the vehicle
• Statements from previous owner, repair receipts, service stickers, or any other document that shows a mileage discrepancy
• If previously owned, you can contact your state motor vehicle titling and registration office to obtain title and title transfer documents pertaining to your vehicle.

The OFI has convicted over 240 criminals in over than 30 states and has reimbursed over $10 million in court orders. Prison sentences for tampering with an odometer range from one month to eight years.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident in which you suspect faulty parts or odometer fraud, it is advised that you contact an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer.

Sources:

Vehicle odometer fraud jeopardizes safety…and pocketbooks, Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, April 19, 2011

Office of Odometer Fraud Investigations, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Continue reading

April 27, 2011

Fall River Woman Killed In Single-Car Crash

by Altman & Altman

A single-car accident on Route 24 in Fall River is under investigation in which one woman has died. The only person in the crash, Alexandra Medeiros, 20, from Fall River, was driving North on Route 24 in the early afternoon when her 2002 Nissan Altima crashed into woods on the side of the road.

According to State Trooper Lori-Ann Wheaton’s preliminary investigation, the engine subsequently caught fire due to the crash. Three State Troopers who were at a nearby location responded to the radio dispatch and were able to extinguish the fire. Medeiros was trapped inside until emergency crews were able to extract her from the wreckage. She was then taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River where she was pronounced dead.

Although it is still under investigation, high speed is being considered as a possible reason for the crash. Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, are all contributing to the investigation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding is one of the most common reasons for car accidents. The NHTSA estimates that the economic cost of speed-related crashes is $40.4 billion per year. Speeding was the cause of 31 percent of all fatal crashes in 2008 and in that same year, 11,674 people died in speed-related car accidents.

If you or your loved one has been involved in a fatal Massachusetts car accident, contact an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer.

Sources:

Fall River woman killed in fiery crash on Route 24, Bridgewater Independent, April 25, 2011
Police ID woman who died in Route 24 crash, Taunton Gazette, April 26, 2011
Driver Education, Speeding, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Grafton Car Crash Kills Two Massachusetts Men

Peabody Car Crash Kills Massachusetts Man
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April 25, 2011

Drunk Driver Kills Two Teens Not Wearing Seatbelts in Somerville

by Altman & Altman

After a single-car accident at 3:30 a.m. on Friday in Somerville, two teenage girls aged 16 and 17 have died. The first teenager died at the scene of the accident, and the second died on Saturday at Massachusetts General Hospital from her injuries sustained from the crash. Their names have not been released. State Police report that neither girl was wearing a seatbelt.

The teenagers were passengers of Kenneth W. Belew, 21, of Somerville. David Procopio, State Police spokesman, said Belew faces two charges of motor vehicle homicide, drunken driving, a marked lane violation and speeding. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in Somerville District Court. Three other passengers, Jerry Altidor, 21, from Somerville, Rafaela Pereira, 19, from Everett, and Rudolph Reis, 20, from Somerville, were all wearing their seatbelts and sustained only minor injuries.

State Police report that this is not Belew´s first driving violation. He has been cited seven times for speeding, violating lane markings, driving without an inspection sticker, and a seat belt infraction.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. and are the cause for more than one in three deaths for teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19. In 2009, eight teenagers in this age group died from car accidents every day. They further report that in 2008, three out of every four teenagers killed in car crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.

If you or your loved one has been involved in a Massachusetts car accident, it is advised that you contact a Massachusetts car accident lawyer.

Sources:

2d teen in Somerville crash dies of injuries, The Boston Globe, April 25, 2011
Teen Drivers, Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Ipswich Teenager Faces Charges for Breaking Massachusetts Junior Drivers’ License Law

Woburn Teen Dies After Crash in NH
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April 21, 2011

Multiple Vehicle Accident Involving Dump Truck Leaves Several Injured in Uxbridge

by Altman & Altman

An accident involving a dump truck set off a four-car accident that left three people injured on Route 16 in Uxbridge. A Toyota Camry driven by George Cournoyer, 73, of Slatersville, R.I., drifted into the opposite lane of traffic and hit a dump truck that was towing an excavator. The dump truck then lost control and the trailer flipped over, blocking both lanes. Two other cars were hit as the trailer rolled over.

Cournoyer was severely injured. Mendon Police Chief Ernest Horn, who led the accident reconstruction investigation reported that,”He had significant internal injuries and left-sided injuries from the crash.” According to Police Chief Scott J. Freitas, the roof of his car had to be removed in order to extricate him. He was then taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester by helicopter.

A pregnant woman from Webster, Stephanie Daigle, and her 6-year-old son were taken to Milford Regional Medical Center with what Freitas described as “very, very minor injuries.” She was taken to the hospital as a caution because she was pregnant and has since been released. Her vehicle was hit by the trailer as it rolled over.

Because diesel fuel spilled onto the road from the crash, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Clean Harbors were contacted to clean up the environmental hazards.

Although no charges have been filed yet, the accident is currently under investigation and charges are expected to be filed.

When involved in a Massachusetts car accident, it is advised that you contact a Massachusetts car accident lawyer. Especially in the case of a multiple-car accident with one vehicle at fault, it is important to find a >lawyer who has decades of experience with multiple-car accident insurance claims.

Source:

Several hurt in Uxbridge crash, The Milford Daily News, April 19, 2011
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Vehicle Accelerates and Crashes Into Five Cars at Logan International Airport Terminal C

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April 19, 2011

Vehicle Accelerates and Crashes Into Five Cars at Logan International Airport Terminal C

by Altman & Altman

An accident involving at least six cars at the Boston Logan International Airport is under investigation. On Monday morning at approximately 6:35 a.m., the multiple vehicle crash happened at the Terminal C drop-off departure level outside of the Jet Blue check-in area. State police report that a 63-year-old North Reading woman caused the accident by accelerating instead of braking. After hitting five cars in a row, her 2007 Ford Explorer finally came to a halt in a baggage checking area on the curb. Logan Airport spokesman Phil Orlandella confirmed that the vehicle came to a stop at the AirTran area of the terminal.

Police report that the woman driving the SUV has been identified as Carol Guthrie. In a preliminary investigation, State Police found that she mistook her gas pedal for her brake pedal. She has nonetheless been issued a summons and has been cited for negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Boston Emergency Medical Services reported that three people, including Guthrie, were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with minor injuries. This accident continues to be under investigation.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact one of our experienced Boston car accident lawyers for a free consultation.

Sources:

North Reading woman cited by State Police for crash at Logan Airport, boston.com, April 18, 2011
Minor injuries in Boston airport car crash, Boston Globe, April 18, 2011 Continue reading

April 15, 2011

Head-On Collision in Sandwich Leaves Three Severely Injured

by Altman & Altman

Three people were severely injured on Thursday night in a car accident with a pick-up truck in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Around 5:30 p.m., a pick-up truck was turning left onto Route 130 from Grand Oak Road and collided head-on with a car coming from the opposite direction. Authorities report that the driver of the pick-up truck was John Spinella, 46, from Forestdale, and Anthony Mastrangelo, 26, from Sandwich, was driving the car. Although no one in the truck was injured, all occupants in the car sustained serious injuries.

According to medical personnel at the scene of the accident, a 20-year-old female passenger had a severe head injury and was taken by a medical helicopter to Boston Medical Center. The two males in the vehicle, including Mastrangelo, were also reported to have serious injuries and were taken to Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital.

Sandwich Police Sargent Joseph Cotter reported that the names of the other two victims are being withheld until their families are notified. The accident is still under investigation.

If you have been injured on the road in car accident, contact one of our experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers for a free consultation.

Sources:

Three seriously injured in head-on car crash, Fox 25 / MyFoxBoston.com, April 14, 2011
Three people injured in Route 130 crash, Cape Cod Times, April 15, 2011 Continue reading

April 14, 2011

Car Runs Stop Sign and Crashes into MBTA Bus in Dedham

by Altman & Altman

The driver of a car was cited on Tuesday for failing to stop at a stop sign on Providence Highway and as a result caused a crash with a Route 34E bus in Dedham. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority reported that six people were injured in the car and bus crash. Five people on the bus were taken to hospitals in the area with back injuries. The 19-year-old driver of the car was taken to Norwood Hospital with a back injury.

Although the accident is still under investigation, MBTA spokeswoman Lydia Rivera reported that the bus was damaged on the right side and that the car was dented at the front.

The MBTA website provides passengers with emergency safety information and recommendations in the case of an emergency or accident. For bus transit emergencies, MBTA recommends to:

• Remain calm and to follow the instructions of the driver • Know where the emergency exits are located • Only exit the bus when the driver says it is safe to evacuate • Sit close to the bus driver at the front of the bus during off-hours • If you are medically qualified and capable of helping in an emergency, identify yourself to the driver or Transit Police • Notify the bus driver of any trouble or suspicious activity on the bus. The driver can radio the dispatcher and notify the MBTA Transit Police Department.

If you have been injured on the road in a bus or car accident, contact one of our experienced Boston car and bus accident lawyers for a free consultation.

Sources:

6 Hurt In Car, Bus Crash, TheBostonChannel.com, April 12, 2011
Emergency Instructions and Transit Safety Tips, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Continue reading

April 12, 2011

Massachusetts Woman Arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Causing Fatal Accident on I-395

by Altman & Altman

A fatal two-car accident on Interstate 395 is under investigation. Police report that Dina Senibaldi, 26, of Everett, Massachusetts, was driving southbound between exits 77 and 78 when she hit the car in front of her. She was arrested at the scene for driving while under the influence, and for possession of marijuana and narcotics. Although she refused medical treatment, her passenger, Marirose Lynch, 25, also from Everett, was taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for a cut on her forehead.

The car that Senibaldi hit was carrying Edmund L. Davis, 52, from New Haven, Connecticut, and Lisa Delprete, 45, from North Haven, Connecticut. Davis lost control of his vehicle after the impact and crashed into the guardrail on the passenger’s side of the vehicle where Delprete was seated. Delprete was reportedly taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for severe head injuries. She was pronounced dead later that day. Davis was also taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for severe head and chest injuries. State police report that because of the severity of his injuries, he has been transported to Yale New Haven Hospital and is in critical condition.

The Department of Transportation reports that the accident happened just after 11 p.m. on Friday night. Emergency personnel requested for a medical helicopter but it was too cloudy for flight.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that almost one-third of all traffic deaths involve drunk or impaired drivers. If you have been injured in an accident, contact on of our experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers for a free consultation.

Alleged Drunk Driving Accident Claims Life of North Haven Woman, North Haven Patch, April 9, 2011
Impaired Driving, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Continue reading

April 8, 2011

Off-Duty Boston Police Officer Collides With Boston Fire Truck

by Altman & Altman

In Mattapan, Massachusetts, an SUV carrying an off-duty Boston police officer crashed into a Boston fire truck that was on its way to respond to a car accident. The fire truck, Engine 29, reportedly had sirens and lights on but according to witnesses, it went straight through a red light without slowing down. After colliding with the SUV, it crashed into a light pole. The accident occurred on Harvard Street at a very busy intersection.

The police officer who was in the SUV has sustained a serious leg injury from the accident. He was scheduled for a leg operation on Wednesday. The victim’s sister, Allyson Vinson Bowore, said that her brother, Darrell Vinson, has been with the Boston Police Department for twenty years. She said he was off-duty and headed to work when “The light turned green and he went and that’s when he got hit by the fire truck.”

The accident is under investigation by State police and no charges have been filed yet. Investigators are hoping that the traffic camera has captured this accident. Massachusetts state law requires that all emergency vehicles must stop at intersections for a red light even with their sirens and lights on. Officials have confirmed that the driver of Engine 29 has had drug and alcohol tests in the aftermath of the accident.

If you have been involved in an accident, contact on of our experienced Boston car accident attorneys for a free consultation.

Source:

SUV hits Boston fire truck in Mattapan, 7-News / whdh.com, April 6, 2011 Continue reading

April 6, 2011

Fatal Hit And Run Accident in Dorchester Kills 39-Year-Old Mother

by Altman & Altman

A fatal accident in Dorchester is under investigation in which a 39-year-old mother was killed. The other passenger in the car was the sister of the deceased. Police report that the accident was caused by another driver who fled the scene. The sister informed authorities that they slammed into a tree after they were hit by another car who was trying to pass them. The hit and run accident occurred at the corner of Washington Street and School Street, at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.

In the event of an accident in Massachusetts, drivers are required by law to stop at the scene of the accident and exchange information with the other driver. If the accident occurred on someone’s property, then the driver is also required to exchange information with the owner of the property that was damaged. It is illegal for a driver to flee the scene of an accident. The minimum punishment for fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in death is 2 and a half years of imprisonment and a fine of no no less than $1,000.

Boston Police are searching for a small to medium-sized black car that was seen within the vicinity of the accident.

If you are the victim of a hit and run accident, contact on of our experienced Boston hit and run accident attorneys for a free consultation.

Source:

Mother of 3 killed in hit and run, FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com, April 4, 2011 Continue reading