Pedestrian Accidents

May 6, 2014

Needham, MA Teen Injured in Hit-And-Run Days before Prom

Seventeen-year-old Kailey Wasserman sits in her living room with tears streaming past a large scrape on her chin, one of many peppering her bruised body. Wasserman is understandably upset. She was the victim of a brutal hit-and-run as she was jogging in Needham. The driver left her bruised and bleeding on the ground and sped off with nary a thought about the injured teen he or she could have killed.

Kailey Wasserman faces WBZ TV cameras and opens her mouth to where her smile should be. Instead, she is missing two teeth and another is rendered to a fraction of what it used to be. The Boston Globe and WBZ report that in addition to her teeth, Kailey suffered a painful injury to her elbow and cuts and bruises all over her body.

According to authorities, the accident occurred at the intersection of High Rock Street and Marked Tree Road. Kailey explains that the driver blew through a stop sign and hit her, never stopping to see if she was okay. She was hit hard, rolling over the hood of the oncoming car and hitting her face on the pavement when she came to rest.
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April 8, 2014

Struggles Mount for Mother of Young Child Hit & Killed by Car

by Altman & Altman

It was a normal Wednesday afternoon on the day before Thanksgiving 2013. Glendalee Alvarado was walking her daughter Brianna home from school when a young life was cut short; another permanently altered. Footage from a nearby security camera captured the horrific scene as an SUV plowed straight into Alvarado and her daughter skipping down the street, pinning them under the vehicle. Seven-year-old Brianna died at the scene while her mother sustained life-threatening injuries. “It’s something that will never go away,” Glendalee told WHDH.

The Dorchester mother recounts the very ordinary events leading up to the tragic accident, explaining, “She was in front of me. We were walking and she was always in front of me, then I don’t remember. They said I tried to hold her jacket back but I don’t remember.” Glendalee Alvarado now has to cope with the loss of her young daughter on top of her own serious injuries.

WHDH reports that “Alvarado was hurt so [badly] in the accident she was in the hospital for about a week before doctors broke the news to her that her daughter did not survive.” Even now, several months later, she is in constant pain from a surgically rebuilt leg and paralysis after four strokes. Still, she says, the most painful thing is hearing her other children asking for their sister Brianna.
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March 19, 2014

Cell Phone Use Under Reported in Car Accidents, Causing Drivers to Underestimate Safety Threat

by Altman & Altman

Making the road safer for drivers and pedestrians alike remains a primary concern for lawmakers and first responders in the United States, but unlike seat belts, child car seats, and drunk driving, the mission to curb distracted driving due to cell phone use is difficult to enforce. The Washington Post reports that 28% of accidents are caused at least in part by talking or texting on a cell phone. However, according to a new infographic published by the National Safety Council, the actual data is more than likely much higher than the official report. The National Safety Council argues that cell phone use in fatal accidents is grossly under reported.

Officially, there were 350 fatal car accidents involving cell phone use in 2011. While 350 incidents may appear rather insignificant relative to a country of 317 million people, the National Safety Council believes that the absence of data regarding cell phone use poses a threat to public safety. When data is skewed or under reported, it causes the risk to appear less substantial than it may actually be, minimizing the impact on the decisions of the driver.
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January 2, 2014

Worcester Police Continue Search for Driver in Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident

by Altman & Altman

A pedestrian suffered a serious injury after being struck by a car in a hit-and-run accident.

Worcester police responded to a Summer Street residence after reports a man was struck by a small, white, foreign vehicle. Witnesses told police that the victim flew onto the hood of the vehicle before rolling off, and falling to the pavement. The victim is reportedly in good condition and recovering at a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Unfortunately, pedestrian traffic accidents account for more than 13% of all traffic-related fatalities and 3% of all personal injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) a pedestrian is injured every eight minutes and one pedestrian dies every two hours as the result of a traffic accident in the United States. Approximately 20% of all pedestrian car accidents according to the NHTSA, are also hit-and-run accidents. While we do not have much information about this particular incident, what can be assumed is that this young lady was walking during the early morning hours; at a time where there was minimal daylight.

In order to prevent an accident and keep themselves visible to motorists, pedestrians should always: -Wear bright or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight when walking during the early hours of the morning, at dusk, or at night. -Walk on sidewalks (whenever possible) and walk against the traffic when there are no sidewalks. -Cross at designated crosswalks whenever possible.

In addition, drivers can prevent pedestrian accidents by: -Yielding to the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing streets in marked or unmarked crosswalks.  -Yielding to pedestrians while turning at intersections or onto another street. -Being vigilant and aware of pedestrians walking at night, when it is dark out. -Slowing near major crosswalks.
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December 31, 2013

Woman Killed in East Boston When She is Crushed by Andrew McArdle Bridge

by Altman & Altman

A woman died in East Boston on Tuesday when the Meridian Street Bridge, also referred to as the Andrew McArdle Bridge, closed on top of her. Boston police are trying to figure out exactly what happened to cause the Massachusetts pedestrian accident.

Aura Garcia was crossing the bridge when it started to open. According to WCVB, the bridge operator did not appear to know that the 46-year-old pedestrian was there and started to raise the structure for a boat traveling on the Chelsea River. When Garcia, who grabbed one of the bridge’s sides, started to scream, the operator lowered it but she then got trapped between the plates and was crushed to death.

The bridge operator has since been put on leave pending the results of an investigation. It is not known right now whether operator error was the cause of the tragic accident or whether Garcia disregarded the alarms or warning lights. Bridge malfunction could also be a factor.

November 18, 2013

Number of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Fatalities Went Up in 2012

by Altman & Altman

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 374 Massachusetts motor vehicle crash deaths in 2012-alcohol was a factor in 126 of them. These figures are a slight increase 2011 when there were 349 Massachusetts traffic fatalities.

At Altman & Altman, LLP our Boston injury lawyers handle claims and lawsuits by the victims (or families) of those injured or killed in a Massachusetts traffic crashes. We handle cases involving motorcycle accidents, truck collision, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other type of motor vehicle collisions.

When a Massachusetts motor vehicle crash happens-there can be long-term ramifications for the victim and their loved ones. A person who is lucky enough to survive an accident may be left with serious injuries that can render him/her unable to hold a job or lead a normal life. Medical bills can mount and the emotional toll may be high not just for the victim but his/her loved ones and friends. Some injuries are so serious that 24-hour professional care may be required for life.

Many Massachusetts traffic accidents could/should have been prevented if only the party had not been negligent. Our Boston personal injury attorneys have gone after negligent drivers, automakers, municipalities that failed to properly maintain a roadway, and others on behalf of our clients and their families.

The Rise in Massachusetts Traffic Deaths Mirrors National Statistics
NHTSA provided not just state statistics but also national ones. 33,561 people died in US traffic incidents in 2012, which is up from the 32,479 deaths from the year before. This is the first time in six years that the number of US traffic fatalities have gone up instead of down.

Also, there were 2,362,000 traffic crash injuries, which is an increase from the 2.2 million victims that were injured in 2012. The number of alcohol-impaired driving deaths also went up by 4.6% from 2011. Fortunately, the number of deadly crashes involving young drivers continued to drop.

NHTSA Data Confirms Traffic Fatalities Increased In 2012, NHTSA, November 14, 2013

2012 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview, NHTSA, November 2013 (PDF)

More Blog Posts:
Massachusetts Wrongful Death Settled Reached in 2008 Foxboro Car Crash After Gillette Stadium Concert, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, November 5, 2013
Halloween is The “Deadliest” Night of the Year for Child Pedestrian Accidents, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, October 31, 2013
Haverhill Death Highlights Importance of Pedestrian Safety, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, November 20, 2013 Continue reading

October 31, 2013

Halloween is The “Deadliest” Night of the Year for Child Pedestrian Accidents

by Altman & Altman

Ghouls and goblins are not the scariest part of Halloween. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of children killed in pedestrian accidents between the hours of 4p and 10p doubles on this particular night. One reason for this is that with trick or treat, there are more kids out on the sidewalks and crossing streets.

Dark-colored costumes can make it hard to see pedestrians at night, especially if the individual are “kid-size.” Young children, excited by the occasion and buzzing on sugar from all the candy, may be more prone to run across the middle of the road and not pay attention to whether there is approaching traffic.

That said, drivers need to be aware that this type of bustling excitement happens on Halloween and they must exercise the necessary precautions to avoid becoming involved in a Boston pedestrian accident, including:

June 17, 2013

AAA Says Hands-Free Calling & Texting Devices Don’t Prevent Boston Distracted Driving Accidents

by Altman & Altman

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, sending and reading text messages with a hands-free devices or talking on a cell phone without using your hands while driving are no less distracting than doing these activities manually. The AAA’s study comes as voice-activated technologies that let people talk, text, and Facebook while driving continue to grow in popularity. This is the most comprehensive study of its kind to date. In Massachusetts, please contact our Boston injury lawyers if you believe that your car crash injuries or a loved one’s death was caused by a negligent driver.

Per the study, which sought to gauge how mental or cognitive distraction affect driving, even these hands-free devices don’t take away the mental distraction that can arise from engaging in so many other activities while operating a motor vehicle. As the mind becomes more distracted, the brain’s reaction capabilities slow down, as does its ability to detect vital cues on the road, including pedestrians and stop signs.

These findings are important for hands-free device manufacturers and also makers to know so that they can make sure that consumers don’t end up thinking that these types of products make it safer to text and talk while driving. AAA CEO Robert Darbelnet even called the surge in hands-free technology a “public safety crisis” just waiting to happen.

May 30, 2013

Woman Injured After Hit-and-Run Accident in Worcester, MA

by Altman & Altman

A Worcester woman was seriously injured after a hit-and-run crash early this morning.

The victim, 24, was struck around midnight while crossing the street at the intersection of Chandler and Wellington Streets. Police found the young woman lying in the middle of the road with severe hip and facial wounds.

Witnesses who saw the accident reported a small, dark-colored SUV flee the scene toward Main Street. According to police, it appeared that the woman was struck and rolled on top of the car and then fell back onto the ground. The victim was transported to a local hospital where she is currently listed in stable condition. Police are still investigating the accident.

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According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,280 pedestrians were killed as a result of motor-vehicle crashes and 70,000 were injured in pedestrian accidents in 2010. The number of pedestrian fatalities in 2010 accounted for 13% of all motor-vehicle accident fatalities and the number of injuries accounted for 3% of the total amount of individuals injured in a traffic accidents.

Most hit-and-run accidents occur in metropolitan areas where there is a high volume of car and pedestrian traffic. In fact, in 2010, the NHTSA reported that 73% of all pedestrian accidents occurred in urban settings, and typically at non-intersections (79%). Weather conditions, as reported by the NHTSA do not seem to have an impact on the amount of pedestrian fatalities however the majority of these types of accidents usually take place during nighttime hours. About 1 in 5 pedestrians killed in 2010, were the victim of a hit-and-run motor-vehicle accident, the NHTSA reported.

Pedestrian accidents occur for a variety of reasons, and may be attributed to not only the actions of a motor-vehicle operator, but the actions of a pedestrian as well. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding and reckless driving, and distracted driving by motor-vehicle operators are the most common factors that cause pedestrian accidents. About 20% of drivers involved in pedestrian accidents fled the scene according to the NHTSA. In some cases, pedestrians’ actions caused accidents. Actions such as alcohol consumption (leading to impaired judgment) was the most prominent factor, as well as failing to follow road signals, such as crosswalk signals, and improperly crossing intersections.
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April 9, 2013

Andover, Massachusetts Distracted Driving Accident Leads to Permanent, Disfiguring Injuries

by Altman & Altman

Per court documents submitted in Essex Superior Court, a pedestrian who suffered permanent disfigurement in an Andover, MA car accident has settled her civil lawsuit with the driver, who was texting while driving when he struck her. The Massachusetts distracted driving accident occurred in 2011 when the plaintiff was struck by the motorist in his pickup truck.

The impact of the collision, which caused her to fall unconscious to the ground after her head was struck by the truck’s side mirror, allowed the vehicle to run over her leg with one of its tires, leaving the victim with injuries serious enough that she had to undergo numerous surgeries and require medical care to treat her vertigo, concussion, and memory loss. Evidence indicates that she will never again have full function of her leg.

The documents contend that the Andover, MA pedestrian accident happened because the driver took his eyes off the road while texting. The defendant settled the case with the maximum coverage available and additional monies.