Why do you need Car Accident attorneys in Boston? Even the most careful drivers are at risk. A recent report of America’s Best Drivers ranked Boston drivers as the second worst in the nation, at 199 out of 200 major cities, with only Worcester drivers ranked worst.
Aggressive driving in Boston is a common practice. The heavy commuter traffic and high number of aggressive drivers make it almost inevitable that you, or someone you know, will be in a serious car accident. Research also found that the average Boston driver can expect to be involved in a car accident about once every four years – an alarming statistic.
If you have been injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, you can hold them accountable for your losses. You can seek and obtain compensation from an at-fault driver for your medical expenses, damage to your vehicle, lost income as you recover, pain and suffering, and more. We, as car accident attorneys are ready for fight for your compensation.
The aggressive litigator of our car accident attorneys can help you pursue a car accident claim. Contact our car accident attorneys today for a free evaluation of your case. We can get to work for you right away.
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Why Did Your Car Accident Happen?
There are many types of driver behaviors that prove to be dangerous or deadly. In a recent report, transportation researchers with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyzed thousands of accidents and assigned the critical reason for the crash to the driver in 94 percent of accidents. The researchers cited a failure or degradation of a vehicle component or environmental factors such as slick roads or weather in about two percent of crashes each.
Drivers were found to have made:
- Recognition or inattention errors in 41 percent of the crashes.
- Judgment errors such as driving too fast for conditions, illegal maneuver or incorrectly assuming another driver’s actions in 33 percent of accidents.
- Performance errors in 11 percent of accidents.
- Non-performance errors, i.e., being asleep at the wheel (7 percent).
- Other driver errors (8 percent).
Police and other law enforcement officials commonly attribute the causes of accidents as:
Speeding
Many Boston drivers drive too fast for road or weather conditions. Nationally, speeding is a factor in about one third of car accidents every year. It is extremely dangerous, and often leads to collisions caused by a driver being unable to stop their speeding vehicle soon enough. As speed increases, the impact of a collision increases exponentially, which in turn increases the severity of property damage and injury. Younger drivers —particularly young, male drivers involved in fatal crashes —are most likely to have been speeding, the NHTSA says.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving is driving behavior that affects other road users by placing them in unnecessary danger. Aggressive driving includes tailgating, making unsafe lane changes, excessive speeding, running red lights, passing on the right, and weaving in traffic. Aggressive driving may also involve driver anger and result in physical confrontations. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that 56 percent of fatal crashes involved one or more driver actions associated with aggressive driving, the most common being excessive speed.
Distracted Driving
Drivers who engage in texting while driving, or talking on cell phones are a danger to others on the road. Activities such as eating, personal grooming, talking with passengers or interacting systems with car electronics can cause distraction and contribute to accidents. Since 2010, Massachusetts’ Safe Driving Law has prohibited sending, typing or reading electronic messages from handheld devices while operating a motor vehicle. The law bans the use of all handheld electronic devices by junior operators while behind the wheel.
Fatigued Driving
Fatigued driving has reached epidemic proportions. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that drowsy drivers are involved in 21 percent of fatal crashes. In a recent AAA Foundation survey, more than a third of drivers admitted to having fallen asleep behind the wheel at some point, and 11 percent said they had fallen asleep while driving in the previous year. Being drowsy slows reaction time decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases the risk of a crash.
Drunk Driving
A driver who is intoxicated poses a serious risk to all other drivers and their passengers, as well as pedestrians. Alcohol intoxication causes a driver to make bad decisions, to swerve, to speed, to drive in the wrong direction, and to have slowed reaction time. There were 118 drunk driving fatalities in Massachusetts in 2013, equaling nearly 10 deaths every month. Alcohol-impaired driving is the second leading cause of car accident fatalities in Boston. Many more drunk driving accidents cause significant personal injuries and property damage every day.
Road Hazards
Boston drivers are used to road hazards, particularly potholes and road construction work zones. Sometimes the condition of the road or a work zone endangers drivers because the work zone is not set up properly. Uneven pavement or sudden lane changes may cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. If a neglected road hazard or poorly designed work zone contributes to an accident, the governmental agency, contractor or others may be held accountable.
Automotive Failure
We’re all familiar with cars and car parts being recalled because defects in their design and/or manufacture have been discovered. Unfortunately, serious accidents usually bring attention to the faulty car parts prior to the recall. When faulty automotive parts or systems, like tires, brakes, air bags, steering or ignition systems, cause car accidents, the manufacturer and others may be held liable for injured persons’ losses through a product liability claim.
When to Get Experienced Car Accident Attorneys in Boston
If you have been involved in a car accident that has left you injured and facing hospital bills, lost income, and the prospects of a long recovery, contact our car accident attorneys in Boston if you would like to file a car accident injury claim. We will investigate every aspect of your accident to document what happened and who should be held liable, as well as what settlement is necessary to ensure your full financial recovery. Reach now one of our car accident attorneys.
We understand the serious impacts that car accident cases have on families. We keep all of our clients informed throughout the claims process. We’ll work to ensure that your claim moves toward a successful conclusion with as little burden on you as possible.
For a free consultation about your legal options after a car accident, call us today or fill out our free consultation form to have one of our car accident attorneys contact you!
Sources:
- Allstate: America’s Best Drivers Report.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA): Critical Reasons for Crashes Investigated in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey.
- NHTSA: Countermeasures That Work: A Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide for State Highway Safety Offices.
- NHTSA: Traffic Safety Facts: Alcohol-Impaired Driving.
