Massachusetts accident attorneys know that according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association’s 2012 report, there were 58 Pedestrian fatalities in the Massachusetts that year, accounting for more than 18 percent of the total traffic deaths. This was far higher than the national average of 13 percent.
Walker fatalities cause for concern in Boston
Urban areas like Massachusetts are far more likely to see the majority of these incidents. A 2012 report by the National Alliance for Biking and Walking found that Boston had an annual average of 8.3 Pedestrians killed annually, accounting for nearly 35 percent of all its traffic fatalities – more than one-third.
This is in spite of the fact that Pedestrians only account for 5 percent of the people heading to work and 13 percent of travelers overall.
According to news reports of the most recent incident, police are reporting that the driver of a Toyota was driving in the right lane on Tremont Street when he reportedly ran a red light, striking a Nissan that was stopped at the intersection. The Nissan was thrust into the intersection, slammed into a traffic light and then spun around onto the sidewalk, striking the woman and young girl.
Witnesses feared the two may not survive, as neither one moved at all at first. However, both were transported to the Boston Medical Center, where it’s said that despite head injuries and lacerations, they are expected to live.
Of course, we don’t know what their future will be in coping with the injuries they sustained. Someone who suffers a head injury may have incurred disabling and/or permanent damage.
NHTSA says Crosswalk accident fatalities on the rise
Contact: Personal Injury Lawyer for Accident Victims
The good news is that Massachusetts state officials have begun to prioritize prevention of Pedestrian crashes, with 5 percent of the state transportation budget dedicating to projects that underscore Walker and bicyclist safety. That’s compared to about 0.5 percent of state transportation budgets dedicated for the same purpose by states like Florida and Louisiana, which also have a major Pedestrian fatality problem.
Are Boston Drivers and Bicycle Riders Having Difficulty Sharing the Roads?
Bicycle riders and drivers are being forced to coexist more on the roads as people increasingly turn to bicycling as a method of commuting or getting exercise. This is especially true in Boston, which has been named one of America’s Best Cities for Biking. Unfortunately, even in bike-friendly cities like Boston, tensions can arise when bicycle riders and drivers have to co-exist on crowded city roads.
Are Bicycle Riders Sharing the Roads?
Several Washington Post columnists have raised myriad complaints about bicycle riders including allegations that:- Bicycle riders are not following the same rules of the road as drivers are held to, even though they are supposed to do so.
While some of these concerns may be legitimate, bicycle riders also have the right and responsibility to speak out and demand that the roads be made safer for them.
Springfield Motorcycle Collisions a Spring & Summer Risk
Unfortunately, his story is not unusual. Drivers often fail to follow safety rules or to share the road in a careful way to protect motorcyclists. Victims injured by a motorcycle collision can speak with accident attorneys in Springfield, MA for help making an injury claim.
Motorcycle Collisions are an Increasing Risk
Massachusetts also saw a major decrease in motorcycle fatalities during this time. In the first half of 2013, there were just nine motorcyclist deaths in the state as compared with 20 fatalities in the first six months of 2012. This is a decrease of 55 percent. Unfortunately, more fatalities occurred over the next several months. Within the first nine months of 2013, there were a total of 28 motorcycle rider fatalities in Massachusetts. This was still a 39 percent decrease from the 46 deaths that had occurred in the prior year.
At first glance, this decline in fatalities may seem to suggest that the roads are becoming safer for motorcycle riders. Unfortunately, an article on Forbes indicates that this is not the case. While it is true that fewer motorcyclists were killed in 2013, this happened not because of increased safety but instead because the weather was worse over the course of this year. It was both colder and wetter in 2013 as compared with the same time period in 2012. The bad weather discouraged riders and, with fewer motorcyclists on the road, there were fewer fatalities.
Related: Massachusetts Bar Association
Pedestrian Accident
