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Car Accidents
Stay Safe This June (And All Year Round)
June is National Safety Month, and this year’s theme is Keep Each Other Safe. Learn how you can keep yourself, your loved ones, and others around you safe with these tips.
Behind the Wheel
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), motor crashes are the #1 cause of death for children and young adults, and the #2 cause of death for adults overall. The sad fact is, these deaths are easily preventable. Here’s what you can do to keep yourself and others on the road safe: Read the rest »
How Safe Are Drivers in Massachusetts?
The insurance marketplace Everquote created an application to measure people’s driving habits. The Safe Driving Challenge was a two-week study that compared Massachusetts’ drivers to those in New York State.
Motorists in Massachusetts fared slightly better in their overall safety score of 76 compared to New York’s 74. Within the state, North Reading was determined to be the safest city to travel in, while Boston was the most dangerous. The application measured factors including acceleration, braking, mobile device usage, and speed. Overall, the report stated that Massachusetts drivers seemed to travel at 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.
What Is Distracted Driving Doing to the Roads?
Law enforcement in Massachusetts continues to crack down on distracted driving, which most commonly involves drivers using mobile devices while on the road. The Massachusetts Office of Public Highway Safety is leading the statewide efforts to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Last year, Governor Baker announced that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Police are more aggressively patrolling areas that seem to be high-risk.
Impact on Fatal Crashes
The National Safety Council calculated there were roughly 399 fatalities from vehicle crashes in Massachusetts during 2016. This shows the continuation of a pattern: up from 354 in 2015 and 348 in 2014.
Nationally, there were 40,200 fatalities, making 2016 the deadliest year of driving since 2007. Jeff Larason, Massachusetts Highway Safety Director, considers this trend “troubling” and feels that distracted driving is the leading cause.
Massachusetts Winter Weather Creates Dangerous Driving Conditions
Roughly 70% of U.S. roads are located in regions which receive at least an average of 5 inches of snowfall annually. Similarly, approximately 70% of the U.S. population also resides in these snowy regions. Snow and ice accumulation on the roadways creates potentially dangerous driving conditions by reducing friction, vehicle handling, and braking. Approximately 25% of weather-related auto crashes occur atop surfaces containing snow or ice. Winter-related activity accounts for about 20% of the funds exhausted by state transportation budgets—a staggering 2.3 billion dollars.
Winter Holiday Driving Tips
The holidays are approaching and winter will be here soon. Both the season and the time of year can pose extra hazards for Massachusetts drivers. If you’re going to be traveling over the next few months, DiBella Law Offices, P.C. has some driving safety tips for you. Whether you’re driving across town or driving out of state to Grandma’s house, it’s important that you:
5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Car Accident Injury Case
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, the cost of ongoing medical bills, rehabilitation, and loss of income can quickly become overwhelming. For this reason, and many more, it’s important to seek the fair compensation you deserve with help from an experienced Boston car accident attorney. Read the rest »
The Dangers of Texting and Other Driving Distractions
It only takes a couple seconds to look down and read a text message, but that small window of time can mean the difference between making your commute safely and being involved in an accident. In 2014, the Cellular Telephone Industries Association reported that 431,000 individuals were injured in motor vehicle accidents that involved a distracted driver – the most common distraction? Texting. Read the rest »
How to Avoid a Truck’s Blind Spots
Driving side-by-side with a large commercial truck is so deeply rooted in our everyday commute that oftentimes we hardly think twice about it. Because of the size and weight of a truck, however, they can be some of the most dangerous vehicles we share the road with. Being in a truck’s blind spot can be extremely risky, especially if the truck tries to change lanes. In this blog, our Northern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire truck accident attorney shares a few ways to avoid a truck’s blind spots. Read the rest »
Five Common Causes of Massachusetts Car Accidents
Driving is something so deeply rooted in our everyday routines that oftentimes we don’t think twice about it. If you’re not careful, however, driving can turn potentially dangerous in a heartbeat. In this blog, our Burlington car accident lawyer shares five common causes of car accidents: Read the rest »
The Car Accident Wasn’t Your Fault And You Shouldn’t Have To Pay
You have a perfect driving record because you are careful. You are the one who came to a full stop before the line at the traffic light. When the light turned green, you counted to three, looked left and right and left again, and proceeded into the intersection, but you didn't stand a chance. He was texting or brushing his teeth or reading the newspaper. You aren't sure which, but he sure wasn't paying attention to driving. He entered the intersection at full speed and T-boned right into your passenger's door. Read the rest »
Involved in a car accident?
The first step in getting the compensation you deserve is contacting the experienced legal team at DiBella Law Offices, P.C. Don’t delay, the statute of limitations in Massachusetts is just three years.
Call (781) 262-3338 Burlington, or (978) 327-5140 Methuen today for a free consultation.