East Rochester Man Faces Charges after Drinking, Driving on Christmas

The Union Leader recently reported on an East Rochester man who was arrested in connection with an accident that occurred Christmas night in Rochester.

Police received a report that a car had gone off of the Milton Road/Route 125 off ramp to Route 16 just after 7:30 p.m. Officials reported that no one was inside the vehicle when officers arrived, but police soon found two men and a boy walking along the roadway near the scene.

The driver was subsequently charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, conduct following an accident, and endangering the welfare of a child. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the accident.

Tractor Trailer Accident Snarls I-93 Traffic

The Eagle Tribune reported today that the operator of a tractor trailer somehow lost control of his 2013 Freightliner on August 27 at about 11:00 a.m. in the area of the lane merge near Exit 1 on I-93 in Salem, New Hampshire.

The tractor trailer reportedly went into a slide lasting approximately 200 feet before impacting with a Chevrolet Suburban. A third vehicle, a Chrysler sedan, was also involved in the collision. Drivers of the Chevrolet and Chrysler and their passengers were transported to area hospitals for evaluation of reportedly minor injuries.

NHTSA “Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock” Campaign Urges Parents to Practice Proper Vehicle Safety

It is not just car accidents on the road that can result in serious injuries or death; other forms of negligence related to motor vehicles can also have a significant impact on the health and safety of its occupants, especially children. Now that it’s summer, heatstroke is a threat, and unfortunately many children suffer injury from heatstroke as the result of being locked in a car. To raise awareness of this issue and to help prevent needless child injuries, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched its “Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock” campaign.

How Does This Happen?

For many, the idea of leaving a child in a locked car for an extended period of time is impossible to comprehend, but such incidents do occur. When there is a change in routine, a parent or caregiver may forget that their child is in the backseat; a parent or caregiver may decide to run into the grocery store “for a quick errand;” a car may be left unlocked and unsupervised children could lock themselves in; or a parent or caregiver can be distracted and/or inattentive.

If your child is under another person’s care and your child suffers heatstroke as the result of being locked in a vehicle, the skilled child injury attorneys at Kiley Law Group can help you understand your legal rights and options.

What You Can Do

The NHTSA offers the following prevention tips for parents and caregivers to help protect the children in their care:

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• Never let children play in or around an unattended vehicle. Cars are not play areas.
• Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended.
• Never leave infants or children in parked cars, even with the windows open.
• Give yourself visual cues to remind you when a child is in the back seat, i.e. stuffed teddy bear in the back seat when there is no child, or stuffed teddy bear in the front seat when there is a child in the back.
• Always check the vehicle, front and back, before locking.

How a Massachusetts Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

Cars can be very dangerous for children, whether they are locked inside or they are in danger of not being seen around the vehicle when it is moved. If your child has suffered serious injury as the result of another’s negligence with regard to vehicle safety, the experienced Boston personal injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group can help. Call us today for a free consultation at (888) 208-1695.

MassDOT Installs “Real-Time” Traffic Signs on Interstate 93

Driving on the highway and then getting stuck in traffic is an experience every driver has had and has been annoyed by, especially when you have somewhere to be and have no idea why everything has slowed down. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has an answer; not for the traffic, but for knowing what is going on and having a better timetable for your commute.

I-93 Message Boards

Earlier this week, MassDOT unveiled new “real-time” traffic signs/message boards strategically located on Interstate 93 along the corridor from Canton to the New Hampshire border that give motorists estimates of how long it will take them to reach certain points along the route.

The signs estimate this time by picking up cell phone and Bluetooth signals and measuring how long it takes for a certain signal to make it from one point to the other. The technology picks up general signals and cannot identify specific cell phones, so motorists don’t have to worry about privacy issues.

Additionally, should a major accident or hazardous road condition occur, officials can manually update the signs to alert drivers of the cause of the hold-up.

Making it to Your Destination Safely

These new message boards will help motorists have better control over their commute by giving them the information they need to make the necessary “I’ll be late/early” phone calls and other arrangements, but this does not mean that they should pay more attention to the message than the road.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Massachusetts car crash caused by the negligence of another driver, the knowledgeable car accident attorneys at the Kiley Law Group can help you pursue financial compensation for the injuries you’ve suffered. To speak to one of our lawyers about your particular situation, call us today for a free consultation at (888) 208-1695.

Dangers of Fatigued Truck Driving

Tractor trailers are the most dangerous vehicles that regularly travel on our roads. Their immense size and weight are not only intimidating to drivers of smaller vehicles, but increase the risk of serious injury or even death in the case of a truck crash. This risk is heightened when truck drivers are negligent or reckless in their operation of the truck. One of the most common truck accident causes in Massachusetts and across the nation, related to truck operator negligence, is fatigued driving.

Hours-of-Service Regulations

Fatigued driving is dangerous for all drivers, but especially big rig drivers, which is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations to limit the amount of time a truck operator can drive. Every truck driver must log their hours and not exceed the maximum amount without stopping for the appropriate rest breaks. Unfortunately, many drivers falsify their logs and continue driving beyond the allowed number of hours in order to make deliveries faster, which often results in higher pay and/or bonuses.

Effects of Fatigued Driving

Driving while drowsy or tired has a variety of negative consequences, all of which are more dangerous when the vehicle in question is an 80,000 pound semi truck. Fatigued driving can result in all or any combination of the below dangerous actions, though these are only a sample of the things that could go wrong:

• Drifting into other lanes of traffic;
• Failure to brake;
• Improper braking;
• Sudden changes in speed;
• Poorly navigating turns; and
• Losing control of the truck.

It is a truck driver’s duty to operate their big rig according to federal regulations and with the safety of other road users in mind. If they fail to do so and cause a truck accident, they may be held liable for their negligence.

Contacting a Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney

At the Kiley Law Group, our experienced truck accident lawyers in Boston are committed to helping truck accident victims in Massachusetts pursue maximum compensation for the losses they’ve suffered as a result of truck driver negligence. To find out more about how we can help you, call us today for a free legal consultation at (888) 208-1695.

Motorcycle Riding Safety: Wear a Helmet!

The official start of summer is near and with it comes the sunny skies and warm temperatures that make riding your motorcycle pure heaven. Even dedicated riders who take their bikes out in the winter months appreciate the added comfort and freedom to not worry about hypothermia that warmer weather brings. But when you hit the road this summer, don’t let your enthusiasm for the ride make you forget about those necessary safety precautions that can save you from serious injury or even death in the event that you are involved in a Massachusetts motorcycle crash; specifically, make sure you wear a helmet!

Massachusetts Helmet Law

Helmet laws vary by state, but in MA, all riders are required to wear a helmet on the motorcycle or in a sidecar, regardless of age or whether you are a driver or passenger. The penalties for not wearing a helmet in Massachusetts include a citation of $35 for the first offense, $75 for the second offense, and $150 for the third offense. But avoiding fines is not the main reason why you should abide by state law and wear a helmet.

The Benefits of Wearing a Motorcycle Helmet

Motorcyclists are afforded little to no protection by their bikes in the event of a crash, which means that they are more likely to suffer serious injury or death should one occur. Wearing a full-face, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved helmet is an important line of defense against suffering serious injuries. It not only protects your head from sustaining the full impact of hitting the ground, car, or other object should you be involved in an accident, but it also protects your eyes and face from road debris that may be kicked up by other vehicles.

When You Need a Massachusetts Motorcycle Lawyer

Even if you take all of the safety precautions available, motorcycle riders are still vulnerable to the negligence or recklessness of other drivers. If you have been injured in a Massachusetts motorcycle crash, the dedicated Methuen motorcycle accident attorneys and motorcycle enthusiasts at the Kiley Law Group can help you hold the at-fault party responsible for your losses.

With Tom Kiley, the Million Dollar Man, and his experienced legal team on your side, you’ll be sure to get the compensation you deserve. To learn more about how we can help, call us today for a free legal consultation at (888) 208-1695.

Teen Auto Accident Statistics

Rhode Island car accident lawyer – d’OLIVEIRA & ASSOCIATES

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, at about 35% of all deaths. Car accident rates for new drivers are higher than for any other age group. Because of this, researchers continue to study the risk factors associated with teenage driving.  

Factors Contributing to RI Car Accidents

 The most common factors that contribute to higher risk of accidents for teenagers include:

• The general propensity of teenagers to take risks
• Poor hazard detection
• Lower risk perception
• Lack of skill
• Use of alcohol and drugs
• Lower rate of seat belt use

Car Crashes – A Reason You May Need a Rhode Island Car Accident Attorney

The following factors contribute to the disturbing statistics on teenagers and car accidents:

• In 2004, auto crashes accounted for 41% of all deaths among teens aged 13–19 years.
• In 2007, motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death for 13-19 year olds.
• In 2009, 60% of teenage passenger deaths occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager.
• Teenagers are among the least likely age groups to wear their seatbelts.
• Over 9,000 people die in accidents with teen drivers each year.
• Drivers under age 20 have a crash rate about 3.5 times the rate of adult drivers.
• Males have higher rates of fatal and non-fatal crashes.
• 2 out of 3 teenagers who die in motor vehicle accidents are males.
• Teens 16 years old have the highest accident rate in the country for a single age.
• Teens aged 15-20 years have the highest accident rate for a group, causing 59.5% of the total car crashes.

Do You Need a Rhode Island auto accident lawyer?

If you or a loved one has been in an auto accident, you should consider contacting a personal injury lawyer with experience in handling these types of cases. The personal injury attorneys of d'Oliveira & Associates, P.C., would like to meet with you and discuss the investigation of your automobile accident. The firm’s legal team has represented and assisted numerous automobile accident victims in bringing lawsuits against other drivers and insurance companies alike, and there are no fees unless success is acheived.

To have a member of the law office contact you, please fill out a contact form or call (800)992-6878.

d’Oliveira & Associates: 390 Broadway Providence, RI 02909 - (401) 831-8600