Category: Motor Vehicle Accidents

Largest Spike of Impaired Driving Since 2006

This past year, 2021, saw the largest spike or increase in drunk or impaired driving in 15 years. This is worrisome to traffic safety advocates and perhaps perplexing since organizations like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) and others have lobbied over the years for and convinced legislators across the nation, including Massachusetts, to impose stricter penalties for impaired driving.  During holidays and at other random times, police roadblocks to detain and arrest drunk drivers offer disincentives to motorists to drink and drive. Many high schools offer driving classes or seminars that emphasize the risks of drunk driving to novice motorists. 

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Congress Mandates Car Technology to Prevent Drunk Driving

Since cars were invented and vehicles became ubiquitous throughout the nation in the early and mid-20th century, drunk driving has been a concern.  But only when fatalities from drunk driving accidents continued to increase year-by-year and people became fed up with the carnage that stricter laws and enforcement were implemented.  Notwithstanding numerous media campaigns about the dangers of drunk driving, states including Massachusetts have seen little progress in preventing needless deaths from impaired drivers.

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How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Insurance in Massachusetts

There is no doubt that a speeding ticket is often among the most expensive citations a motorist can receive other than ones for impaired driving or for causing a serious or fatal accident.  The fines associated with speeding often depend on the degree to which a motorist exceeded the posted speed limit.  In Massachusetts, you can expect your insurance to increase by an average of 31% for a speeding ticket.  For example, if you were paying $1,223 per year in premiums each year, a speeding ticket could increase that to $1,602.00.

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Tractor Trailer Accident in Massachusetts

A recent accident in Lynn, Massachusetts involving a tractor trailer caused considerable property damage, damaging four motor vehicles and a house that the truck crashed into. The driver, who hailed from Rhode Island, was hauling frozen food on Western Avenue at around 4:30 a.m. when he allegedly swerved to avoid a raccoon in the roadway and lost control of his truck.  The crash dragged one of the struck vehicles into the residence that took out the front porch and the beams supporting a second-floor porch. 

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Trucking Exec to Plead Guilty in Fatal Biker Crash

A former Massachusetts trucking company executive will reportedly plead guilty to several federal criminal charges stemming from a horrific collision in June 2019 that left 7 motorcyclists dead in Randolph, New Hampshire.  The driver of the flatbed truck who was allegedly impaired plowed into a group of 10 motorcyclists on U.S. 2.  He is facing negligent homicide and manslaughter charges, among others.

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Is It Safe For My Dog in The Passenger Seat?

Some folks want to take their dogs everywhere.  If trained, they are wonderful companions to accompany you when shopping, hiking, going to a dog park, out for coffee, or strolling on the beach.  But to get to your location, they often need to be driven.  So, does that mean it is safe for your dog to be in the front seat with you?  If you live in Massachusetts, you need to be aware of traffic laws about dogs in vehicles that can lead to a ticket and fine if your dog is causing a disturbance and is diverting your attention from driving. 

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Tesla Auto Breaking Failed to Stop Crashes

Tesla is one of the most popular luxury brands of automobiles and has marketed itself as one of the safest automobiles that you can drive.  It boasts a self-driving system or Autopilot that allows you hands-free driving under certain circumstances.  Unfortunately, its forward advance collision avoidance system has failed to function in a number of accidents, leading to serious injuries and fatalities. Also, drivers are relying too much on the Autopilot system and getting into serious accidents.

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How Long Does a Car Accident Affect Insurance Rates in Massachusetts?

How long an accident remains on your driving record is a question many drivers and clients ask since accident claims will generally affect your insurance rates. Whether an accident will raise your premiums often depends on: the state where you carry your license your liability carrier if the accident was your fault number of prior accidents  severity of the accident 

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