Massachusetts drivers expect heavy traffic during rush hour and most plan accordingly. Sometimes, though, not even all the planning in the world can keep drivers headed to their destinations anywhere close to their schedules.
Barnstable, Massachusetts, residents would agree that drivers need to be extra cautious while driving at night. With the horrid weather and limited visibility, any form of distraction while driving can easily have dire consequences for the driver of the car and other passengers and victims involved in the accident. The problem is even more serious if the distraction is self-inflicted by the driver by operating under the influence of alcohol.
Barnstable, Massachusetts residents would agree that the aftereffects of a car accident are never good, neither for the negligent driver nor for the victim. While the victim of a car accident has to endure considerable pain and suffering, the driver who causes the accident has to face the consequences of breaking the law. The behavior is considered ever more reckless on the part of the driver at fault if he or she chooses not to help the victim of the accident.
One of the largest categories of personal injury claims in the U.S. is automobile accidents. By simply watching the local news one gets a sense of how frequent car accidents truly are in Massachusetts. Given the statistics, there is a fairly good chance that at some point in someone’s life they are going to be involved in a car accident. When that happens, it is helpful to know one’s legal options.
Even when injuries are considered non-life-threatening, they can still burden victims with a variety of long-lasting problems, both physical and financial. The types of injuries that can resul from a car accident are many — head injuries, broken bones, whiplash and the like — and the pain can range from chronic headaches to debilitating full-body pain. These injuries can alter victims’ lives dramatically, possibly forcing them to miss work and incur significant medical expenses. Thankfully, victims have certain rights that can be asserted.
Reckless driving is extremely dangerous and puts everyone near the reckless driver at risk. Operating a motor vehicle requires a level of caution and care that is sufficient enough where drivers can react quickly and take preventative actions should the unexpected occur. Drivers also need to be fully cognizant of their surroundings and conscious of the laws of the road. When reckless actions are taken that impede this care — such as, for example, getting behind the wheel while intoxicated — the results can be devastating.
The succession of events leading up to a car accident can often become muddled and confused to victims. A crash can happen in what seems like an instance — victims may be simply enjoying music, caught in the hypnotic rhythm of highway traffic, when the next thing they know, there is a loud sound followed by a loss of consciousness. The next memory victims may recollect is the sight of a team of first responders rescuing them from their vehicles. While they may not be able to remember what caused the accident, victims can still keep track of their injuries, medical expenses and damages. This information may prove useful, if they decide to pursue compensation.
All it takes is one error for a large-scale multi-vehicle accident to occur. Chain-reaction crashes are oftentimes devastating affairs that involve many different vehicles and can have far-reaching effects. Sometimes, the error that sets off a chain-reaction crash is done without fault; other times, though, the error may be the result of driver negligence. When this is the case, the negligent driver may be liable for the damages in the crash.
Auto accidents sometimes end up involving several vehicles. This can be seen in a motor vehicle crash which occurred here in Massachusetts earlier this week.
A 77-year-old woman from Boston was recently killed at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave. and Orvis Road in East Arlington. The driver of the car that struck the woman was ticketed for driving without a license and for failing to yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk.