Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Victims involved in a Massachusetts auto accident may be entitled to recover significant money damages for their injuries caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver. To help guide you through the complex litigation process, and to ensure that you receive the just and fair compensation you are entitled to, you should turn to an experienced Massachusetts car accident attorney here at our Boston, Massachusetts law firm. Our personal injury lawyers are experts and will help guide you through the process. Call today at 617-787-3700 for your free and confidential consultation.

Deadly vehicle crashes spiked in the USA for a second straight year in 2016, hitting a nine-year high. This increase occurred despite the adoption of new safety features and investments in partially self-driving cars. Several key reasons: speeding, not wearing seatbelts, and a rise in motorcycle deaths.  Car accidents killed 37,461 people in 2016, up 5.6% from 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”).

This disturbing upward trend marks a reversal after fatalities fell in six of the seven years from 2007 to 2014. Deaths are up from an all-time low of 32,744 in 2014. Though vehicle safety technology is better than ever, other factors have contributed to the deadly increase. In previous years, distracted driving was a growing culprit. In 2016, distracted driving deaths fell 2.2% to 3,450, according to the NHTSA. The increase in deaths in 2016 was largely attributable to other mistakes by drivers and passengers, including a 4% increase in speeding deaths and a 4.6% increase in fatalities due to unbelted passengers. The NHTSA also reported a 5.1% increase in motorcycle deaths. ​

Have you or a loved one of yours been injured or died in a Massachusetts car accident? If so, the best thing you can do to protect your rights is to contact an experienced auto accident attorney expert here at the Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates or one of our wrongful death lawyer experts by phone at 617-787-3700 or by email at info@gilhoylaw.com. Your needs are our top priority!

Driving under the influence is not the only way someone can dangerously operate a motor vehicle. There is a new study that shows that drowsy driving, where those behind the wheel are too tired to safely operate a vehicle, is much more widespread than previously estimated.  Researchers have found that tired drivers are responsible for roughly 1 out of every 10 crashes.  AAA reached that conclusion after researchers monitored the driving habits of more than 3,500 people for several months. Using dashboard cameras and other equipment, the researchers tracked drivers around the United States between October 2010 and December 2013.

Those 3,500 drivers were involved in more than 700 crashes. Drowsiness was determined to be a factor in approximately 9.5 percent of those accidents. In addition, more than 10 percent of the accidents that resulted in either property damage, airbag deployment or injury involved tired drivers. The percentages are far higher than what the federal government had previously estimated as the impact of drowsy driving, which it put at 1 to 2 percent of all vehicle crashes. These results also come at a time when researchers in many fields are examining the impact of Americans failing to get enough sleep. A recent survey by the AAA foundation found that 29 percent of those questioned admitted to driving, at some point in the past month, when they were so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Massachusetts car accident, the best thing you can do to protect your rights is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer expert or one of our auto accident attorney specialists at the Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates by phone at 617-787-3700 or by email at info@gilhoylaw.com for your free and confidential case consultation. Your needs are our top priority!