Boston is a congested city with many people commuting on foot throughout the day. Unfortunately, given the heavy foot and motorist traffic, accidents occur often, and the results can be severe. The more you know about the dangers of pedestrian accidents, the more proactive you can be about remaining safe. However, if you suffer an injury, you would likely benefit from contacting a pedestrian accident lawyer about the details of your case—civil courts in Massachusetts present accident victims with a way to access compensation for their losses.
6 Most Dangerous Intersections in Boston for Pedestrians
If you spend a significant amount of time walking around Boston, you may want to avoid the following areas. These intersections have the highest rates of auto, pedestrian, and Boston bicyclist accidents in the city:
- Cabot Street and High Street in Holyoke. The roads are narrow, and vehicles move fast through this area.
- Bridge Street crosses the VFW Highway in Lowell. The roads here can be confusing, and pedestrians are at risk when drivers are unfamiliar with the area.
- Belmont Avenue and Sumner Avenue in Springfield. This intersection crosses in a strange X-shaped formation, creating confusion for pedestrians and motorists.
- Central Street and Appleton Street in Lowell. Failure to yield for left-hand turns is a problem here.
- Kelley Square and Water Street in Worcester. Residents in this area complain about vehicles speeding through the square, endangering pedestrians and motorists.
- Harvard Street and Morton in the city. Congestion often leads to motorists driving aggressively in this area.
Many of these intersections are soon to be under construction for improvements to combat some of the issues that cause accidents.
Common Causes of Pedestrians Accidents
Pedestrians must adhere to specific road laws, just like motorists. For that reason, either party can be at fault should an accident occur. Some common causes of pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles include:
- Darkly colored clothing at night. In poorly lit areas, pedestrians in dark clothing can be challenging to see at night. However, even in this case, drivers are still responsible for being aware of pedestrian crossings and looking out for people.
- Driving while distracted. Distracted driving can include talking on the phone, texting, adjusting radio controls, eating, and more. These actions take the driver’s attention from the road and sometimes result in deadly accidents.
- Left-hand turns. The most common cause of pedestrian accidents is likely vehicles making left-hand turns. Drivers making turns at intersections must yield for pedestrians, but they sometimes do not see them when the roads are busy, and they focus on the cars ahead.
- Driving under the influence. Impaired drivers cannot trust their own judgment. In addition, the effects of drugs or alcohol dull the senses and decrease the driver’s ability to be alert and aware of their surroundings.
- Reckless actions. Drivers and pedestrians can be reckless on the road. For example, speeding through a red light or swerving in and out of traffic is reckless. Running across the street to beat an ending walk signal or crossing without a crosswalk is also dangerous for pedestrians.
Sometimes environmental elements contribute to the dangers on the road. For example, Boston experiences extreme weather during the winter months, making the streets dangerous at times. As a result, drivers can have difficulty controlling their vehicles. When you add bad weather to reckless driving, the risk for accidents is significantly higher.
What You Should Do in the Event of an Accident
Should you find yourself in an accident involving a vehicle, consider these things you can do to protect yourself:
- Report the accident. Call 911 and wait for the police to arrive so you can provide a statement giving your side of the story.
- Collect everyone’s information. Ask for the driver’s contact and insurance information. Massachusetts is a no-fault auto insurance state, which means the driver should have personal injury protection insurance that covers pedestrians injured in an accident. Be sure to ask any eyewitnesses for their names and contact information as well.
- Gather photographic evidence. Take pictures of everything at the scene, including the injuries you can see on your body and the area where the collision occurred. Other things you should photograph include the vehicle that hit you, the license plate, and the buildings and road signage in the area.
- See your doctor. If the car was going slow at the time, you might not feel your injuries warrant an emergency room visit. However, you should have a medical exam to ensure you have no internal injuries and document even minor ones.
- Talk to an attorney. Most people have questions about an accident like this, and an experienced attorney can help you understand your options.
If you suffer severe injuries and need emergency medical care, you will not have the chance to take photos and collect information. That is not a problem. The police will put all their findings in a report, and your attorney will also investigate the accident.
What Not To Do
Even if you bear no responsibility for the accident, you can make missteps that may damage your claim. Some common mistakes people make after an accident include:
- Failing to report it to the police
- Not seeking a medical examination
- Talking too much about the case to the other party
- Discussing the case on social media
Your safest approach to a pedestrian accident lawsuit is to avoid talking to anyone about it and to put your social media accounts on hold while you go through the legal process. Instead, limit your conversations to those had with your attorney.
The Role of a Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Not all auto accidents warrant a lawsuit. However, given the often devastating results of pedestrian accidents, it is not uncommon for victims to file a lawsuit seeking damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Some ways a pedestrian accident attorney contributes to the client’s case include:
- Ensuring all paperwork is filed correctly and on time
- Representing the client in all back-and-forth communications with the insurance companies
- Investigating how and where the accident occurred to build the negligence claim and collect evidence to support it
- Accessing experts when necessary to strengthen the client’s case
- Explaining the damages to help the client understand the total value of their claim
- Negotiating for a fair settlement to avoid taking the case to trial
- Preparing for the possibility of a trial should negotiations fail
- Providing legal advice to the client
There is no way to know how long a pedestrian accident will take. They can settle quickly or go through a lengthy trial phase. Throughout the process, your attorney will likely become a companion. They work with people facing terrible circumstances every day and can offer compassionate support and tenacious legal representation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Attorney
At Jason Stone Injury Lawyers, our team of pedestrian accident attorneys is committed to providing our clients with aggressive legal representation to ensure they get the compensation they need. A devastating accident can derail your life, but we aim to help you get it back without adding to your financial burden. That is why the first element of the Stone Cold Guarantee says our pay is contingent on our performance. We work for no upfront fees and only get paid if we secure payment for you. Contact Jason Stone injury lawyers today to schedule your free case evaluation. There’s No Obligation, Just Information(R).
Not Trusting What You’re Being Told?
Better Phone Stone
800-577-5188
START MY NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION
