Police are investigating what caused an Uber driver, carrying a passenger, to speed recklessly up a residential street in downtown Boston and wind up crashing through a brick wall of a Beacon Hill building. Nobody was hurt, thankfully, in the incident.  It has been revealed, however, that the Uber driver has multiple driving violations dating back to 1986, with two incidents since 2010, including speeding citations in Avon, Brockton, Middleborough, Milton, Norwell and Roxbury. The driver’s record also includes two incidents of failure to stop in Avon and Dorchester and two additional citations for driving without an inspection sticker.

The driver also had their license suspended “several” times, according to an investigation into the driver’s driving record by WCVB. These suspensions happened once in 2002 and, most recently, the driver avoided a license suspension by paying his fine in time. His most recent infraction happened in 2015 for an improper turn in Watertown.  Uber has confirmed the identity of the driver and his wife confirmed that he had been driving for Uber for about three years. Uber reportedly reached out to the driver for information regarding the incident.

“He was going so fast…at least 70 miles per hour. Straight into the wall,” said one witness to the incident, which rocked the quiet Beacon Hill area of Grove and Pinckney Streets. Police also said that the car was involved in a motor vehicle collision on Cambridge Street, which runs adjacent to Grove Street. The driver has been in multiple motor vehicle crashes prior to this incident.  Uber contacted WCVB after the incident, reporting that the driver passed all the requirements and tests necessary to drive for the company. Uber’s official stance is that drivers must possess a “clean” driving record and must pass a criminal background check, which extends back seven years.

“Potential drivers must provide detailed information, including their full name, date of birth, social security number, driver’s license number, a copy of their driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance, and proof of a completed vehicle inspection,” Uber’s safety guidelines proclaims. “Individuals who pass the driving history screen then undergo a national, state, and local-level criminal history check that screens a series of national, state, and local databases including the US Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website, the PACER database, and several different databases used to identify suspected terrorists.”

So how, then, does a driver, such as the one who barreled through Beacon Hill into a brick wall after getting into an accident, drive for three years under their employment?

Uber remains a gray area

A quick Google search will confirm the unfortunate truth: Nobody is quite certain what to do yet in the unavoidable instance that an Uber driver gets into a vehicular accident. Uber has insisted in the past that any passengers caught up in the midst of an accident should go through their private insurance, but private insurance companies responded saying that they wouldn’t cover such incidents. Continue reading

With age comes wisdom. But other, less desirable changes, also begin to appear as we grow older. Some of these changes can have a negative impact on our ability to drive safely. Minor concerns, such as slightly-diminished vision, can be remedied by wearing driving glasses or by avoiding driving at night. However, some more serious physical and cognitive issues can make driving extremely dangerous. How do you know when it’s time to hang up the keys for good?

A Difficult Conversation

For many people, driving is synonymous with independence, the freedom to come and go as we please. As such, the decision to stop driving can be highly emotional, especially when that decision isn’t initiated by the driver but by a friend or family member. Telling your parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle that it’s time to hand over the keys can be a traumatic, and anxiety-inducing experience.

But the conversation needs to happen. Many lives are lost every year, in Boston and across the country, because people couldn’t bring themselves to have this difficult conversation with their elderly loved one. In some cases, the driving challenges are strictly related to age, such as deteriorating vision or severe arthritis. However, other issues may be related to medications. Talk to your loved one’s doctor about how his or her medications may affect the ability to drive safely.

Simply being over a certain age does not mean an individual can no longer drive safely. Most elderly drivers are good drivers with a low rate of accidents. Individual circumstances are important to consider. For example, the vision of an 80-year-old man may be significantly better than that of his 55-year-old son. But, in general, our ability to see well and react quickly diminishes over time. For that reason, it is crucial to look for danger signs if you suspect that your elderly loved one is having difficulty driving safely. Watch out for the danger signs below – your vigilance will help keep Massachusetts roads safer for everyone.

Signs of Dangerous Driving Behaviors

• Dents and scratches on the vehicle
• Loved one becomes easily lost, even in familiar areas
• Complaints from other people
• Loved one has lots of “close calls”
• Sudden increase in traffic tickets
• Loved one seems frustrated, angry, or agitated after driving
• Loved one has difficulty judging distance between vehicles, or on exit and entrance ramps on the highway
• While driving, loved one becomes easily distracted or has difficulty concentrating

In some cases, simply changing driving habits may solve the problem. A good first step is to reduce or eliminate night driving, driving in adverse weather, and driving on the highway. In other cases, taking the keys away for good is the only safe option. The most important thing is to have the conversation with your loved one before it is too late. Continue reading

House and Senate lawmakers reached a decision late last night regarding online transportation companies like Uber and Lyft.  This brings an end to one of Massachusetts’s most high profile political debates.  Both chambers approved the bill and have sent it off to Governor Charlie Baker’s office.  The final bill that was agreed upon is a product of a six-member committee of House and Senate negotiators who developed a compromise between the two opposing “Uber bills” proposed by each chamber.  The final bill includes a state-run background check for Uber and Lyft drivers with a 20-cent-per-ride fee on the companies.  In the past, Uber and Lyft have stopped service in several cities in the U.S. for regulations they considered overly oppressive.  In this case of legislation, the two companies supported the Senate’s stance on the bill and outwardly condemned the House’s plan.

Lyft released a statement shortly after midnight applauding the final bill, saying it is a “common sense legislation that sets high safety standards.”  Uber did not make an immediate statement, but the compromised bill seems to conquer many of the problems the company had with the House’s proposal.  This bill was also good news for the riders that often use the Uber and Lyft apps.   One clause of the House’s bill proposal that would prohibit Uber and Lyft drivers from picking up from areas like Logan Airport, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center was not included in the final bill.  Although Logan already has a ban that prohibits most Uber and Lyft drivers from picking up riders, the bill presented by the House would have solidified this ban for five years.  Now, it is possible for Logan to renegotiate with Uber and Lyft in the future and potentially lift this ban.  The convention center officials resisted the plan to ban the companies from their property.  Continue reading

There are many theories about the rise in fatal motor vehicle accidents in the US; texting, talking on cellphones, and reckless driving to name a few. Recent accidents are even being blamed on the new game Pokemon Go. But according to Dr. Mark Rosekind, Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the increase in fatal accidents has more to do with an increase in miles driven. The NHTSA reports that approximately 3,200 people were killed in auto accidents in 2015, up 7.7 percent from 2014. Contact a Boston Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer Today.

Reports show that 2015 was the deadliest year on American roadways since 2008. If our cars are constantly getting safer, why are deadly accidents skyrocketing? The reason may surprise you.

Low Gas Prices Play a Role, But So Does Driver Behavior

Cheap gas may be to blame for the rise in fatal car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. “As the economy has improved and gas prices have fallen, more Americans are driving more miles,” said Rosekind. However, he also pointed out that driver reaction plays a major role in the outcome of crashes. “Ninety-four percent of crashes can be tied back to a human choice or error,” Rosekind continued, “so we know we need to focus our efforts on improving human behavior while promoting vehicle technology that not only protects people in crashes, but helps prevent crashes in the first place.”

The steep decline in gas prices in 2015 resulted in more people on the road for longer periods of time. Combined with driver error, reckless driving, distracted driving, and negligence, this surge of vehicles on the road has had devastating consequences. Fortunately, we don’t need to raise gas prices and take cars off the road to reduce fatal auto accidents. What does need to happen, however, is improved driver safety education. This is especially true for young drivers.

Young Drivers Most at Risk

The age group most impacted by the increase in fatal accidents was drivers between the ages of 15 and 20. In fact, this group’s rate of fatality rose by 10 percent in 2015. But before we jump to conclusions and accuse all young people of texting and playing Pokemon Go, the surge in traffic fatalities in this age group has more to do with lack of skill. Compared to long-term drivers, new drivers simply don’t have the experience necessary to react in urgent situations. For this reason, it’s important to monitor driving habits of young people. You can help by limiting the number of passengers in your teen’s car, keeping teens off busy roadways as much as possible, telling young drivers to always keep their cell phone in the glove compartment when driving, and reminding them to obey the speed limit, avoid driving in inclement weather, and to always wear a seatbelt.

And it’s not just motor vehicle drivers and passengers who are involved in these fatal crashes. According to the NHTSA, there was a 10 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities and a 13 percent spike in cyclist fatalities in 2015. The bottom line – drivers have to keep their eyes on the road at all times, and they shouldn’t limit that focus to just other cars and trucks. Continue reading

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Boston or anywhere else in Massachusetts, it is crucial to document as much as you possibly can. This can be done by writing down witness statements and contact info, and by jotting down your own perceptions of the accident before your memory begins to fade. But nothing beats pictures. Once you’ve made sure that everyone involved in the accident is safe, grab your camera. Fortunately, most of today’s cell phones are equipped with cameras. For tips on how to take quality pictures, read on.

Use a Camera to Make Your Case

If the accident is serious, resulting in injuries and/or severe property damage, contact the local police before doing anything else. The next step, if you’re able, is to take pictures of the accident scene.

• The number one rule of photographing a car accident is to take as many pictures as possible from as many angles as possible. Pictures no longer need to be developed, so taking ‘too many pictures’ is not a concern.

• Although obvious damage to the car is important to photograph, there are other factors that may come into play. If there is any damage to surrounding property, such as other vehicles, fire hydrants, light poles, or mailboxes, snap away.

• Photograph contributing factors. Was the road icy or wet? Was a stop sign blocked by an overgrown tree or large truck? Did you swerve to miss large road debris that had fallen off another vehicle? If any contributing factors can be photographed they may help make your case.

More Specifics

The above tips give a general idea of how to photograph the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Here are some more specific tips to help you really hone in on what counts. Be sure to photograph:

• Damage to all vehicles
• Skid marks
• Vehicle parts and debris, such as shattered glass
• Weather conditions
• Visible bodily injuries on you, or other victims

And try different angles and distances

• Take pictures from at least three different distances and angles.
• Close up pictures: stand one to five feet from what you are photographing.
• Medium distance: 10 to 15 feet away.
• Long distance and panoramic: 20 or more feet away.
• Keep a common landmark in as many pictures as possible. This helps show distance and scale.
• Be aware of how weather conditions and direct sunlight affect your pictures. If necessary, use a variety of flash intensities, and take some with and without flash.

Continue reading

Most people think they would know what to do in the event of a car accident. If there are no serious injuries, you just exchange information and call the insurance company, right? But many of us underestimate how shaken up we would be in a collision, even if no serious injuries are immediately apparent. Rear-end collisions can be especially frightening. One minute you’re sitting at a stop light, thinking about what you’re going to make for dinner, and then CRASH. Even without injuries, the effects of such an accident can leave you emotionally shaken and unsure of what to do next. Contact a Boston Car Accident Lawyer Today.

The 4 R’s of Motor Vehicle Collisions

The good news is, there’s an easy way to remember what to do in the event of a rear-end collision. Just remember the 4 R’s; review, report, record, and reach out.

• Review: Although you can never really be ‘prepared’ for a car accident, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of reacting appropriately if an accident occurs. For starters, immediately following an accident, review the situation. Is anyone injured? Injuries, minor and severe, take priority over property damage. If no injuries are present, review property damage. Is your car damaged? What about the other driver’s car? What about surrounding property? Take a quick mental note of any visible damage and move to step 2.

• Report: If no injuries or damages are apparent, you probably don’t need to report the accident to the police. However, if there is significant damage or anyone suffered injuries, you should immediately contact the police. In addition to offering protection if emotions become heightened, police can investigate the accident and create an official report. This can be immensely helpful in a lawsuit. Once the police have been contacted, call your insurance company. Timely reporting is crucial if you wish to file an insurance claim.

• Record: A permanent record of the accident scene, contact details, witness statements, medical expenses, and property damage can be your best friend after a car accident. Record every detail possible, and do it as soon as possible. While you’re still at the scene of the accident, talk to other drivers, passengers, and witnesses to get their perspective on what happened, before their memories fade. Jot down your own account of what happened as well. Take pictures of the scene, including damage to the car(s) and any other property, and any factors that may have contributed to the accident, such as an icy road, or a difficult-to-see stop sign positioned behind a large tree or improperly-parked vehicle.

• Reach out: If you or anyone else involved in the accident suffered injuries, or if there was significant property damage, you should reach out to a skilled motor vehicle accident attorney. Many personal injury lawyers will be willing to work on a contingency basis, meaning they don’t get paid unless your claim is successful. Whether you’ve been injured, or someone is blaming you for their injuries, you will want the help of an experienced auto accident lawyer.

Continue reading