Boston Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Traffic accidents have been on the rise in recent years, but most especially among bicyclists and pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents have been rising every year since 2010 and have increased 45% since then. Pedestrians are one and a half times more likely than vehicle occupants to get killed in a car crash any time they go out.
Pedestrian deaths in a recent year were up 20%, compared to eight percent for drivers, despite reduced driving and traffic during the pandemic. Oddly, traffic during the pandemic has been associated with more speeding and recklessness and a priority of speed over safety. Even before the pandemic, the rise in distracted driving due to texting while driving and other smartphone use has likely been a huge factor in the steep rise in pedestrian accidents over the past decade.
There is no doubt that pedestrian accidents are on the rise, and in most cases, these accidents are the fault of a negligent driver rather than negligence on the part of the pedestrian. At the Law Office of Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr., we’ve been helping Boston pedestrian accident victims for decades. We’ve successfully handled thousands of personal injury cases; our recent verdicts and settlements include significant recoveries for pedestrians who suffered shoulder, hip or leg injuries in traffic accidents.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a pedestrian accident in Boston, our law office has the knowledge, skills and experience you need to obtain a successful recovery against the negligent driver who hit you. Call the Law Office of Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr. at 617-275-4200 for a free consultation to discuss your claim and find out how we can help.
Pedestrian Accidents Cause the Most Serious Injuries
At the Law Office of Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr., we handle traffic accident cases involving the most serious and catastrophic injuries, from painful and debilitating soft tissue injuries to traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, fractures and amputations. Pedestrians suffer catastrophic injuries more than any other motor vehicle accident victim simply because they are completely unprotected and vulnerable when they get hit. These accidents can be extremely expensive to deal with due to emergency medical costs, rehabilitation, and all the other consequences of living with a serious injury. Our personal injury law practice helps Boston pedestrian accident victims recover significant compensation for all their legal damages, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Time missed from work
- Diminished earning capacity
- Disability
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
Getting a meaningful insurance settlement or jury verdict requires being able to prove the accident was the fault of a negligent driver and being able to prove all the damages that were caused. This is what we do every day at the Law Office of Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr. and what we’ve been doing for 20 years. We understand the costs involved in a serious pedestrian accident and what it takes to prove a case against a negligent driver.
What Massachusetts Law Has to Say About Pedestrian Accidents
Failure to yield at an intersection is a leading cause of pedestrian accidents in Boston, despite laws on the books designed specifically for pedestrian safety. Massachusetts law is clear that whenever traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in the crosswalk. This law requires the driver to slow down and stop if need be to allow a pedestrian to cross whenever the pedestrian is in the crosswalk on the driver’s side of the side or approaching from the opposite half of the roadway within 10 feet of the driver’s half of the street.
When a vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross, it is illegal for another vehicle to pass that stopped vehicle.
A vehicle may also not enter the crosswalk while a pedestrian is crossing or until there is sufficient space beyond the crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle, regardless of whether the traffic control signal would allow the vehicle to proceed. In other words, a vehicle cannot block a crosswalk and must stay behind the crosswalk during heavy traffic, even if it causes the driver to miss the light.
How the Law Office of Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr. Can Help
A driver who violates any of the laws mentioned above can be fined up to $200. Additionally, if a person is injured by a vehicle in a marked crosswalk, the driver could be subject to a greater civil or criminal citation. A driver who injures a pedestrian by violating a safety law specifically designed to prevent pedestrian accidents is considered per se negligent under the law and can be held liable for the injuries they cause.
Even if the driver is not cited for a moving violation, our office still has decades of experience investigating traffic accidents and holding responsible parties accountable for their negligence. We know how to build a case that demonstrates when the driver was at fault due to speeding, recklessness, distracted driving, or some other cause. We’ll also fight back against defense lawyers and insurance companies that try to say the pedestrian was crossing illegally or not paying enough attention to avoid getting hit. We dedicate all our skills and resources toward making sure our clients get the best settlement or jury verdict that compensates them for the harm done to them.
Get the Help You Need After a Pedestrian Accident in Boston
If you or a loved one has been hit by a negligent driver in Boston, call the Law Office of Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr. for a free consultation with an experienced and successful pedestrian accident attorney dedicated to seeing you are cared for after a crash.
