Driving in Boston is a challenge. As the population grows, our roadway construction cannot keep up. However, this problem is more than an inconvenience; congested roadways create a serious safety hazard. Feinberg & Alban PC was founded almost 70 years ago when Boston was considered a small city. Our Boston-based personal injury law firm thinks outside the box on accident prevention ideas.
If you live in Boston or the surrounding suburbs, you are familiar with the transformation of I-495, I-93, and I-95 into parking lots during rush hour. Even during off hours, traveling around the city can be a nightmare. These conditions heighten the risk of accidents. According to the pedestrian advocacy group WalkBoston, 903 accidents that required emergency medical services occurred in Boston in 2016.
These accidents are personally traumatic and costly. In fact, the Boston Transportation Department estimated that auto accidents in 2012 cost an average of $3,387 in property damage, an additional $20,085 for accidents resulting in injuries, and $4,502,544 for fatal crashes. The 23 traffic-related fatalities in 2015 cost more than $103 million, in addition to the personal toll on the families of the victims.
Our attorneys understand the physical and emotional challenges that result from car crashes. We can help you recover your rightful compensation for your damages. We also seek to make a difference.
A total of 23 pedestrians, cyclists and motorists were killed in 2015 in Boston. Another seven motorists and 14 pedestrians died in traffic crashes during the following year. We support Boston’s efforts to make these preventable traffic deaths a thing of the past.
Our city rolled out the Go Boston 2030 initiative in March 2017. The $4.7 billion transportation plan is designed to decrease single-passenger commutes by half and increase public transit use by one-third within 13 years. The goal is to relieve congestion and reduce the associated Boston auto accidents.
However, eliminating traffic jams solves just one piece of the puzzle. Another crucial piece is preventing aggressive driving, distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding and tailgating, which contribute to pedestrian deaths and auto accidents, especially on smaller residential roads.
Boston has also unveiled the Neighborhood Slow Streets program designed to slow traffic speeds and improve safety on residential streets in the designated target areas. The multifaceted approach includes reducing the speed limit to 20 mph in the Slow Street neighborhoods. The city will install signs, speed bumps and pavement markings to slow down motorists as they enter the neighborhood. The program also includes improved visibility at intersections, raised crosswalks, curb extensions and traffic circles that will make residential streets more inviting to families, bicyclists and residents who want to enjoy a walk.
We believe that the Neighborhood Slow Streets and the Go Boston 2030 initiatives will improve the safety of our streets. We can discuss these programs and the city’s rapid response efforts with you.
You deserve safe streets in Boston. Feinberg & Alban PC advocates for solutions to traffic risks to you and your family. Call us at 617-232-5950 or contact us online for a free consultation.