While this report is certainly good news for people who live in, work in or visit Boston, we must not get complacent.
Boston, MA (PRWEB) October 20, 2014
While it’s not ranked as the safest city for pedestrians, Boston was listed as the second-safest among 25 cities studied by Liberty Mutual Holding Co., according to a Bloomberg News report. Boston personal injury lawyer Mark E. Salomone today said despite the “good news” in the report, pedestrians and drivers alike must continue to use caution when getting around Boston.
Salomone commented on the findings of a report published in Bloomberg News on Oct. 7 (“Seattle Tops U.S. for Pedestrian Safety as Detroit Trails”).
“While this report is certainly good news for people who live in, work in or visit Boston, we must not get complacent,” said Salomone, an experienced personal injury attorney in Massachusetts. “Boston may be among the safest cities for pedestrians, but our experience shows that pedestrian accidents do happen more than people might realize. We have represented injured individuals and families who have lost loved ones in pedestrian accidents through no fault of their own. In many cases, a driver who is distracted or who has been drinking strikes the pedestrian, who then suffers a serious injury or loses his or her life. These are extremely difficult cases.”
In fact, Boston police and Emergency Medical Services each responded to more than 750 pedestrian accidents in 2013, according to an August 19, 2014, story in The Boston Globe (“Most Boston pedestrian accidents go unreported”). According to The Globe, most accidents are not reported by the Boston Police Department.
The Globe stated that there are about a dozen pedestrian fatalities in Boston each year, which compares favorably to statistics for most other large cities in the United States.
“The ideal number is zero fatalities and zero injuries,” Salomone said. “We believe that Boston can be a safer place for everyone. One of the best ways to make this happen is for drivers to avoid distractions such as texting behind the wheel. It’s a matter of staying focused on the important task of driving. That alone can save lives.”
Boston has taken steps to keep pedestrians safe, according to a Liberty Mutual news release on Oct. 7 (“Liberty Mutual Insurance Releases Pedestrian Safety Index with Top 15 Safest Cities for Pedestrians”). The city has installed 195 traffic-monitoring cameras and posted more than 3,600 public safety signs annually. More than 97 percent of residents have reported Boston is proactive in fostering pedestrian safety, according to the news release.
The Liberty Mutual report recommends that drivers avoid any cell phone use and always look out for pedestrians and bicyclists. At the same time, pedestrians should avoid using their phones while walking, observe all pedestrian traffic safety rules, look both ways and make themselves visible to motorists by wearing light colored clothing or reflective patches, according to Liberty Mutual.
Liberty Mutual found Seattle to be the safest city for pedestrians, while Detroit was the most dangerous, according to Bloomberg News.
Salomone said anyone injured as a pedestrian or who loses a loved one in an accident should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. He said a lawyer can hold the responsible party accountable and help send a message that careless behavior behind the wheel will not be tolerated.
About the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
Serving clients throughout Massachusetts, the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone has a renowned reputation for employing experienced, knowledgeable Massachusetts personal injury lawyers who fight vigorously for the rights of injured people. The firm has 10 offices statewide located in Boston, Burlington, Chicopee, Framingham, Holyoke, Northampton, Roxbury, Springfield, Ware and Worcester. The law firm’s areas of practice include auto accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, fall down accidents, dog attacks, dangerous drugs and other accidents. Attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone work on a contingency fee basis. That means clients only pay if they win.
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
60 State St
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 338-4321
http://www.marksalomone.com