One of the more confusing parts of motor vehicle insurance is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage under Parts 3 and 12 of the standard Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Policy, now in its seventh edition. Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) and Underinsured coverage (UIM) act as personal accident insurance for the named insured and household members if they […]
Pedestrian Accidents
RSS feed for this sectionNo Man’s Land: Liability for Defects in a Public Sidewalk in Massachusetts
By Robert Allison on December 15, 2016Liability of Cities and Towns For nearly two centuries, cities and towns in Massachusetts have been statutorily tasked with control of sidewalk maintenance and repair as part of an elaborate and comprehensive statutory system establishing municipal liability for injuries resulting from defects in public ways. The statutory scheme requires notice of injury to the municipality […]
Back to School Traffic Safety Rules
By Robert Allison on September 8, 2016According to the National Safe Roads to School Program, more children are hit by cars near schools than at any other location. Children can be impulsive and don’t always keep safety in mind. Even children of the same age or in the same grade can vary in their ability to handle traffic, and the National […]
Crosswalks & Jaywalkers: Can Massachusetts Law Catch Up?
By Robert Allison on August 5, 2016You may be surprised to find out that in Massachusetts the current fine for breaking pedestrian traffic laws, commonly known as jaywalking, is $1.00 for a first, second or third offense and $2.00 for a fourth and subsequent offense, the same fines established when the law was originally enacted in 1962. However, that may […]
Pedestrians, Car Accidents & Parking Lots
By Robert Allison on June 6, 2013Accidents seem to be inevitable in parking lots where vehicles travel in all directions and every motorist who parks then becomes a pedestrian. The relatively low speed limits and traffic markings in parking lots mean that accidents will likely occur at slow speeds. While such a fender bender might not result in personal injury to […]
