Personal Injury Law

Massachusetts Teenager Injured in Waltham Pedestrian Accident In Critical Condition Even After Emergency Brain Surgery

By Altman & Altman

The family of 17-year-old John Causland says he is stlll in critical condition following emergency brain surgery for injuries he sustained in a Massachusetts pedestrian accident on Sunday in Waltham. The high school senior was in a crosswalk when a driver who was allegedly drunk hit him.

The driver of the uninsured and unregistered vehicle that struck him was Bonnie Lee Hicks. The 43-year-old Billerica resident was charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, driving under the influence, and driving with an expired inspection sticker. She refused a Breathalyzer test at the crash site and failed three field sobriety tests. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on personal recognizance. She is not allowed to drive and must appear in court again in January.

Court documents say that Hicks told police that she thinks that the teenager jumped in front of her vehicle. She did not sustain injuries in the Waltham pedestrian accident.

As of yesterday, Causland?s family reported that the teenager was sedated and stabilizing but that he was still living ?hour by hour.?

2008 Pedestrian Traffic Safety Facts (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration):

? 4,378 US pedestrian deaths
? 69,000 US pedestrian injuries
? 1 US pedestrian death every 2 hours
? 1 US pedestrian injury every 8 minutes
? 75 Massachusetts pedestrian fatalities

Pedestrians are at risk of sustaining injuries any time they are hit by a motor vehicle. These injuries can be especially catastrophic when the driver who strikes the pedestrian was operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, text messaging while driving, or speeding. In Massachusetts pedestrian accidents involving a negligent driver, the motorist may not even attempt to stop or be able to avoid hitting the victim, which can increase the chances that the injuries will be permanently life altering or fatal.

?No good news? for teen in crash, Boston Herald, December 2, 2009

Teenager fights for life after accident, The Daily News Tribune, December 1, 2009
Teen hit by drunk driver, say police, Boston.com, December 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Traumatic Brain Injury

Full post as published by Boston Injury Lawyer Blog on December 03, 2009 (boomark / email).