Boston Duck Boats Under Fire After Deadly Pedestrian Accident

Boston Duck Tours are a popular and fun Boston tourist attraction. This February two dozen duck boats carried the Super Bowl winning New England Patriots through the Boston streets to celebrate their victory. However, after a string of deadly accidents including a collision in Boston last spring that left a 28-year-old woman dead, the safety of these vehicles is being questioned. Accident Attorney David Tapalian understands the repercussions of these types of accidents all too well. As a personal injury attorney and car accident lawyer in Massachusetts and Rhode Island with over 15 years of experience, he has seen his fair share of serious, and sometimes deadly, pedestrian injuries caused by motor vehicles in the Boston and Providence area.

Driver Negligence & Inherent Design Flaw Cause Deadly Accident

The vehicles, designed to travel on both land and water, were originally used in WWII to transport US Military Troops and supplies over land and water. They were later adapted to act as sightseeing vehicles to attract tourist in cities such as Boston, Seattle, Miami, and San Diego. Critics claim the 2 ½ ton vehicles are dangerous for reasons including that their design causes multiple blind spots making it difficult for the driver to see directly below and in front of them. Often, the driver narrates the tour at the same time as driving. This seems to be a clear distraction that could easily result in a deadly accident caused by driver negligence. In the case of the deadly crash involving the young woman in Boston, video was examined by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and showed the driver taking his eyes off the road as well as turning in his seat while driving and narrating the tour.

New Massachusetts Law Goes into Effect in April

These safety issues have indeed caused accidents resulting in serious injuries and death. Safety proponents have been seeking changes to the industry since 1999, when 13 people were killed when a duck boat sank in Arkansas. Since then there have been numerous deaths caused by duck boat crashes including pedestrians, passengers, and scooter drivers. In 2015, a duck boat collision with a bus in Seattle killed five college students. Just ten weeks after the deadly accident last spring in Boston, another woman was seriously injured by a duck boat at a Boston intersection. Due to these alarming incidents, new safety regulations will go into effect in Massachusetts this April. The new law will require duck boats to have blind spot cameras and proximity sensors. The new Massachusetts law will also require that an additional employee, not the driver, narrate the tour.

Consult an Attorney Following a Crash in Mass or RI

If you have been hurt in a car accident related to driver negligence, Attorney David Tapalian can help you determine your legal rights. Tapalian Law represents those injured in car accidents throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. An experienced car accident lawyer with offices in Providence and Seekonk, Tapalian Law is here to help you receive the compensation you and your family deserve for your injuries and pain and suffering. Call us at 401-552-5000 or contact us online to review your options with a motor vehicle collision lawyer.