skip to main content

News & Insights

CBS Boston in exclusive report highlights new lawsuit filed by firm involving fatal pedestrian accident

CBS Boston in an exclusive report highlights a lawsuit filed by the firm on behalf of the estate of a woman who died after being struck by a turning transportation van while she was crossing a Boston crosswalk on a walk signal.

At the time of the 2019 accident, the lighting system at the busy intersection in South Boston allowed vehicles to turn into the crosswalk while pedestrians had the right of way.

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Jeffrey Catalano, names the van driver, the driver’s employer, and two design and engineering firms subcontracted by the city.

“They’re all negligent, it never should have happened, it was totally preventable,” Mr. Catalano told CBS Boston.

Despite numerous prior complaints to the City from residents and workers in the area about the dangerous intersection, no changes were made to the traffic signals before the terrible accident.  The lawsuit claims engineers were put on notice to make changes prior to the accident but did not follow through.

Mr. Catalano told CBS Boston that the engineers were considering options other than changing the lighting system: “They said how about we do something with the bike lane, [or] we do something with the park bench. Essentially they were rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”

Lisa M. Conserve of the firm is also representing the woman’s estate.

Led by Mr. Catalano, a partner at the firm, Todd & Weld’s personal injury practice represents victims of catastrophic injuries, including wrongful death.  The goal of the practice is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by others' negligent conduct and to help alleviate the devastating physical, emotional, and financial burdens they suffer.