Articles Posted in Drunk Driving in Massachusetts

Our Boston drunk driving accident lawyers know that, while technology may help to reduce alcohol-related accidents, it will never keep us entirely safe on the roads.

By now, most people in Boston are aware of the company Uber. It started with a smartphone app that allowed you to get a black car to take you anywhere you wanted to go for slightly more than taking a taxi and without having to have any cash on you. Then they offered traditional taxi service and their Uber X service, where people are getting paid to drive you around in their personal vehicles. There is also their competitor, Lyft, which features cars with a large pink mustache on the front bumper.

According to a recent article in the Washington Post, Uber is sharing data it says indicates a reduction in drunk driving. The company has released slightly censored graphs that show the highest usage for the service is around closing time at establishments that serve alcohol. The theory is that these customers are intoxicated bar patrons who would otherwise be getting behind the wheel of a car, where they could cause deadly alcohol-related car accidents.
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Our Boston drunk driving lawyers know special consideration must be given to cases in which the defendant was also charged with a crime related to the collision.

According to a recent article from Channel3000.com, a four-car crash resulted in two people being taken to the hospital with what authorities are describing as non life-threatening injuries. Police indicated that the crash was alcohol-related and the driver has been placed under arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and causing an accident. According to witnesses, firefighters had to remove one of the victims, who was trapped in a vehicle.

A criminal prosecution against the alleged drunk driver may affect the results in any civil action or settlement. If the negligent conduct was also criminal and the driver takes a guilty plea to the charges, or is found guilty by a judge or jury, it may be much more difficult for the defendant to deny liability in your case. It may also make the defendant’s insurance company more likely to make a reasonable settlement offer early on in the process.
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Our Boston drunk driving accident lawyers know that an alcohol-related car accident can result in serious injury or death.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Bridgewater woman has been sentenced to two and half years in prison in connection with a fatal drunk driving accident that occurred in Norfolk County Massachusetts in 2011.

The driver was charged with operating under the influence (OUI), which is the term for a DUI in Massachusetts General Laws, homicide while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor of drugs, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and other related serious traffic offenses.

Accord to court documents, the driver was operating her motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol when she crashed her car into another vehicle. Two people were seriously injured and another victim was killed in the tragic crash.
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Football season will be starting soon enough, and unfortunately this means that there may be more drunk drivers on the roads. People who attend games or parties, or who watch sports at friend’s houses, may have a few drinks too many and may decide to drive home after the game. This creates a significant danger for themselves and for others on the roads.

If you or a loved one is harmed by an intoxicated driver, you need to understand your rights. A Boston drunk driving accident attorney can help you to take legal action after a drunk driving collision. While victims can receive monetary compensation; however, it is always better to find innovative ideas to strop drunk driving before it occurs. Mothers Against Drunk Driving has found one novel approach, joining with National Football League (NFL) teams to try to prevent intoxicated driving.
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Stopping drunk driving is difficult because police cannot pull a motorist over or ask him to submit to a breath or blood test unless the officer has reasonable cause to believe the driver is drunk. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell a driver is intoxicated as a car passes quickly by. Further, police cannot be everywhere at all times, so not every drunk driver is caught by law enforcement.

A new technology could make it much easier for law enforcement officers to identify drunk drivers. According to the Huffington Post, this new technology could be “a drunk driver’s worst nightmare.”
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The case of Pierson v. Service America Corp. could create a new level of accountability for booze vendors at sporting events.

The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled the family of a 12-year-old girl struck and killed by a drunk driver who had been imbibing at a football game just prior to the crash may continue with their negligence lawsuit against the vendor who served him alcohol.

Boston drunk driving accident lawyers know that while this case takes place in Indiana, the vendor is based in South Carolina and holds contracts with stadiums across the world, including at stadiums in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, San Diego and San Francisco. Undoubtedly, other vendors are carefully watching the development of this case through the court system.
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The Fourth of July is a dangerous time for drunk drivers. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 161 people were killed in intoxicated driving collisions just over the Fourth of July weekend in 2011. This was a 70 percent increase in the average number of drunk driving fatalities per day.

While Independence Day is a time for barbeques, fireworks and picnics with friends, it does not have to be a time when motorists take their lives into their hands and get behind the wheel drunk. Motorists should make the smart choice this holiday season to stay sober and avoid intoxicated driving so they don’t hurt or kill themselves or someone else on the road. Victims who are injured by an intoxicated driver need to understand their legal rights and should contact a Boston drunk driving accident attorney for help.
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Drinking alcohol and getting behind the wheel can be dangerous. While beer and wine can also create the risk of DUI, hard alcohol, can be especially deadly for drivers, particularly teens. According a recent publication, underage binge drinkers prefer hard alcohol, especially vodka. Binge drinking is popular among teens and college students and can pose a significant risk of health problems. Those who regularly binge drink are more likely to suffer injuries and falls, alcohol poisoning, and other consequences, including drinking and driving accidents.

Researchers found that beer is consumed in less than one third of binge-driving episodes among drinkers aged 13 to 20. Researchers also found that binge drinking was more likely when teens were consuming specific brands. The study sheds light on certain binge drinking practices and is a reminder to parents and teens that drinking can be a dangerous pastime, especially if teens decide to get behind the wheel. Our Boston drunk driving attorneys are familiar with drinking trends among teens and young people. We are dedicated to raising awareness to prevent drinking and driving accidents and to keep roads safer for all motorists.
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Drinking and driving accidents can occur at high speeds on the interstate, intersections, parking lots, even, as in a recent case, the private driveway of the victim. In a tragic drinking and driving accident, a woman struck and killed her own father while he was trying to stop her from getting behind the wheel. According to reports, a former Laotian military officer, was struck and killed by his 37-year-old daughter who was drunk and peeled out of the driveway, striking her father. This accident sheds light on the dangers of drinking and driving and serves as a reminder that split-second bad decisions can ruin lives.

Family members of the victim said that he was a former military officer who aided the U.S. during the Vietnam War. He was attempting to stop his daughter from getting behind the wheel when she backed over him with her BMW convertible in Riverside, California. Prior to the accident, the father tried to take his daughter’s keys away. Our Boston drunk driving accident attorneys are dedicated to helping our clients recover compensation after an injury. We will investigate a drunk driving case and will provide strategic advocacy to achieve the best possible outcome for victims and their loved ones.
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Graduation, summer, and the end of the school year means parties and more inexperienced drivers on the road. This excitement combined with alcohol use and parties can make summer a dangerous time for teen drivers and anyone else sharing the road. In a recent accident, a 17-year-old driver was headed to graduation rehearsal when he slammed into two women on their morning walk around 7 a.m. Authorities say he was intoxicated at the time of the collision. The New Hampshire teen is now facing criminal charges, including aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Drunk driving can be deadly, especially when accidents occur at high speeds or on the interstate. Fortunately, the victims in this case survived the accident, but they suffered serious, possibly life-altering injuries. Our Boston drunk driving injury attorneys understand the severe loss and impact suffered by accident victims and their loved ones. We know that recovery is a long road and can take months or years. Our priority is to help victims recover maximum compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, long-term care needs and any other additional costs associated with an accident.
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