Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog
Late summer is a dangerous time on American roads and waterways. From mid-August through Labor Day, alcohol related crashes historically spike as travel, celebrations, and late nights increase. This year is no exception. Our drunk driving victims’ attorneys are tracking high-profile cases, new enforcement waves, and policy changes that matter to victims and their families. In this update, we walk through what happened in August and early September 2025, what these developments mean for your rights, and how we build strong civil cases for those harmed by impaired drivers.
What Happened in August 2025: A Snapshot of Tragedy and Accountability
Across the country, police and prosecutors announced charges in several heart-wrenching crashes. In Houston, two young men visiting friends were killed when an allegedly intoxicated driver slammed into their vehicle in Midtown. Prosecutors brought murder charges, reflecting how seriously Texas treats extreme intoxication and reckless conduct that causes deaths. Families and classmates held vigils and called for accountability.
In Massachusetts, a 13-year-old Marblehead girl lost her life in an early morning crash. A 16-year-old was arrested and charged in juvenile court, including operating under the influence and motor vehicle homicide. For Massachusetts families, this case is a reminder that OUI cases can involve complex juvenile procedures, parallel civil claims, and sensitive victim support issues, especially when classmates and school communities are impacted.
San Antonio saw a fatal wrong-way collision on Wurzbach Parkway. Police reported that the driver found at the hospital showed signs of intoxication, and an arrest followed with an intoxication manslaughter charge. Wrong-way cases often involve catastrophic impact forces, which amplify damage and increase the need for rapid scene documentation and expert crash reconstruction.
In Colorado, troopers arrested the suspected wrong-way driver in a July highway crash that killed a married couple on U.S. 285. August brought a slate of felony counts, including vehicular homicide and DUI, signaling prosecutors’ intent to seek severe penalties. For surviving family members, that criminal case will run in parallel with a potential wrongful death claim, which has different burdens of proof and different remedies than the criminal prosecution.
Not all tragedies happen on roads. In North Carolina, a boating while impaired case at Harris Lake killed a 10-year-old and caused life-changing injuries to a woman who lost a leg. Authorities initially announced DWI boating charges, then a grand jury returned murder indictments related to the child’s death. For victims, boating cases raise their own set of legal questions, including venue, applicable maritime or state law, insurance coverage for boat owners, and the responsibilities of vessel owners who allow impaired operation.
Communities are also remembering earlier victims. In Old Saybrook, Connecticut, families gathered on August 31 to honor one of three people killed in a 2024 boating crash, where the operator was charged with DUI and manslaughter. These remembrance events, organized by loved ones, often become powerful platforms for prevention and for connecting victims with supportive services.
Enforcement Is Up Right Now: What That Means for Victims
Every year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration coordinates the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Labor Day mobilization, with paid media and high-visibility enforcement running from mid-August through Labor Day. State agencies have joined in with checkpoint operations, saturation patrols, and public education. Michigan State Police, for example, announced increased patrols through September 1, while other states emphasized holiday weekend crackdowns. MADD’s Saturation Saturday returned in late August as a volunteer-law enforcement effort to increase arrests of impaired drivers before they hurt someone.
For victims, stepped-up enforcement can help in two practical ways. First, more patrols and checkpoints mean more in car camera footage, body camera footage, and standardized field sobriety documentation. That evidentiary trail often becomes critical in civil cases. Second, the public messaging around the campaign can bolster punitive damages arguments. When a driver chooses to drink and drive in the middle of a nationally advertised crackdown, juries understand that this conduct had obvious, widely publicized risks that were deliberately disregarded.
A Policy Shift to Watch: Minnesota’s Tougher Interlock Law
On August 1, 2025, Minnesota expanded its ignition interlock program and extended the administrative lookback period for prior DWIs from 10 years to 20 years. In plain English, repeat offenders now face longer license revocations and significantly longer interlock requirements before they can regain unrestricted driving privileges. The law was inspired by a patio crash that killed two people and injured many others.
Why should victims outside Minnesota care? Policy trends migrate. Legislatures and safety advocates often look to early adopters when drafting bills. Expanded interlock usage for repeat offenders has strong empirical support in reducing recidivism. For victims, these laws affirm the principle that protecting the public from known, repeat drunk drivers is a statewide priority. When we argue punitive damages in civil court, evidence of an offender’s prior impaired driving incidents and the presence of well publicized interlock laws can help establish conscious disregard for safety.
Your Rights After an Impaired-Driving Crash
When an impaired driver injures you or kills someone you love, the criminal case is only part of the story. Our job is the civil case, which seeks compensation for the harms you suffer. Key categories include medical bills, future medical care, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and wrongful death damages for families. In many states, punitive damages may be available where conduct was willful or showed a reckless disregard for safety.
We also evaluate dram shop and social host claims. Dram shop laws vary by state, but they generally allow claims against licensed establishments that overserved a visibly intoxicated patron who later caused a crash. Some states recognize social host liability when adults provide alcohol to minors who then injure others. These cases require fast, thorough investigation to obtain receipts, surveillance, point-of-sale records, and witness statements.
How We Build a Strong Civil Case
Victim cases succeed on evidence, not assumptions. Here are the core steps we take and what you can do right away.
Secure and preserve official records. We request police crash reports, supplemental DUI reports, blood alcohol testing results, body camera footage, dash camera footage, 911 audio, and tow logs. These documents provide the backbone of liability.
Lock down digital evidence. Modern vehicles store valuable data, and many crashes generate telematics from apps, phones, and connected devices. In drunk driving cases, we move quickly to send preservation letters to at fault drivers, bars, restaurants, and any third parties with relevant records.
Document injuries and losses. Keep every bill, discharge summary, imaging report, and prescription record. Track missed work and out of pocket expenses. Maintain a journal that describes day to day pain, mobility limits, and the impact on family life. In wrongful death claims, gather estate documents and funeral expenses so we can value and present the full claim.
Identify all insurance. We analyze the at fault driver’s bodily injury limits, corporate or commercial policies if a company vehicle is involved, and your own coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorists. In boating cases, we review homeowner and watercraft policies and examine any exclusions that insurers may try to use.
Anticipate the defenses. Intoxicated drivers often contest causation or argue that injuries were preexisting. We engage the right experts, including crash reconstructionists, human factors experts, toxicologists, and life care planners, to build a compelling, fact driven narrative.
A Massachusetts Lens, With National Reach
Because we are based in Massachusetts, we pay special attention to developments here. The Marblehead case underscores difficult intersections between juvenile law, OUI statutes, and motor vehicle homicide charges. On the civil side, Massachusetts provides strong remedies for families under the wrongful death statute, and dram shop claims may be available where a bar overserved a visibly intoxicated patron. If your incident happened outside the Commonwealth, we routinely coordinate with trusted local counsel and handle multi-jurisdiction claims so that you do not have to juggle lawyers in multiple states.
Prevention, Awareness, and Victim Support
The late-summer enforcement blitz is not only about arrests. It is also about preventing the next crash. If you host gatherings, collect keys, cut off service before guests depart, and arrange sober rides. If you see an impaired driver, pull over safely and call 911. If you are a victim or family member, seek support early. Victim services organizations can help with counseling, funeral support, and navigating the court process. We connect clients with those resources from day one, and we take on the legal battle so you can focus on healing.
If You Were Hurt in August or September 2025, We Are Ready to Help
Whether your crash occurred last night or three weeks ago, time matters. Surveillance footage disappears, vehicles get repaired or scrapped, and witnesses move. Contact us as soon as possible so we can preserve the evidence and protect your claim. We handle drunk driving, drug impaired, and boating impairment cases. We do not charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you.
At Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, we offer a free consultation, compassionate counsel, and relentless advocacy.