Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog

January 20, 2016

Parents Sue Bar after Drunk Driver Kills Son in Car Crash

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, there is case law that establishes what is known as “dram shop” case. A dram is a word which once commonly used to describe a measurement of whiskey that we would equate with the word “shot” today. In some parts of Europe, especially in and around the distilleries in Scotland, the term dram is still used. The word indicated a store, or more commonly a bar, where alcoholic beverages were sold by the drink.

Every bar owner and employee who is serving alcohol to the public has a responsibility, and legal requirement, to not serve any patron who is already intoxicated. They are also not supposed to serve someone to the point of intoxication that they know or should know will be driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Continue reading

January 17, 2016

Public Shaming to Curb Drunk Driving Accidents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and law enforcement agencies across the country have been trying for decades to find a way to reach potential drunk drivers and keep them from getting behind the wheel. While one might think that risk of getting a serious drunk driving car accident that could result in severe personal injury or death would be enough to deter someone, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

This is evident from the many commercials and campaigns we see. These anti-drunk driving campaigns are being generated based upon studies and the use of focus groups to determine what has the best chance of reaching potential drunk drivers. Based upon this extensive research, it seems that most people are more afraid of being arrested and having to pay for a criminal defense lawyer and also for court costs and fines. This is evident in the commercials with slogans such as “you just blew $10,000” accompanying imagery of someone blowing into a breath alcohol testing device, which people commonly refer to as a Breathalyzer. Continue reading

January 14, 2016

“Affluenza” Defendant Arrested as Fugitive in Mexico

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

You may remember the case of Ethan Couch, who was arrested in June 2013 after he was driving on restricted license in an illegal manner, when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a group of people who were standing near an SUV that had broken down. He also crashed into a vehicle that had come to the scene to assist the disabled SUV. Continue reading

January 10, 2016

Massachusetts Drunk Driving Accident Leaves Children with Permanent Injuries

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Drunk driving car accidents result in serious personal injury or even death on a regular basis. Any accident involving child victims are particularly devastating. According to a recent report from Mass Live, a 59-year-old man in Hampden County has just been convicted for being involved in a drunk driving accident in which he hit three children, causing serious personal injury, some of which is considered to be permanent injury.

The defendant decided not to have trial before a jury and instead had a bench trial. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a defendant is entitled to a jury as long as the potential penalties include at least one day in prison. In most cases, we would expect a defendant to always choose a trail before a jury when possible, however in some cases, where the alleged offenses involve emotionally charged issues such as child victims, it might be reasonable to choose a bench trial where a judge makes all legal rulings and also renders a verdict as to guilt or innocence. Continue reading

January 7, 2016

Massachusetts Man Charged after Fatal Drunk Driving Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a recent news article from The Boston Globe, a 33-year-old suspect from Norwood, Massachusetts has been charged with various criminal offenses after he was involved in serious drunk driving accident in which one of his passengers was killed and the other suffered severe personal injuries.

Authorities are still conducting their investigation into the cause of this deadly drunk driving accident, but they have formed the opinion that defendant ran a stop sign as he was driving west while another car was headed through the intersection from a cross street, and the two vehicles crashed into each other. Continue reading

January 6, 2016

School Bus Driver Arrested for DUI

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a recent news article from People, a school bus driver in California was recently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving with 28 students on her bus. Authorities alleged the 24-year-old female driver was clearly and obviously intoxicated at the time of her arrest.

Witnesses say the bus driver was taking children home after school on Friday afternoon when her bus managed to get stuck on a small dirt road in a manner that was blocking all traffic. When authorities arrived to see what the trouble with the bus was, they say they immediately detected a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. Continue reading

January 5, 2016

Drugged Driving Suit Shows Boston Drivers The Real Risks of Getting Behind the Wheel Impaired

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Drivers have become aware of dangers associated with drunk driving thanks to decades of education and advocacy by groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Unfortunately, while the DUI death rate due to impaired drivers has gone down, the number of people who drive under the influence of drugs is rising. Driving while drugged is often just as dangerous (or more dangerous) and just as illegal as driving while under the influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, motorists underestimate the risks and aren’t aware of how impairing it can be to operate a motor vehicle after consuming prescription or non-prescription medications.

As medical marijuana legalization moves through more states in the U.S. and as baby boomers age and prescription drug use becomes ever-more common, lawmakers are grappling with how to establish and enforce DUI laws for narcotics use. However, motorists need to make a commitment now to staying sober and not getting behind the wheel when they’ve either drank too much or consumed drugs that cause impairment. To help encourage motorists to understand risks of impaired driving and to make the necessary commitment to staying sober, Ford has created a drugged driving suit.

January 4, 2016

Boston Suburb Gets Grant to Increase Drunk Driving Patrols

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is historically the most dangerous period of the year in terms of serious drunk driving accidents and drunk driving fatalities. According to a recent news report from the Concord Patch, the town of Concord, Massachusetts has recently received a grant to increase drunk driving patrols this holiday season.

Specifically, this campaign is called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and the Concord Police Department will be part of an effort with 201 other law enforcement agencies trying to significantly reduce the number of drunk driving accidents this holiday season. Continue reading

December 31, 2015

The Reason Boston MBTA Provides Free Rides on New Year’s Eve

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Since 1983, New Year’s Eve party goers in Boston have been able to get a free ride home on the T. This is part of long standing effort to reduce drunk driving incidents and help make sure everyone makes it home safe and sound.

However, this program was not always around. The free rides on New Year’s Eve program was started after a series of deadly drunk driving accidents that all occurred around the same time, according to a recent news feature from Boston.com. This was during the time when Michael Dukakis was governor, and he was especially sensitive to the issue of drunk driving. Dukakis’ brother was ridding a bicycle in Brookline neighborhood of Boston in 1973 when he was hit by a drunk driver. Continue reading

December 30, 2015

Preventing DUI Crashes as the Football Season Ends

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The football season is a high-risk time on the roads because motorists tend to get drunk while watching games. Binge drinking and impaired driving are common pastimes for many football fans, despite the dangers these behaviors present when a motorist gets behind the wheel.

With playoff time and the Super Bowl fast approaching, the risks of drunk driving will continue to rise on big game days. The dangers associated with drunk driving, however, are largely preventable: motorists should avoid drinking during games or should make sure they have a designated driver lined up before they actually start consuming alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, too many drivers fail to follow these simple precautions and instead they cause accidents that injure themselves or others on the roads.