Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog

Everyone knows how dangerous it is to get behind the wheel while drunk, even though people are still willing risk their own lives and the lives of others on a nightly basis. A new study shows driving while dehydrated may be just as bad as drunk driving, according to a recent news report from Inquisitir.

In a study, drivers who were intoxicated above the legal limit and drivers who were dehydrated made two times as many mistakes as those who were sober and properly hydrated. It should be noted, this was not severe dehydration where the people were risking death, but rather mild dehydration. Researchers wanted to be clear the purpose of their study was not to minimize dangers of drunk driving, but rather the make people aware of a danger with is largely unknown at this time by the general public.

Specifically, even mild dehydration can lead to negative effects on a person’s mood and reduced concentration, alertness problems, short-term memory trouble, fatigue, and headaches. All of the symptoms make it much more difficult to concentrate on driving a motor vehicle safely as to prevent a car accident.
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When we get on an MBTA bus or any other T vehicle, including green line trolleys, we assume the driver will be sober. It is not just passengers who are concerned about the dangers of a drunk mass transit driver, as MBTA policy and United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations require drivers to submit to pre-employment drug an alcohol testing, as well as random tests during the course of their employment.
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According to a recent report from My Fox Boston, a Marlborough, Massachusetts district court judge held defendant without bail after he was arrested for his fifth drunk driving arrest. Prosecutors allege 55-year-old defendant was driving his SUV when he crashed into an unmarked police vehicle. His car is said to have struck the passenger side area of the police car. Authorities also alleged defendant’s 14-year-old daughter was also in his SUV at time of the crash. First responders treated his daughter for minor injuries. Police also report the detective allegedly hit by defendant’s car was treated and released from a local hospital.

Court records indicate police administered a series of field sobriety tests, which he reportedly failed. Court records also indicate defendant was convicted of drunk driving in 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1998. In this instance, prosecutors charged defendant with operating under the influence (OUI) of intoxicating liquor fifth offense, as well as child endangerment and other moving violations. Defendant is scheduled for a dangerousness hearing at the Marlborough District Court.

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, courts generally do not release people on bond, as people are familiar with from TV and other jurisdictions. This is because of a dislike for bail bond recovery agents (bounty hunters) chasing people through the Commonwealth with unlicensed weapons. Instead defendants are generally released on their own personal recognizance, held on small amounts of cash bond, or held without bond after a dangerousness hearing. It is important to note defendant has not been convicted of any crimes in connection with his recent arrested and is presumed innocent unless and until his proven guilty.
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According to a recent news article from CBS Boston, a man from Massachusetts has been arrested in connection with an alleged drunk driving accident in which a couple was killed. Providence authorities say defendant was driving in the wrong direction on a highway when he hit victim’s vehicle.

Troopers report the 24-year-old defendant, who is from Webster, Massachusetts, hit victim’s vehicle and killed the 21-year-old woman who was driving the car and her 23-year-old boyfriend. Family members say the couple had a 6-year-olddaughter and were going to get married later this year. The family has also set up an internet fund collection website to raise money to care for the victims’ surviving daughter.

Prosecutors have charged defendant with drunk driving homicide and driving to endanger resulting in death. A judge has ordered defendant to be held on $100,000. As of this point, all criminal charges are only allegations, and defendant has not been convicted of any crimes in connection with this fatal drunk driving car accident.
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While drunk driving crashes occur all the time, some make the news and others do not. In one recent drunk driving accident arrest, the story was picked up by a variety of news organizations, because this particular defendant decided to stick her tongue out at the camera when police were taking her mug shot. While some mugshots are more interesting than others, drunk driving crashes can and do have serious consequences for those in the at-fault driver’s car and innocent pedestrians and other drivers throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Fortunately, while this particular drunk driving crash did result in property damage, there was no personal injury associated with the car accident. Police say they were called to the scene of a car accident in which alleged at-fault driver had run into a wooden fence.

When police arrived on the scene, defendant allegedly told authorities she ran off the road and crashed into the fence because she was talking on her cellphone to obtain driving directions and was writing them down while behind the wheel and crashed her vehicle as result of the distraction.
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