Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows one person dies every 50 minutes in the United States in a drunk driving crash—that is more than 10,500 people per year.
When a driver is drunk, their response time is off. Alcohol slows reflexes and impairs vision. Drunk drivers are distracted and often brake erratically. They often weave and zigzag across the road and into other lanes. They may stop for no reason, tailgate, and even drive on the opposite side of the road into oncoming traffic. It is no surprise that almost one-third of all traffic fatalities in the United States involve a drunk driver, according to the NHTSA.
Drunk driving is dangerous and is never acceptable in any circumstance, and those drivers who caused an accident that resulted in harm to another need to be held liable. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident with a drunk driver in Boston or the surrounding area, a Boston drunk driving accident lawyer might be able to help.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-959-1444 to speak with a member of our team today. We can tell you whether you have a case and how we can help you.
Drunk Driving Laws in Massachusetts
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90 § 24, the operation of a vehicle is prohibited if the driver has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or more. Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90 § 24P, if the driver is under 21 years of age, the BAC only has to be 0.02 or more. In either of these cases, a driver can face harsh penalties if caught operating a vehicle while in this condition. The penalties increase for each subsequent time the driver is caught driving while intoxicated.
Despite stiff penalties that include fines, jail time, license revocation, community service, driver alcohol education programs, and higher insurance premiums, drunk drivers cause more than $44 billion annually in deaths and damages, according to the NHTSA.
When the police suspect a driver is driving drunk, they may administer a breath test at the scene or the police station. If the BAC is above the legal limit, the driver will be arrested. These tests are important because they can also be used as evidence later on if you want to pursue compensation in the form of an insurance claim or lawsuit.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving Boston, call 800-598-7557
The Aftermath of a Drunk Driving Accident
After you are involved in a drunk driving accident, detailed police reports will be filled out. Later, insurance companies may try to contact you. You do not want to speak to the insurance companies in detail, or about who was at fault in the accident. You do not want to say anything that may jeopardize your chance at a settlement. Your lawyer can handle speaking with the insurance companies involved in the case for both parties.
You may suffer financial and emotional losses due to the negligence of another if you are injured in a drunk driving accident, some of which may include:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation or therapy
- Loss of income
- Loss of a job
- Rental car costs
- Car repairs or replacement
- Disfigurement, paralysis, or amputation
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Furthermore, if a loved one died as a result of a drunk driving accident, you also may have burial and funeral costs and loss of consortium. A lawyer might be able to help you recover some of these costs by filing a claim on your behalf.
Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-598-7557
A Lawyer Can Help You to Fight for Justice
A Boston drunk driving accident lawyer can help with your case. They will listen to the details, talk to the police and look over the accident reports, interview witnesses, and speak with doctors and look at medical records. They will determine liability and pursue compensation to the fullest extent allowed under the law.
They will also determine if other parties may be responsible, like someone who provided the alcohol to the driver. Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 138 § 69, they may file a claim against the party who served alcohol to an already intoxicated person, such as the host of a party, known as social host responsibility, or against an establishment that provided the alcohol, known as dram shop liability.
In a wrongful death case, you can also seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses, along with any lost income if your deceased loved one was a provider in the household.
You might also be entitled to punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish the defendant as well as deter others from engaging in the same behaviors in the future. Massachusetts law states that a person may recover punitive damages if gross negligence caused a death.
Your lawyer will represent you and handle all of the details of your case so that you can focus on getting your life back to normal after this very stressful event in your life. They will help to relieve your burden immediately and will help to ensure you have as carefree of a future as possible.
Click to contact our Boston Car Accident Lawyers today
We Will Get Started Right Away
Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 260 § 2A and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 229 § 2, you have three years to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim. You do not want to delay, though—time goes by quickly, and investigations and claims take time.
To get started with your search for justice, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-959-1444 for a free consultation to see if a Boston drunk driving accident lawyer can help you. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no money up front. You do not have to worry about legal fees. We receive our fee after we win a settlement for you.
Call or text 800-598-7557 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
