According to a recent article from the Boston Globe, a 29-year-old man involved in a Boston car accident was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Authorities state the victim was a passenger in a car that allegedly crashed into a utility pole in Weymouth. There were two other passengers in the car who were injured, and first responders took them to a local level-one trauma center in the greater Boston area.
This was not the only serious traffic accident that day, as, in the same town, police also arrested a man for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and negligent operation of a motor vehicle resulting in serious bodily injury.
In this alleged drunk driving accident, an off-duty police officer responded to a crash at the parking lot where he was working that day. The officer said he saw a blue Volkswagen hit multiple cars before crashing into a pedestrian. There has not been any information released about the pedestrian, other than he was an adult male. He was rushed to a Boston area hospital with serious personal injury caused by being hit by suspect’s car.
It should be noted that in both car accidents, neither defendant has been convicted of any crime, as these are merely accusations. Under our legal system, all suspects are presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a judge or jury.
Drunk driving car accidents often end up with a defendant who is arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence. This means that the defendant will have a Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. In other words, the defendant cannot be forced to talk or answer questions. This would make it difficult to send interrogatories and conduct a deposition. What typically happens in these types of cases if they are to go to trial is that the civil case will be filed by your Boston drunk driving accident lawyer, and then the case will get stayed pending the outcome of the criminal case.
If defendant is convicted of drunk driving, it will make it much more difficult for defendant’s insurance company to disclaim liability. This can significantly increase your chances of obtaining a full and appropriate financial settlement. Also, there are cases where a drunk driver did not have a valid license. In these cases, if someone does not have a valid driver’s license, there is a possibility he or she does not have car insurance. If this is the case, your experienced car accident lawyer can assist you in filing a claim for uninsured motorist (UM) coverage from your own car insurance company.
If you have been injured in a Boston drunk driving accident, call for a free and confidential appointment at (617) 777-7777.
Additional Resources:
Boston man charged after fatal crash in Weymouth, October 11, 2015, Boston Globe, by Aimee Ortiz
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