Articles Posted in Boston Drunk Driving Accidents

Our Boston drunk driving car accident attorneys know that many of the worst alcohol-related car accidents involve young drivers.

A recent feature on Boston.com looks at the history and effects of having a national drinking of age of 21. This July marks three decades since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act took effect when President Ronald Regan signed it into law.

As the article notes, this national act required all states to raise the drinking age to 21. Any state that did not comply with the provisions of the act would face a significant cut in its federal highway budget.

While, normally, the federal government does not have the authority to force a state to enact a local law, the government does have the power to withhold federal funding for various programs if the state does not comply. This was the method used to mandate compliance with the Drinking Age Act. Though some states were initially reluctant, every state eventually complied with the act’s requirements, and the drinking age was 21 throughout the nation in the summer of 1984.
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The wife of a man who drove drunk and killed a father of two has been held civilly liable for $25 million in damages for negligent entrustment of her vehicle to her husband.

The Texas case of Casas v. Noreiga sends a powerful message to loved ones of alcoholics and addicts. When these individuals are granted access to motor vehicles, often without insurance, they present a potentially fatal hazard to everyone with whom they share the road. Boston drunk driving accident attorneys know negligent entrustment is one way the courts can ensure those who handed over the keys are held responsible.

An allegation of negligent entrustment can apply not only to spouses, but also parents of children who drive recklessly or cohabiting partners, siblings and even friends.
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In the full swing of summer, there are a greater number of gatherings at which under-21 guests are consuming alcohol. Adults who host these parties or provide the alcohol need to know they may not only face criminal sanctions, they could be held civilly liable should an injury result.

Boston drunk driving accident lawyers are familiar with M.G.L.c. 138, § 34, passed in 2000, which holds social hosts liable for injury to innocent third parties by an intoxicated guest when the host supplied or provided alcohol.

There are few cases in which the courts have allowed a person to be held liable for injuries sustained by the guest – even if that guest is underage.
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While marijuana was decriminalized in Massachusetts in 2009 and approved for medicinal purposes last year, driving under the influence of the drug remains just as illegal as driving while drunk, per Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 90-24(1)(a)(1).

However, a new report by Addiction-Treatment.com and Fractl analyzed federal data to determine whether police across the country are enforcing these laws. Our drunk driving injury lawyers in Massachusetts note that Massachusetts performed abysmally, ranking dead-last for marijuana arrests per 100,000 users.

There is a one-hundred fold difference between our 275 arrests per 100,000 marijuana users and the Illinois high of 30,000 arrests per 100,000 marijuana users. Part of this is by virtue of the fact that our state doesn’t consider it a crime to possess an ounce or less of the drug, while Illinois still does. Those arrests for minor possession add up. But these figures also factor in impaired driving arrests, and we think it doubtful that less than one-quarter of one percent of all marijuana users in the state are driving impaired.
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The Boston Marathon bombing has generated heart wrenching stories about athletes, loved ones, married couples, parents, children and others impacted by the tragedy. In another news story that made fewer headlines leading up to this year’s race, a Boston Marathon runner was killed by a drunk driver only months before the race. According to the Washington Post, the accident happened in January, while a Virginia couple was training for the Boston Marathon. The couple had three children and found running together to be a positive way to spend time together after their children left for school.

This was another preventable drunk driving tragedy, which too often impact the lives of families and communities nationwide. Our Boston drunk driving injury attorneys are committed to raising awareness and protecting victims and families. We understand the gravity of these cases and take strategic efforts to hold individuals and entities accountable in the event of injury or wrongful death.
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Accidents can happen, but repeated and egregious acts of negligence should be dealt with aggressively by the criminal justice system to prevent future accidents and injury. In a recent Massachusetts case, a man whose license was permanently revoked was arrested for drunk driving for the 6th time. He is currently being held without bail and is awaiting charges in the Hingham District Court.

In this case, officers spotted the man driving an unfamiliar vehicle after he had already been convicted of multiple drunk-driving accidents. The 61-year-old driver is being held under Massachusetts “dangerousness law” and will face a hearing to determine the charges he will face. Our Boston drunk driving accident attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of victims. In addition to pursuing compensation on behalf of clients and their families, we are committed to staying abreast of drunk driving law and legislative action that can prevent future tragedies.
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Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s biggest and most entertaining national sporting events, as friends and families gather to socialize and watch the big game. Yet, it has also become one of the nation’s most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving.

Often, Super Bowl Sunday parties also feature alcoholic beverages in abundance. In 2009, for example, nearly 50 million cases of beer may have been consumed during Super Bowl gatherings (not counting those sold at the actual game).

Our drunk driving accident attorneys in Boston understand that Super Bowl Sunday is a big day for all of us, but it’s important that we make it a safe one. Before heading out for the big game, make sure your play book is filled with safe and sober ways to get home. If you’re hosting the home team at your own house to watch the game, make sure you’ve got a game plan too, to make sure your guests are safe.
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Massachusetts drivers tend to have a bad reputation for being aggressive and taking dangerous driving risks, but a new study published by Car Insurance Comparison indicates that this reputation may be unfounded. The study has revealed that Massachusetts is one of the top 10 safest states for drivers. Unfortunately, however, while Massachusetts drivers ranked well in most categories, the state was one of the worst for drunk drivers.

Boston drunk driving accident lawyers know that driving while intoxicated can more than double the risk of auto accidents occurring. While the state of Massachusetts is thus a pretty safe place to be, drunk motorists continue to be a menace on the roads. Drivers need to take some basic steps to reduce the risk of drunk driving to help make the state an even spot place for motorists.
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This year’s “Observe, Don’t Overserve” training sessions are kicking off in Norfolk. According to CBS Local, Michael Morrissey, Norfolk District Attorney, is pushing these sessions to help to help servers and bartenders for the upcoming holiday season. The purpose of the program is to make sure that servers and bartenders have proper knowledge to avoid overserving patrons. By working to avoid overserving, we can help to eliminate the risks for drunk driving accidents in Boston and elsewhere in the area.

“Those people are on the front lines of the defense,” said Morrissey. “We think they can make a difference.”

Morrissey is working to take this message through the holidays and into the New Year. According to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, close to 20 percent of bars across the state of Massachusetts could improve their regulations.
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Police officers in the city of Boston only made 241 drunk driving arrests in 2011. That’s less than one arrest a day and a significant decrease in the number of arrests from the previous year. According to The Boston Globe, that’s also a number that’s significantly lower than other cities of similar size.

While many may see this as a good sign, officials are asking questions — Are officers targeting drivers aggressively enough?

Our Boston drunk driving accident lawyers understand that the number of arrests for intoxicated driving has dropped by about a third since 2009. Denver, which is a city that has a smaller population than Boston, made about 3,000 drunk driving arrests last year. Boston law enforcement officials say that public transportation is largely to thank — as intoxicated individuals can more easily use this form of transportation to get home. But safe driving advocates are saying it’s not that our roadways are getting safer — it’s that law enforcement is not doing nearly enough to combat the problem.
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