Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Blog

According to a recent article from CBS Sports, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell did not know that he could be charged with a DUI for smoking marijuana before driving.

As your Boston drunk driving car accident lawyer understands, the term “drunk driving” is not a legal term. The crime itself takes a different name depending on the relevant state code. For example, in Massachusetts, the crime of drunk driving is called Operating Under the Influence (OUI) of intoxicating liquor or drugs. Prosecutors will typically refer to it as OUI liquor or OUI drugs when speaking in court.

As noted in this article, Bell, along with fellow Steelers running back LaGarrette Blount, was arrested for possession of marijuana a few hours before a team flight to Philadelphia. Bell, the driver of the car in which the two men were riding, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs (marijuana). According to police, Bell stated that he didn’t know that was possible.

During the vehicle stop, Bell was asked if he had smoked marijuana recently and said that he smoked it about a minute ago along with other people in the car. The officer informed Bell the he would have his blood tested for the metabolites of THC and would be arrested and charged with a DUI.
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A recent story for 9 News involves a woman who may not survive a serious drunk driving car accident. Witnesses have reported that, just after midnight, the defendant was allegedly driving his vehicle on the wrong side of a divided roadway. One driver saw the vehicle approaching in time and managed to swerve out of the way.

When the victim saw the defendant approaching heading the wrong way, she also attempted to serve out of the way. Unfortunately she did not have time and was hit head-on by a suspected drunk driver.

After the crash, first responders got the victim out of the vehicle and rushed her to a local trauma center. A police spokesperson reported that the woman was immediately taken into surgery to treat her injuries, but it was not known whether she would survive the surgery, given the extreme nature of her injuries.

The at-fault driver who was alleged to have been intoxicated was also taken to the hospital to be treated for what has been described as serous but non-life-threatening injuries.

As your Boston drunk driving car accident attorney understands, driving on the wrong side of the road is a fairly common behavior exhibited while driving drunk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted a number of studies since the 1970s to determine the best ways to identify a drunk driver. NHTSA has also used this research to develop a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests that officers can use to aid them in making an arrest decision.
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According to a recent article from CBS Los Angeles, a man has been charged with murder after a 19-year-old driver was killed in what appears to be an alcohol-related car accident.

The victim was driving with his girlfriend when the alleged drunk driver swerved his vehicle and crashed into them. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The man’s girlfriend was taken to the hospital. Her injuries were not life-threatening.

Authorities are reporting that the defendant fled the scene of the accident on foot and was arrested when police arrived at his home following the crash. The defendant was also charged with driving under the influence (DUI), leaving the scene of an accident (hit-and-run), and driving with a suspended license. According to this article, the defendant had previously been convicted of a DUI in which there was a personal injury.

As your Boston drunk driving lawyer understands, there is a good chance that adriver who had his license suspended for a previous DUI did not have car insurance. There is the possibility that the person borrowed the car from someone who did have insurance. If this is the case, you may be able to collect from the owner’s policy, and you may have an additional negligence claim for the owner’s negligence in lending the defendant the car.
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A recent story from 7KTVB discusses how an Idaho man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for drunk driving. The 42-year-old man was convicted of felony DUI. He is eligible for parole in 10 years but could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

While a DUI is normally a misdemeanor offense, it can be charged as a felony after the defendant has been convicted of a certain number of misdemeanor drunk driving offenses. According to court records, this defendant was sentenced for his fifth felony DUI. He had 2 misdemeanor DUIs on his criminal record as well.

As your Boston drunk driving injury lawyer can explain, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, operating under the influence (OUI) is a misdemeanor for a first and second offense and a felony for third and subsequent offenses. For misdemeanors in Suffolk County (Boston), the drunk driver could serve up to 2.5 years at the South Bay House of Corrections. For felonies, the defendant could face five years or more in a Massachusetts Correctional Institute (state prison).
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According to a recent article in the Worcester Telegram, parents routinely engage in the exact dangerous driving habits they warn their kids against – including driving while intoxicated.

Research done by a Boston-based insurance company indicates more than 40 percent of teens have tried to get their parents to stop texting while driving, and almost 20 percent of teens have tried to get their parents to stop driving while high on marijuana.

As your Boston drunk driving car accident lawyer can explain, the official name of the criminal charge in Massachusetts is operating a motor vehicle under the influence (OUI) of intoxicating liquor or drugs. Driving while high on marijuana or any other drug is treated the same as drunk driving. Driving while high is a negligent act that puts everyone else on the road at risk.
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