DUI injury lawyer

March 30, 2018

Study: 1 in 3 Youths Ride With Impaired Drivers

A recent study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs revealed 1 in 3 recent high school graduates have ridden with an impaired driver in the last year, and they were more likely to be a passenger of a marijuana-impaired driver than one who is alcohol-impaired.

Although the prevalence of marijuana use has increased with a growing movement toward cannabis legalization nationally, this behavior remains as risky as ever.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a report to Congress last summer, reveals the signs of marijuana-impaired driving may be more difficult to detect than alcohol-impaired driving, but it’s no less dangerous. Marijuana users are about 25 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers with no evidence of marijuana use, according to NHTSA. Some of the ways cannabis impairs a person include:

Reduced reaction time and less ability to make decisions;
Impairment of coordination, distorted perception, memory loss and trouble problem-solving;
Divided attention to tasks.

Safe driving requires the person behind the wheel to be alert and ready to rapidly respond to hazards. While some argue drivers under the influence of marijuana are less of a danger than those under the influence of alcohol, the reality is there is nothing safe about driving under the influence of any substance. Continue reading

November 15, 2017

Recovering DUI Injury Compensation When At-Fault Driver Commits Hit-and-Run

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Boston drunk driving car accidents sometimes involve a driver who attempts to flee the scene following the accident. In some cases, the at-fault driver’s car is still running and able to move and they will try to get away in the vehicle. In other cases, the defendant’s car will be totaled from the Boston drunk driving car crash and he or she will try to flee the scene on foot. Even if they are eventually caught, the thinking process appears to be that they will no longer be intoxicated so it will be harder to prove a drunk driving criminal case. When a driver leaves on foot, it is not too difficult for the police to catch them if the car is registered in their name.

In some Boston drunk driving crashes where the driver flees the scene, he or she will never be caught. When this occurs, car accident victims may have to find other sources of recovery than the at-fault driver’s car insurance company. When the diver flees the scene and is not found, we typically call this a John Doe driver case. Continue reading

February 11, 2017

Report: Some Massachusetts Bars Served More Drunk Drivers Than Others

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Days on which football games are played are often problematic on the roads, specifically for drunk driving hazards. In the Boston-area, fans like to go to Foxboro and drink at the stadium. Many prefer bars in the greater Boston area and drink while watching the game.

As part of a continuing effort to curb drunk driving in the Commonwealth, state officials have been compiling what they termed a “place of last drink list.” This means that whenever possible, they want to find out where a person was arrested for drunk driving and put it on the list. This will not only provide the public with this information, but it will also allow alcoholic beverage control personnel to conduct investigations at these bars and find out if there is a problem. Continue reading

June 26, 2016

Punitive Damages in Massachusetts DUI Lawsuits

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Addiction can have a powerful hold on people, and it’s also often a driving force behind so many of the repeat DUI offenses that occur across the country. According to the National Department of Transportation, about one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders.

Beyond harsher penalties within the criminal justice system, repeat DUI defendants in civil litigation are more likely to face punitive damages. There is a strong case to be made for punitive damages when a driver is accused of repeatedly violating state laws and jeopardizing the safety of innocent people. Punitive damages provide further compensation to the victim but are intended to punish the offender.

In Massachusetts, punitive damages generally aren’t available in personal injury cases, no matter how negligent the conduct or how bad the injuries. However, punitive injuries may be available if an individual or corporation engages in gross negligence or willful or wanton conduct that results in a death. This is because the Massachusetts Wrongful Death Act, M.G.L. c. 229, creates an exception to common law on the punitive damages issue.
Continue reading

May 8, 2016

Defendant in Fatal Worcester Car Accident Appeals Conviction

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A man convicted of motor vehicle homicide and manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol in connection with a deadly drunk driving accident in Worcester last year is appealing his conviction, according to a recent news feature from The Boston Herald. The reason for his appeal is that he is trying get one of the charges for which his was convicted dismissed, which may shorten his sentence. He is currently serving a 12-to-14-year sentence in a Massachusetts Correctional Institute (MCI).

Court documents indicate defendant was driving his car while intoxicated when he hit a 23-year-old man and then continued to drag him for a quarter of a mile. The victim died as a result of the serious injuries sustained when hit by a drunk driver and then dragged under his car. Continue reading

April 14, 2016

Drunk Driving on Prom a Concern for Boston Parents

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

It’s prom season.

High school students across the country are preparing for the biggest bash of the last four years, scouring for the perfect dress, the right date and all the best reservations. While students are generally most concerned with having a memorable night, parents want to make sure they remember it for all the right reasons.

Far too often, prom night ends in tragedy for those who drink, take drugs and then get behind the wheel. Of course, it’s not just prom night. Late spring is associated with an unusually high number of teen-related drunk driving car accidents. Part of that has to do with the fact there are so many back-to-back celebrations. Teens, who are still by virtue of their age inexperienced drivers, are emboldened by new-found freedoms and the prospect of new beginnings. And when youth are so focused on having a good time, the good judgment they may normally display can take a backseat – particularly when they are driving.

So what can parents do? Continue reading

April 9, 2016

Report: Drunk Driving Crash at Daytona International Speedway

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

There is no question that many come to a NASCAR track to see the crashes. However, we are normally talking about crashes that occur during the race, and as far as NASCAR tracks go, the Daytona International Speedway has had its fair share of famous crashes. According to a recent news feature from ABC News Boston, four people were injured during the latest crash at the famous motor speedway, except this crash involved several mobile homes in infield camping area.

Authorities say several motor homes and cars were seriously damaged and four people were injured when a 43-year-old Florida woman allegedly drove her pickup truck while intoxicated and crashed it into five campers and four people during a motocross event being hosted at the track. Continue reading