Massachusetts drunk driving lawyer
Whenever a motorist in Massachusetts makes a choice to break the law by operating a motor vehicle while impaired on drugs or alcohol, the lives of innocent people are at stake. Drunk and drugged driving accidents in Mass. are a serious problem, which often produces catastrophic results were victims are often injured or killed by an intoxicated or drugged driver.
Driving under the influence (DUI)
Driving under the influence (DUI), whether by a legally prescribed medication or not, and driving while intoxicated (DWI) are crimes that could result in both criminal and civil penalties. In addition to being charged with a felony by law enforcement, the motorist at fault for causing the MA accident might also be named a defendant in a lawsuit or claim seeking compensation for the victim.
Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol causes serious dangers to other Boston motorists and passengers on the road. This irresponsible driving also puts Massachusetts pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists at risk if a serious accident causes injuries or death. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 1.4 million motorists are arrested each year across the nation for DWI and DUI. This alarming statistic means that one in every 140 licensed motorists in the U.S. will at some point in their lifetime be arrested for impairment.
Under the Influence
Alcohol, prescription medications, methamphetamines and marijuana along with over-the-counter (OTC) medications can greatly affect a motorist’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. In many incidences, alcohol and medications can delay the driver’s reaction time and impair vision, motor skills and judgment. Many times, the motorist operating the vehicle while impaired will drive too slowly or two fast, veer from their lane, run red lights, or commit other serious traffic violations. Impaired drivers have a higher potential of crashing because they are usually too slow to respond to street hazards including debris, objects, curbs, or other vehicles in the roadway.
An Expensive Problem
Survivors of impaired vehicle accidents involving drunk or drugged driving are usually left with a mountain of medical debt and debilitating injuries. Often times, these Massachusetts accidents produce serious injuries, causing temporary or permanent disability. The extensive medical bills, lost time away from work and financial impact on the family usually necessitates filing a suit for financial compensation against all parties at fault. In addition to filing a suit or claim against the drugged or drunk driver, victims can also seek compensate from third-party individuals and entities involved in the accident. An additional third party might be the bar or bartender serving alcohol to a drunken patron who later caused and accident.
Hiring a MA car accident Attorney
MA Personal injury attorneys handling drugged or drunk driving accident cases will seek financial compensation on behalf of the victim’s in the case. The compensation obtained in an out-of-court settlement or from a jury award at trial will provide the victims adequate funds for continuous medical care, rehabilitation, physical therapy, surgery and other procedures to heal properly. In addition, they can seek compensation for the pain and anguish of their injuries.
Unfortunately, not every victim of a Mass. drugged or drunk driving vehicle accident survives. When a loved one dies through negligence, the family members left behind can file a wrongful death lawsuit against all parties at fault for causing the accident. In addition to receiving compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, funeral expenses, lost consortium and companionship, the family might also be awarded non-economic damages for their pain, suffering and grief.
Victim seriously injured
Victim seriously injured or suffering extensive property damage should consider an experienced drunk and drugged driving accident attorney to handle their case. This is because victims are required by tort law to prove how the motorist caused the accident before receiving financial compensation. A skilled Massachusetts Drunk Driving victim lawyer will investigate the accident, determine cause and prove how the other party is at fault. Drunk driving is a serious national and Massachusetts problem that kills and injures other motorists, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists every day. Legislators and organizations across the Nation and in MA have spent decades promoting campaigns to increase public safety in an effort to eliminate drunk driving car and truck accidents from our streets, with only limited success.
Catastrophic rate of human tragedy
The expense of drunk driving motor vehicle accidents is measured by the catastrophic rate of human tragedy totaling tens of thousands of individuals injured or killed every year. Surviving family members burying loved ones killed by a Massachusetts drunk driver often deal with frustration, anger and resentment knowing that the accident was preventable. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers impaired by alcohol cause one out of every three traffic fatalities. The organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) believes drunk driving to be among the nation’s most frequently committed crimes.
Criminal Charges and Civil Compensation
Law enforcement agencies use a variety of strategies and methods to control the growing numbers of drunk driving car crashes cases occurring every year in Mass.. While the efforts of the Massachusetts criminal court system provide punishment to drunk drivers causing automobile accidents, it does not offer real financial compensation to the injured or dead victims. Instead, the state civil tort law can be used to hold drunk auto or motorcycle drivers at fault for injuries, death, and property loss accountable for their actions.
Any victim injured in a Massachusetts or Boston drunk driver motor vehicle accident has the right to file for compensation. However, these cases are often extremely complex, and require the skills of a competent Boston personal injury attorney specializing in cases involving injury or death caused by an alcohol-impaired driver. Successful Massachusetts claims and lawsuits typically provide adequate compensation to the victim.
Filing an injury Claim or Lawsuit
In most claims for financial recompense, the skilled car accident lawyer will investigate every aspect of the case to determine if there are claims for compensation from additional parties. This can include holding Boston bars and bartenders accountable for violating laws and over-serving alcohol to a patron who then drives drunk. The law recognizes that driving while intoxicated is a dangerous and reckless action that represents the driver’s blatant disrespect of public safety. Because of that, a skilled drunk driving victims’ personal injury attorney can file a claim or lawsuit seeking recompense for economic and non-economic losses. These can include:
• Hospitalization costs, medical bills and expenses for rehabilitation, physical therapy and additional surgeries
• Funds to recoup lost wages from missed work, along with all losses of future earnings caused by temporary or permanent disability
• Funeral and burial expenses when the victim dies from the accident
• Compensation for property loss including vehicle damage or loss of personal items directly associated with the accident
• Recompense for non-tangible loss including mental anxiety, emotional distress, pain, discomfort and suffering
• Punitive damages (in some cases) provided as a way to send a message to all motorists that driving intoxicated will never be tolerated
As a victim of a drunk driving accident, you will likely be bombarded with phone calls from attorneys or insurance claims adjusters representing the drunk driver. It is there hope to persuade you to give up (waive) your rights to file a claim or lawsuit by offering you a settlement amount far lower than the actual worth of your case. It is never in your best interest to speak directly to these professionals. Instead, consider hiring a skilled personal injury attorney to provide you legal representation to ensure that your rights are fully protected, by avoiding making an agreement or signing anything on your own.
Your lawyer will gather evidence, talk to eyewitnesses, hire investigators and build a claim to ensure you receive adequate recompense for all your injuries and damages. Skilled attorneys provide legal representation to victims of drunk driving accidents, and surviving family members in a wrongful death case.
