Drunk Driving Car Accidents
Did you know? Every day in 2020, drunk driving car accidents took the lives of 31 Americans and injured nearly 1,000. If your loved one has been the victim of a car crash due to drunk driving, call us now.
Drunk driving collisions are on the rise and in 2020 alone, DUI crashes killed 31 people every day, plus injured almost 1,000 others, says the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration. In 2021, the number of alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities rose by 14%, meaning that someone dies in a preventable drunk driving accident every 39 minutes.
Massachusetts also has a higher percentage of drivers reporting drinking too much before operating a vehicle. For context, even 2 drinks can lead to a noticeable decline in visual function and attention, and 3 drinks often causes limited coordination and poor steering.
If you or someone you love were hurt in an alcohol-related collision, you need compassionate, caring legal support as soon as possible. Mazow | McCullough, PC have the qualifications to provide you with zealous representation and will tirelessly advocate for you to receive the fair compensation you deserve.
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Ridesharing and Intoxicated Driving
DUI Motorcycle Accidents: What to Do If a Drunk Driver Hits Your Motorcycle
Driver Consequences After a Collision
If a drunk driver is caught after an accident, they face serious consequences not just under the law, but in their professional and family life as well. Depending on if this is their first charge and whether the accident caused severe injury or death, the driver may face thousands of dollars in fines and possible jail time.
However, criminal penalties don’t help families of drunk drivers recover physically or financially. A civil case needs to be filed against the driver, their insurance company, and anyone who may have served them and knowingly allowed them to drive. This allows you to sue for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering you or your loved one endured after the accident.
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How Are Drunk Drivers Penalized for Fatal Accidents?
What Happens to the Driver After a DUI Accident?
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Who Can Be Held Responsible?
In cases of drunk driving accidents, most of the time, the driver themselves are considered responsible for making a choice to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. However, other people may also be held liable for the actions of a drunk driver, including:
- Individuals of legal drinking age who provided a driver under the age of 21 with alcohol. If the driver was under 21, whoever knowingly provided them with alcohol could be liable for any damage they cause in an accident. This can include people like bartenders, family members, or friends. For example, if a parent knowingly gave a minor alcohol, and they caused an accident, this could violate Massachusetts’ Social Host Law. This has specific penalties for people who provided a minor alcohol and could make them partially liable for the actions of the drunk driver.
- A social host who served alcohol to a driver who then got into an accident. Even if the driver is over 21, the host can be held responsible for their guest’s actions if alcohol was served in their home or on their premises, especially if they knowingly allowed their guest to drive after drinking.
- Anyone who served alcohol to someone who was already intoxicated. Massachusetts prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to intoxicated patrons. If a bartender continued to serve alcohol to a person they knew to be drunk, or they allowed them to drive after excessively serving them alcohol, they could be liable for the damage caused by that driver.
The same holds true for liquor stores that fail to ID their customers or allow intoxicated patrons to purchase alcohol. The laws also clearly state that alcohol is not the only substance forbidden to drivers—marijuana, narcotic drugs, stimulants, depressants, and glue vapors all fall under the same prohibitions.
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Parental Responsibility for Intoxicated Teen Drivers
Hosting a Prom or Graduation Party? How to Minimize Your Liability
Social Host Laws and Frat Parties: What You Need to Know
What to Know About Medicated Driving & OUI Accidents
What to Do if You are Injured by a Drunk Driver Leaving a Party
Contact a Drunk Driving Car Accident Attorney in Salem, MA Today
When a person has been hit by a drunk driver, it’s critical that an investigation of the incident begins immediately, since the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Massachusetts is only three years.
Over the course of this time, the memories of those who may have seen the driver consuming alcohol and who served that person may fade. The testimony of those who witnessed the driver’s actions could also be lost. Physical evidence could degrade or be misplaced, and the process of collecting evidence and presenting a suit can be daunting and overwhelming for the inexperienced.
That’s where a Salem, MA drunk driving car accident lawyer comes into the picture.
At Mazow | McCullough, PC, we understand that no amount of money can ever bring your loved one back. However, a wrongful death settlement can ease the financial burden of a DUI car crash and deliver some justice for you and your loved ones. We can help you collect the evidence that proves a case of negligence beyond the clearly wrong action of drunk driving, file a claim, and represent you and your interests in court. We can help you hold those who allowed the car accident to happen, either directly or indirectly, accountable for their actions.
Mazow | McCullough, PC, has an excellent track record of success for our clients who were critically injured or killed as a result of drunk drivers and dram shop negligence. As soon as we start your case, we immediately begin working with a team of investigators to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and gather compelling proof of what happened. We know the devastating toll this type of negligence can take on a family, so we work closely with those most affected to help them get the compensation they deserve.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident with a drunk driver, don’t delay. Reach out to Mazow | McCullough, PC today for a free consultation. Please contact 978-744-8000 or see our recent results here. The right lawyer makes all the difference.
If you’ve lost a loved one to a drunk driver, don’t delay. Reach out to Mazow |McCullough, PC today for a free consultation. Call 978-744-8000. The right lawyer makes all the difference. See our recent results here.
Please contact Mazow | McCullough, PC, today for a free consultation about your case.
