Drunk Driving Attorney in Boston

Having a Boston drunk driving lawyer by your side in these difficult times can prove beneficial not only to your case but also to your overall well-being. At Morgan and Morgan, our army of attorneys boasts years of experience fighting for individuals who have been injured or lost their loved ones in accidents caused by drunk drivers. To find out whether you have a viable case and how we may be able to help, fill out our free, no-obligation case evaluation form. 

Knowing When to Hire a Lawyer

We know that each car accident case is unique, and a lawyer may be more necessary for some accident cases than for others. For instance, if you or your loved one only escaped with minor bruises and did not incur any property damages, you will need to file a claim with your own insurance provider. However, you will likely not need a lawyer for this process.

The insurance provider won't have the time to fight your claim if it does not involve significant amounts of money. Insurance companies would rather use those resources elsewhere to fight bigger claims. 

That brings us to our first point. If the insurance company disputes your claim, chances are it involves a considerable amount of compensation. That's the first reason to hire a lawyer to represent you. 

Serious injuries often lead to extensive medical bills, long-term disability, loss of income, and emotional trauma, among other damages, all of which are compensable under Boston's traffic laws. In such a case, a drunk driving accident lawyer can assist you in evaluating the true extent of your damages, and then fight for appropriate compensation.

The loss of a loved one in such an accident is yet another reason to hire an attorney to help you file a wrongful death claim with the liable party. If you win the case, you may receive compensation for medical expenses your loved one incurred before succumbing to their injuries suffered during the accident, including funeral expenses, lost earnings, and emotional distress.

Hiring an auto accident attorney specializing in drunk driving cases is also critical if the insurance company engages in bad faith practices. Examples of bad faith practices include the following:

• unreasonably delaying the claims process;
• offering an unfairly low settlement for the damages incurred;
• denying a valid claim without proper investigation or reason;
• pressuring you to accept a quick settlement to close the case; and
• intentionally delaying payment for the claim. 

With a lawyer on your side, you will not have to worry about trying to learn complex legal processes and that's because they are usually familiar with the laws and regulations specific to drunk driving accidents in Boston. Instead, you can sit back and let legal experts do what they do best for the injured as you shift your attention to recovering from your injuries. 

Risks of Not Hiring a Lawyer to Represent You

So, why not represent yourself in such a case and bypass the need for an attorney? To understand the importance of working with an attorney in such cases, let's explore the risks involved in self-representation. 

No insurance company in Boston or anywhere in the Commonwealth will take your claim seriously if you don't have a lawyer, especially if you suffered serious injuries. This is because not hiring a lawyer is just one of the biggest signs that a plaintiff does not truly understand or appreciate the resources available to them when dealing with such a case. 

So don't be surprised when you begin to experience delays in processing your claim for all sorts of reasons, all of which won't make any sense. Basically, insurance carriers will not have any reason to worry because there's no one to put them in check. 

You'll have a rough time determining the true value of your case without legal expertise. As a result, you may end up undervaluing your claim and miss out on the full compensation you deserve. The saddest part is once you accept a settlement offer and sign a release, you generally cannot reopen the case or seek additional compensation. In other words, you may end up paying thousands of dollars out of pocket for your treatment, which, in the long run, could see you sink deep into debt. 

Massachusetts has complex traffic accident laws; a no-fault system is just the top layer of everything you need to learn before you even file a claim, let alone a lawsuit against the other party. Without legal guidance, you may not fully understand your rights, obligations, and the legal processes involved.

You'll also need to be aware of all deadlines involved in your case, and not just the state's statute of limitations. Some of these deadlines also vary from case to case, such as when the victim is a minor. Deep down, the insurance company will hope that you miss these key deadlines, giving them yet another reason to challenge your claim. 

Navigating the legal process without guidance is like walking a path full of landmines. Any mistake you make along the way could harm your case. Whether it's about inaccurate or incomplete information, mishandled evidence, or failure to meet procedural requirements, you won't learn everything you need to handle every aspect of your case overnight.

Evidence Required in a Boston Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit

The kind of evidence you table against the other party in such a case will decide whether you'll win or give them yet another reason to fight back. But make no mistake; there's no standard evidence in these cases. The specifics of your case will decide what kind of evidence would work best for you. 

Among other kinds of evidence, you may need surveillance footage from establishments that served the driver alcohol. This footage might reveal the following:

• certain details about the driver's behavior;
• any signs of intoxication;
• the number of drinks consumed;
• and, most importantly, liability on the part of the establishment.

Photos and videos of the accident scene will also provide visual evidence of the aftermath of the accident. Your attorney will use this information to assess the extent of bodily and property damage, road conditions, and the direction in which the vehicles were traveling, including their speed, to demonstrate the negligence or recklessness of the other party. 

Accident reports are considered public records in Boston and throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Your lawyer can access and analyze these reports to retrieve critical information about the driver's impairment, including the results of sobriety tests conducted at the scene, any citations or charges issued, and more. 

The same strategy applies to medical records filed by the car accident doctor who treated your injuries. These records may contain doctor's notes, diagnostic test results, and details of ongoing medical care, all of which will come into to play when negotiating a settlement. 

Finally, to strengthen the case, your attorney may interview eyewitnesses or obtain testimonies from professionals such as accident reconstruction experts.

Damages a Lawyer Can Help You Recover

Economic damages are usually the most common types of recoverable damages in such cases. In Massachusetts, you can recover economic damages from your own insurance company regardless of fault.

If your injuries meet the tort threshold we discussed earlier, you may be eligible to pursue a claim against the at-fault party for both economic and non-economic damages. These damages can include but are not limited to:

• Pain and suffering; 
• Mental distress; 
• Loss of enjoyment of life; and 
• Permanent disfigurement 

While recovering punitive damages might also be a possibility, they are usally only relevant in accidents that result in death. 

How to Improve Your Chances of Winning a Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit In Boston

Hiring a lawyer is a great step but does not guarantee automatic compensation for your injuries and damages. You can improve your chances of winning your drunk driving accident case by: 

• Seeking immediate medical attention even if you feel fine initially. Since some injuries, such as internal bleeding, may not be immediately apparent, prompt medical evaluation can help ensure you're safe as far as your health is concerned. 
• Avoiding any statements that could be interpreted as an admission of fault, even if you feel inclined to apologize or take responsibility for the accident. The other party could use these statements against you later in the legal proceedings to jeopardize your claim.
• Gathering as much evidence as possible, such as those we've discussed above. 
• Following your doctor's instructions and letting them know (including your attorney) if you intend to miss any appointments. The last thing you want when seeking financial compensation for your economic damages is an unexplained gap in your treatment plan. 
• Limiting discussions about the case to your lawyer, closest family members (such as a spouse), and healthcare providers. Any statement you make publicly or online can potentially be used against you, undermining your case as a result.