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Brockton Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Relentless representation when driver impairment causes injuries or fatalities in Massachusetts
There’s no excuse for drunk driving. Anyone who drinks should make plans regarding how they will get home – without getting behind the steering wheel. At The Law Office of Gerald J. Noonan, we understand drunk driving. Our personal injury lawyers can work to show a driver was intoxicated and that their intoxication caused your accident or the death of a loved one. As a former criminal prosecutor, Attorney Noonan understands how to work with police and prosecutors who file DUI charges. Our Brockton drunk driving accident attorneys are ready to fight to obtain all the compensation you deserve for your financial damages and your personal suffering. We file wrongful death actions when impaired drivers cause fatal accidents.
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How we can help
- Why choose us?
- How often does drunk driving cause accidents?
- How does alcohol affect the ability to drive safely?
- What injuries do drunk drivers cause in Brockton?
- Is anyone responsible for drunk driving accidents other than the driver?
- What’s the relationship between criminal charges and my civil complaint?
- What’s the value of my drunk driving case?
- How much time do I have to file my drunk driving case?
- Do you have a lawyer near me who can handle my drunk driving injury case in Brockton, Massachusetts?
Why choose us?
Suffering injuries because of a drunk driver can be traumatic and frustrating. We take these cases very seriously. You can count on us for help and to offer you:
- Contingency fees: You don’t pay until we recover compensation. We don’t force you to risk your finances to pursue a claim.
- Community commitment: As Brockton locals, we want to hold reckless drivers accountable and help those who live in the local community.
- Experienced representation: Thanks to our decades of success, we know what it takes to pursue successful claims against drunk drivers and their insurers.
- Compassionate advocacy: We understand the emotional and financial toll of these accidents and are ready to fight for you and your family.
If you want to know more about The Law Office of Gerald J. Noonan, schedule a free consultation.
How often does drunk driving cause accidents?
In Massachusetts, more than one in three motor vehicle deaths in 2021 were due to drunk driving – more than the national rate of 31%. Over 35% of hospitalizations for car and truck accident injuries in 2021 were due to drunk driving. Drivers who required hospital care due to driver intoxication accidents in 2021 were “35% more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury than drivers who had not used alcohol or drugs.” The risk of injury from drunk driving increases further when a motorcyclist is involved.
According to the NHTSA, every day, nearly 37 people in America die in drunk-driving crashes —one death every 39 minutes. In 2022, 13,524 people died due to alcohol-impaired driving.
How does alcohol affect the ability to drive safely?
According to AAA, a nonprofit travel organization, the ratio of alcohol in a person’s body is called that person’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level. Some of the factors that affect a person’s BAC include their body weight, gender, the type of drink, the amount of drink, how much food is in the person’s stomach, and the amount of time they spend drinking.
Drivers in Massachusetts and every other US state can be charged with a DUI if their BAC is .08 or higher. The BAC level for a DUI charge in Utah is just .05. Other factors can also affect a DUI charge, but the BAC level is standard.
Using a 12-ounce beer as a general example, a person’s ability to drive and BAC level change as follows, with variations based on each individual:
- One drink. A BAC of .02-.03. The driver will be less critical, and their judgment will be affected.
- Two drinks. A BAC of .04-.05. The driver’s reaction times will slow.
- Three drinks. A BAC of .06-.07. The driver will not think clearly. Their reasoning will be unreliable.
- Four drinks. A BAC of .08-.09. The driver will have difficulty speaking, seeing, and hearing. Their balance will suffer. They will have difficulty focusing and tracking objects. Their reaction time will slow even further.
- Five drinks. A BAC of .10-.11. The driver will have difficulty steering, braking, and performing any other task using their hands or their feet.
Alcohol affects a driver’s ability to stay in their lane, anticipate emergencies, and respond to emergencies.
With enough drinks, a person can fall into a coma, a deep sleep, or die.
What injuries do drunk drivers cause in Brockton?
Most drunk driving accidents cause deaths and very serious injuries for several reasons. Drunk drivers often violate one or more traffic laws, such as speeding and driving through red lights. Other drivers may struggle to drive defensively near a drunk driver because they have no way of knowing which way that person will go.
Our Brockton car accident lawyers represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicycle riders, and families. We handle all types of injuries, including:
- Head trauma, including traumatic brain injuries
- Injuries to your spinal cord, including paralysis and disk herniation
- Traumatic amputations/loss of limb
- Simple, complex, compound, and other types of fractures/broken bones
- Nerve and tissue damage
- Ligament, tendon, and muscle damage
- Lung, kidney, and other types of organ damage
- Burn injuries
- Shoulder and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Eye injuries
- Crush injuries
- Hearing or vision loss
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
- Death
Is anyone responsible for drunk driving accidents other than the driver?
At The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan, we have the experience and advocacy skills to hold drunk drivers accountable for the injuries and deaths they cause. We also file personal injury and wrongful death claims against all other responsible parties, including:
- Other responsible drivers
- The drunk driver’s employer
- The owner of the vehicle, if the driver did not own the car they were driving
- A manufacturer of defective vehicle parts such as brakes that fail when you absolutely need them to work.
Our Brockton drunk driving lawyers also use Massachusetts dram shop law to file claims against any licensed seller of alcohol who sells alcohol to someone when that person is visibly drunk – and that person then causes an accident due to their intoxication.
What’s the relationship between criminal charges and my civil complaint?
Generally, the police can file drunk driving charges if a driver’s BAC level is .08 or higher or if their BAC level is .02 or higher if the driver is under 21. Our Brockton drunk driving lawyers can rely on information from the criminal charges to help us build your case.
In some cases, the conviction itself is enough to obtain a settlement. Generally, we use the evidence of the driver’s BAC and any other relevant evidence that the police and prosecution use in your personal injury or wrongful death case.
Normally, the criminal case proceeds before a civil case.
Please know that it is NOT necessary to obtain a conviction to succeed in your civil case. You can obtain a recovery if there is no conviction in the criminal case or if criminal charges aren’t even filed.
What’s the value of my drunk driving case?
Drunk driving accidents often cause injuries that require emergency care, hospitalizations, surgeries, and/or long-term rehabilitative care. Many victims are never the same, and some live with constant pain. Our team fights to place you in as close a position, physically and personally, as you were before the accident. We demand compensation for all your current and future:
- Medical expenses of every type, from ER care and hospital stays to rehabilitative care, medications, and assistive devices.
- Lost income, including benefits and long-term disability compensation
- Physical pain and emotional suffering for every day and every way you hurt
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of bodily function
- Inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage
We may also file punitive damages claims in drunk driving cases because the driver should have arranged for a ride, walked home, or never begun drinking unless they knew they could get home safely.
If a loved one tragically dies in a Brockton drunk driving accident, we file a wrongful death claim on the family’s behalf.
How much time do I have to file my drunk driving case?
You must file your drunk driving claim within three years from the accident date. Don’t wait. We need to speak with witnesses while their memories are fresh. Our attorneys want to help you with your injuries or honoring your loved one now.
Do you have a lawyer near me who can handle my drunk driving injury case in Brockton, Massachusetts?
Yes, we are located at 555 Pleasant Street, Brockton, MA 02301. We speak with clients by phone and through online conversations. If you cannot make it to us, we can discuss alternative arrangements.
Our attorneys understand how anxious you are. We’re ready to prepare you for each stage of your case.
Contact our Brockton drunk driving lawyers now
At The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan, we have 30 years of experience representing personal injury clients. We have an impressive record of recoveries. Our Brockton personal injury lawyers will explain your rights and fight for all the compensation you deserve. Contact us or call us to schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to help you now.