Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Hosting social gatherings nowadays may look a bit different than they did before COVID-19 began. Some things, however, remain the same at these events, even with social distancing requirements. Alcohol being present at a gathering, for example, is still common. However, hosts may have a greater responsibility than they expect or are aware of when serving adult refreshments at a party. Following a social gathering, if a host’s guest leaves the event intoxicated and gets into an accident, it may give rise to liability on the part of the host.

In a recent state opinion, a deceased accident victim’s parents filed a wrongful death action on behalf of their son who, after leaving a social gathering, got into a fatal car accident. On the night in question, an underage friend of the deceased allowed him and a couple of other friends to consume alcoholic beverages in his home. The victim and another friend were intoxicated when they left the gathering, and on the way home, the deceased’s friend lost control of his vehicle and crashed. The plaintiff died on the scene. His friend’s blood alcohol concentration was twice the legally permitted amount.

The victim’s parents filed a complaint against their son’s friend who was operating the car, who, in turn, filed a third-party complaint against the host of the social gathering. The trial court ruled in favor of the host, holding that he did not have a duty to supervise his friends.

Drunk driving kills thousands of people every year and leads to a substantial number of corresponding arrests and charges. Even in states like New Hampshire that have strict drunk-driving laws designed to prevent the frequency of such incidents, drunk driving accidents still remain common across the state. In fact, New Hampshire drunk driving accidents have ranked among the leading causes of fatal car accidents for years.

In a recent news article, New Hampshire state police arrested ten drivers during a drunk driving saturation patrol. During the DWI Saturation Patrol, 92 vehicles were stopped, and ten arrests were made. Four people were arrested on driving under the influence (DUI) charges, and one of them was a felon in possession of a stolen handgun, receiving stolen property, and conduct after the accident. Another who was arrested on an aggravated DUI and speeding charges also incurred an open container violation. Various other individuals were arrested on different charges in addition to DUI and DWI charges, ranging from theft to operating the vehicle without a valid license to breach of bail.

According to recent reports, the New Hampshire State Police have taken on a more aggressive role to prevent drunk driving throughout the state. Although New Hampshire has some of the most strictly enforced laws in the country to counteract and prevent drunk driving, the practice remains common across the state.

New Hampshire car accident victims have a variety of legal remedies to recover damages for the losses they suffered because of another motorist’s negligence. However, the law imposes strict deadlines and other requirements for injury victims pursuing these claims. Victims who fail to abide by these requirements may risk the dismissal of their case or an inadequate compensation award. New Hampshire car accident victims should contact an experienced attorney to assist them through this challenging process.

After an accident, New Hampshire drivers must report the crash in writing to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 15 days. This applies in situations where any party suffered injuries or died in the accident, or if anyone suffered property damage over $1,000.

After receiving medical treatment, injury victims should promptly contact an attorney to discuss their rights and remedies. Quick action is critical to ensuring that a potential lawsuit complies with the state’s statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is the amount of time New Hampshire law allows victims to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party. The statute of limitations does not apply to insurance claims, as insurance companies provide their own specific reporting requirements. In most cases, insurance claims should be made as soon as possible, and usually no more than a few weeks after an accident. New Hampshire law generally provides that personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the incident giving rise to the claim. However, there are certain exceptions to the statute of limitations. These exceptions only apply under a limited set of circumstances.

Every time a driver gets behind the wheel, there is a small chance that something will go terribly wrong. However, the risk of an accident occurring is often higher when certain external factors are at play. For example, dangerous road conditions, inclement weather, and other reckless or distracted drivers can all add to the daily dangers that drivers face.

In a recent news report, a local Manchester man is facing multiple charges following a major car accident. The man who caused the accident suffered from schizophrenia and allegedly threatened to kill his parents before stealing their SUV and crashing it. Local authorities on the scene reported that the stolen SUV exceeded 100 miles per hour several times before crashing into the rear of a Subaru Outback.

The collision sent the Subaru off the highway, rolling multiple times and injuring the driver and passengers. In the Subaru, all three individuals who were in the vehicle were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. The family’s dog was also transported to a local vet with life-threatening injuries.

After a recent spike in New Hampshire traffic accidents, the state saw a welcome reprieve in 2019 when the rate of traffic accidents declined. Although the reduction in fatalities is certainly a positive, the state continues to experience a steady number of serious accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that most motor vehicle accidents occur on weekends at the end of the summer. Further, many New Hampshire car accidents occur on a popular tourism route from Lake Winnipesaukee to Mount Washington. Although it is not always possible to avoid accidents, New Hampshire motorists should take steps to avoid traveling on these densely-populated routes during high traffic periods. However, accidents are inevitable, and motorists who suffer injuries because of another’s negligence should contact a New Hampshire accident attorney to discuss their rights.

Accidents can occur for many reasons, including inexperienced drivers, motorists under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, distraction, and drivers who are unfamiliar with particular roadways. Although no specific data exists regarding the number of tourists involved in New Hampshire accidents, anecdotal evidence suggests that many residents have been victims of motor vehicle accidents involving out-of-state drivers.

There are many reasons that tourists may cause an accident during the summer in New Hampshire. As odd as it may sound, many believe a leading reason to be tourists are often distracted by the scenery. Additionally, tourists are often unfamiliar with the roads and highways in New Hampshire, and are more easily caught off-guard by sudden curves, merging roadways and unmarked entrances. Of course, the common culprits of distracted and drowsy driving also play a role in these accidents, as tourists are in the car for long hours at a time. Although the state welcomes tourists, New Hampshire locals should be especially careful during the tourist season to avoid the potentially disastrous consequences of a car accident.

Sometimes when an accident occurs, it’s because of unpredictable circumstances beyond our control. However, sometimes tragedies occur because of the negligence of parties who have a responsibility to make public areas safe for passing pedestrians. These individuals may be held accountable for their actions through a New Hampshire personal injury lawsuit. In order to explain a complex accident situation to a jury, an expert witness is often needed during a trial. Unfortunately, plaintiff’s are frequently prevented from presenting compelling expert witness testimony.

In a recent First Circuit appellate opinion, a plaintiff was struck by a car while working in a construction zone. While attempting to cross the street after grabbing dinner, the plaintiff was standing on the roadway’s divider when traffic suddenly rushed towards him from both directions. The change in traffic trapped the plaintiff on the divider, where he was subsequently struck head-on by a westbound SUV. As a result of the accident, the plaintiff has become quadriplegic and will require extensive medical care for the rest of his life.

Following his accident, the plaintiff filed a negligent-design lawsuit against several entities responsible for the construction project that laid the backdrop for his injuries. He also retained a single expert to testify on the standard of care that these entities owed to pedestrians in construction affected areas. Through this expert’s testimony, the plaintiff hoped that he would be able to successfully establish his claim that the defendants’ negligence caused the accident to occur. The evidence that was going to be provided through the expert’s testimony was crucial to the plaintiff’s claim.