Drunk Boating Crash in Maryland Injures 6, Including 3 Children | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

A Maryland state delegate has admitted to being drunk while at the wheel of a power boat that crashed into another craft on the Magothy River in Anne Arundel County, MD, on August 22, 2012. The Washington Post reported that testing done after the accident showed that Donald Dwyer Jr. had a BAC twice the legal limit of .08.

Six people, including Dwyer and three children, sustained serious injuries in the boat crash and required hospital treatment. Police have not confirmed whether they will charge Dwyer with driving under the influence of alcohol, but they may do so. Maryland’s DUI laws apply on the water just as they do on the road.

 


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The Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers’ Perspective

While leaving the hospital Dwyer told reporters, “No one, no one should be drinking and operating a motor vehicle or power boat.”

As personal injury attorneys based in Virginia (VA) who work every day with victims of drunk driving crashes and boating accidents, we could not agree more with the delegate’s after-the-fact revelation about the danger impaired drivers pose. Excessive alcohol slows your reaction time, makes you uncoordinated and blurs your vision. Often, a drunk driver or boater is physically incapable of preventing a collision even if he or she tries.

Regardless of whether Dwyer faces criminal charges, we hope other Marylanders, Virginians and everyone else who reads his statement takes the message to never drink and drive to heart.

 

Potentially Helpful Info

If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident on the water caused by another person, download this free report on boat crashes to begin learning about your legal rights and options for holding the responsible person accountable.

 

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Learn more by reading through our online library of lawyers’ answers to frequently asked questions about boating and personal watercraft accidents.

 

EJL