Maine’s natural beauty makes it a wonderful place to drive, and it can be easy to let your guard down while enjoying the scenery.
This is a mistake; other people, especially ones who either don’t know or choose to flout Maine’s driving laws, can be negligent, and it’s up to you to pay attention and respond accordingly.
If you do end up in an accident with someone who broke Maine’s driving laws, you may be frustrated and stressed out in the aftermath of it.
However, some of your fears and questions can be addressed by a personal injury attorney. Contacting one is rarely a bad idea.
But first, make yourself aware of Maine’s driving laws.
Specific Rules in Maine
Knowing and internalizing Maine’s driving laws protects you and other drivers, so commit these laws (and all the rest) to memory.
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Seat belts: The driver and passengers all must be wearing seat belts in Maine. This goes for both the front and back seats. Children can start to use conventional adult safety belts in the car after the age of seven or once they’re taller than 4’9.” Before that, they have to be in some type of child safety restraint system.
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Drunk driving: Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more could get you convicted for drunk driving in Maine. Additionally, drivers under 21 aren’t allowed to have any measurable amount of alcohol in their systems while operating a vehicle. Ignition interlock devices (IIDs) aren’t considered mandatory for first offenses, but they are highly encouraged in all DUI convictions.
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Open container laws: Like many states, Maine has laws prohibiting open containers of alcohol in the passenger area of the car. The driver and the passengers in the entire passenger area of the car are prohibited from possessing open containers of alcohol.
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Distracted driving: Broadly speaking, distracted driving is any activity that removes the driver’s attention from the task of driving. Texting while driving is a common example of distracted driving. Like many states, Maine has banned texting while driving.
Drunk Driving and Your Maine Auto Accident
In the moments after a driver with a blood alcohol concentration over 0.08 hits you, the most important thing to remember is to stay calm and address your injuries.
But after you are stabilized, consider calling a personal injury attorney.
Under Maine’s law, the driver that hit you was breaking one of the state’s driving rules. Maine uses an at-fault system, which means that the driver who was liable has to pay for damages that resulted from the accident.
This is part of the reason why you should contact a personal injury lawyer in this scenario-- not only will your lawyer give you general advice about what to do, but she can also help you file a claim against the liable driver.
If the lawyer can successfully argue that the liable driver is at fault for the accident, you may be entitled to damages.
Hiring a Personal injury Lawyer
Maine has many qualified personal injury lawyers that could help you with your personal injury claim. Contacting one won’t cost you anything; in fact, personal injury lawyers often don’t get paid unless you win your claim because they work on a contingency fee basis.
This means that you can hire support without fear and financial anxiety. You have an enormous amount to gain from a successful claim, so don’t wait.
