Most people are well aware of the fact that opioids or other drugs can be dangerous. However, many people do not know that it can be dangerous to use opioids or other drugs and get behind the wheel of a car. In fact, the number of car accidents caused by painkillers has tripled within the past 25 years. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident with someone impaired by opioids or another type of drug it is imperative that you contact a car accident attorney immediately so that you can properly maximize your claim.
The Research Doesn’t Lie
Guohua Li is the director of the Center for Injury Epidemiology and Prevention. She works at the Columbia Medical Center. She has studied the effects that Opioids have on driving. She stated that pain killers can impair cognitive function and motor skills. Additionally, Opioids can cause nausea and drowsiness.
Li said that driving while using Opioids is equivalent to driving with a BAC of 0.05. The legal intoxication limit is 0.08. Studies have also shown that people who drive while under the influence of Opioids are twice as likely to be involved in an accident. There were also 18,000 fatal car accidents from 1993 to 2016 caused by Opioids.
What Law Enforcement Offices Are Doing?
It is a lot harder to use field sobriety tests to check for Opioid use. However, there are some things that law enforcement is doing in order to crack down on Opioid use. For example, there are many places that are training people to recognize drug problems. Law enforcement is all able to use a breathalyzer to eliminate drunk driving as a possible cause of an accident if they suspect the driver is acting impaired. A field sobriety test along with a failed breathalyzer result could support an officers suspicion that a driver is impaired by Opioids or other drugs.
What Physicians Are Doing?
Physicians have to be mindful of the effects that these drugs have on driving. They also have to be careful about prescribing these drugs to people. Furthermore, the patients themselves have to realize that these drugs can be dangerous. People are advised not to drive any time that they are using an impairing substance.
Stories That Have Made The Headlines
There was a 29-year-old man in Elwood Park, Illinois who was charged with a DUI after he hit another car head-on. The accident occurred because he drove in the wrong lane. The people who were in the other vehicle were seriously injured. Blood tests showed that the man had a benzodiazepine in his system. Benzodiazepines are medications that are designed to treat insomnia and anxiety.
There was an article published in a 2017 edition of “Workforce.” The article stated that employees should implement a prescription drug use policy in order to protect themselves from lawsuits. It also stated that employees should be randomly tested for both illegal and prescription drugs. Furthermore, the article stated that the prescription drug policy should be disclosed in the employee handbook.
This case was eventually taken to court.
What to do If You Are Involved In An Accident With A Drug Driver
People who drive while under the influence of prescription drugs can get in trouble with the law. If they happen to hurt someone, then they can be held liable for the damages that they can cause. You will need to speak with a car accident attorney if you are interested in suing someone who has hurt you in an accident.
A lawyer will investigate your claim and determine whether the other driver can be held liable for the accident. Your attorney will work with the insurance company to make sure that you are compensated. If you have to go to court, then your attorney will be able to represent you in court.
You can contact us if you are in need of a car accident attorney. You will be able to call us at one of the following numbers.
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You can also contact us online by using our quick contact form.
