The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that certain medications can be a hazard if somebody takes them before driving. The FDA lists certain prescription drugs that should not be consumed if a person intends on driving a motor vehicle. It is the responsibility of people who take certain prescription drugs, such as antianxiety or strong pain reliever medicines, to abstain from driving after ingesting medicine.
If you or a loved one was injured because of a motorist impaired by prescription drugs, a Charleston prescription drugs accident lawyer may be able to help you seek compensation. Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation about how a lawyer can lead your case for awards.
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Give Us A Call »Driving After Taking Prescription Drugs Can Be Dangerous
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notes that prescription opioid drugs have caused a veritable health epidemic across the United States. An estimated 10.3 million Americans “misused prescription opioids” in 2018. If a person misuses prescription opioids before getting behind the wheel, they could put other drivers on the road at risk for injury or death.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists some of the general ways being impaired by drugs can affect motorists. Risks include:
- Drowsiness, which may cause drivers to veer out of the lane and possibly into oncoming traffic
- Impaired judgment
- Slower reaction times, which could reduce a driver’s ability to brake in time and avoid an oncoming collision
- Dizziness
- Lack of awareness, which also includes a lack of knowing how impaired you are
People who are prescribed medication should be aware of side effects. They should also ask their doctor if mixing their medications with alcohol or driving after ingesting their medications could be dangerous.
The Risk of Medicating and Driving
In 2016, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that nearly one-fifth (19.7 percent) of all drivers under the influence of drugs at the time of an accident had opioids in their system. NIDA also found that:
- Though drugged driving may be difficult to test for roadside, it may be revealed through other means, such as blood tests
- Drugged driving most affects teens and older individuals
- About 43% of drivers who died in a fatal car crash in 2016 had some sort of drug in their system
Driving while under the influence of prescription drugs may qualify as negligence in a civil court.
If you or a loved one was a victim of a drug-impaired motorist, a Charleston prescription drugs accident attorney may be able to help you pursue compensation. Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today for a free case evaluation.
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A Lawyer Can Help You Build Your Case While You Recover
A car accident can take a significant toll on numerous aspects of your life. The nature of your accident-related losses may be:
- Professional
- Financial
- Emotional
- Psychological
- Physical
Identifying and calculating the value of your specific losses may be one of your lawyer’s roles, and they can handle this and other tasks while you focus on recovery. If you choose to pursue compensation through a lawsuit, your prescription drugs accident lawyer in Charleston may:
- Assess the facts of your accident
- Identify potentially responsible parties
- Name those parties as defendants in your lawsuit
- File your lawsuit
- Obtain and organize evidence that the other driver was driving while intoxicated by prescription drugs
- Gather any other evidence that supports your case for compensation
- Consult experts to provide testimony in your favor
- File all legal documents necessary to advance your lawsuit
- Make in-person appearances as necessary
- Represent you in any appearances you must make to advance your lawsuit
- Defend your rights
- Negotiate a settlement or complete a trial
Possible Losses from a Prescription Drug Accident
The severity of an accident caused by an impaired driver could be greater than if the driver had been sober. An impaired driver might fail to brake, swerve, or take other actions that could mitigate the severity of the accident, resulting in potentially severe or fatal injuries for the victim. You may experience the following losses after a prescription drugs accident:
- Loss of income, due to needing to take time off work to recover from your injuries
- Permanent disability, which could affect your ability to return to work or work in general
- Reduction in your work hours or wages
- Pain and suffering
- Damage to your personal property, such as your vehicle
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional and psychological trauma
- Medical expenses, which may encompass the cost of diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating your injuries
Your lawyer can assign a value to your total losses and seek compensation equaling that value. You may be able to receive compensation beyond the value of losses if your lawsuit is successful.
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843-628-0100Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers Today to Work on Your Case
The team at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers will fight for you or your loved one if you have been injured because of a drug-impaired motorist. Aside from the impaired motorist, other parties might also be held responsible for your losses, such as the driver’s employer, a manufacturing company, or a maintenance worker. A prescription drugs accident attorney in Charleston can help you seek compensation from all appropriate individuals.
Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. Just focus on getting better and leave the rest to us.
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