Mount Pleasant Prescription Drug Use Accident Lawyer

Our Mount Pleasant accident caused by prescription drug use attorneys from George Sink, P.A.

For many people, prescription medications are necessary for their health. Some take prescription medications to deal with medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. Others take prescription medications to manage pain or unpleasant symptoms. 

Even though these medicines may be helpful, certain medications may have side effects that affect a person’s ability to drive. If the driver behind the wheel is impaired by prescription medications, they might cause an accident, which can injure or even kill people. 

If you were injured in an accident caused by a driver impaired by prescription drugs, you might be entitled to collect compensation. A Mount Pleasant accident caused by prescription drug use attorney from George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers may help you file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Driving Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs Can Be Dangerous

If you have taken prescription medications before, you might know that they can cause a wide range of side effects. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some common prescription drug side effects include:

• Dizziness: Anyone who gets dizzy behind the wheel may not be able to maneuver roads and traffic safely. Dizziness impairs the driver’s perception and judgment, which poses accident risk. 
• Drowsiness: Driving while drowsy significantly reduces the driver’s reaction time. Even worse, some drivers may fall asleep behind the wheel. A driver who falls asleep can cause the car to drift out of its lane and can cause a serious accident. 
• Slowed reaction times: Some medications may slow down the driver’s reaction time to road situations. Slow reactions have high risks of causing an accident, as the driver cannot respond fast enough to immediate dangers on the road.
• Nausea: Feeling nauseated while driving is a potent distraction that can make it difficult for the driver to concentrate on the road. This compromises the safety of the driver behind the wheel and the safety of all other road users.
• Blurred vision: Some prescription medications may cause blurred vision. A driver with blurred vision might not see traffic signs and might even miss seeing a pedestrian crossing the road. They might also not notice another vehicle is near them.

Drugged driving has become an epidemic on South Carolina roadways. And even prescription medications contribute to accidents and fatalities. But prescription drugs don’t always affect everyone the same way. A medication that causes serious side effects to one person may cause no discernible side effects to another. 

Other substances, such as alcohol or herbal supplements, taken alongside a prescription drug may aggravate certain side effects. 

Mount Pleasant Prescription Drug Use Accidents Lawyer Near Me(888) 612-7001

A Trucker May Face Criminal Sanctions for Being Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs

Getting prescribed medications from a doctor or a reputable pharmacy does not warrant a driver to drive under the influence of those medications. In fact, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, a driver may face criminal sanctions for driving under the influence of prescription drugs if they cause impairment. 

Regardless of whether the drug is legal, if it causes impairment, a driver may be held accountable for causing an accident under the influence of the drugs. The driver may, therefore, face potential criminal and civil liability.  

An accident caused by prescription drug use lawyer in Mount Pleasant may be able to help you file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to seek compensation for your losses. For criminal charges, the local police or South Carolina’s state attorney may pursue a criminal case against the driver. 

Truckers Owe Other Motorists a Duty of Care

All motorists owe a duty of care to other drivers and passengers. They are obligated to exercise a reasonable amount of care to avoid accidents. A driver who gets behind the wheel under the influence of a prescription drug may be found negligent because they breached their duty of care.

However, even if a driver had prescription drugs in their system at the time of the accident, that might not necessarily mean they will be held liable for an accident for prescription drug use. 

If the driver did not suffer negative side effects that may have affected their ability to drive safely, prescription drugs may be ruled out as a causal factor of the accident. The accident may have been caused by other unrelated causes, such as brake failure. 

Comparative Negligence

Based on South Carolina’s doctrine of comparative negligence, if your actions may have contributed to the crash, you may be held partially liable for the collision. For instance,if you are found partially at fault for an accident, any compensation you are owed may be reduced by your percentage of fault. 

A Mount Pleasant prescription drug use accident lawyer may fight against any allegations that you were partially at fault. 

We Can Help You Seek Compensation for Your Damages

As with most personal injury cases, you may be able to seek compensation for physical, emotional, and financial damages resulting from the accident. A personal injury lawyer may help you recover damages for:

• Property damage
• Medical expenses, both current and future
• Reduced earning capacity
• Disfigurement, such as permanent scarring or loss of a limb
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

Work With a Mount Pleasant Accident Caused by Prescription Drug Use Lawyer

Pursuing a personal injury claim on your own can be difficult, especially when you should be focusing on your recovery. Our legal team can take on these tasks for you. We can negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf and represent you in court if necessary. 

Our Mount Pleasant accident caused by prescription drug use lawyers also works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we only charge our attorney’s fees when we win your case. Let us handle your case. Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers or fill out our online contact form to get started.