Mount Pleasant Illegal Drug Use Accident Lawyer

A Mount Pleasant accident caused by illegal drug use lawyer may be able to help you seek compensation for your injuries and other losses after a collision.

It is unlawful to drive under the influence of a substance or a drug that impairs your ability to drive. Drugged driving can affect your reflexes, judgment, and cognition making it hard to prevent an accident with a pedestrian, another car, or a stationary object. Unfortunately, truck accidents can occur as a result of illegal drug use and abuse. This in turn leads to considerable losses in terms of bodily injury and harm, loss of wages, property damage, and even death.  

Driving under the influence of illegal drugs is greater among truck drivers according to a study published in the National Institutes of Health. The drivers want to reach their destination faster so they can pick up another load and meet their rigorous schedules. They may resort to using drugs illegally to keep themselves alert while driving for long hours on end. 

If you were injured in an accident caused by a trucker under the influence of drugs, you have the legal right to pursue damages that you are entitled to by the law. Contact George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers for a free case review and learn how a Mount Pleasant accident caused by illegal drug use attorney can help. 

Understanding Illegal Drug Use and Truck Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), impaired driver cannot accurately assess their own impairment, which is why no one should drive after taking impairing substances. Many of the substances that cause impairment in drivers are not illegal drugs. For instance, over-the-counter drugs may seem innocuous, but some may have adverse side effects that may impair the driver’s ability to drive safely. 

Other substances like marijuana have been decriminalized in some parts of the country but using it while driving or before getting behind the wheel negatively impacts the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle safely. Even worse, some drivers consume alcohol and other drugs oblivious to the amplified effects and unwanted consequences. Whether illegal or legal, using the impairing drugs before or while driving is illegal and actionable per se.  

Some of the commonly abused recreational drugs that impair a driver’s ability include:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Methadone
• Morphine or heroin
• Methamphetamine and amphetamine
• Ecstasy (MDMA)
• PCP

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 16% of motor vehicle accidents involve illegal and legal drug use. Illegal use of the drugs may impair the driver’s ability in various ways including:

• Drowsiness: Drowsing while driving may reduce the driver’s reaction times and even cause the driver to sleep behind the wheel. This can then cause a devastating accident.
• Anxiety: Some substances may cause anxiety leading the driver to make decisions viscerally rather than based on the road situation. 
• Slowed reaction times: Some substances and drugs may impair the cognitive ability of the driver making it difficult for him/ her to make appropriate decisions.
• Dizziness: A dizzy driver may not be able to maneuver roads safely. 

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

We Help You Establish If the Trucker Was on Drugs

If a trucker is found to have been under the influence of drugs, that may mean the end of his/her career. It then explains why a driver who used drugs prior to an accident in which you were involved will not own up and admit it flat-out. 

But even so, it is unfair to simply assume that the driver was high. For that reason, a Mount Pleasant accident caused by illegal drug use lawyer can help prove that that the driver was under the influence of drugs through the following.

Drug Test

After an accident, the South Carolina law requires drivers involved in the accident to undergo a blood draw to test the presence of drugs and alcohol. Even though the results may take considerable time, they play an invaluable role in the development of compelling evidence in a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

Medical Records

Medical records can help determine their conditions and whether or not they had taken some prescription medications that may have impaired their driving capacity. 

Testimony

While the at-fault driver may refuse to give information, those around him/her could provide some key information that helps establish that the driver was under the influence of drugs at the time the accident occurred. 

You Have the Right to Recover Damages If Injured By a Truck Driver Under the Influence of Drugs

Drug-impaired drivers and their insurance companies may be held accountable for the accident and the arising losses. This may be the case even if you were a passenger in a vehicle driven by someone who was under the influence of impairing drugs. 

A personal injury lawyer can help you fight for the full and fair compensation you are seeking, including: 

• Payment of current and future medical and rehabilitation costs
• Replacement of lost wages and compensation for future loss of earning capacity due to your injuries
• Compensation for the pain and suffering endured as a result of the accident
• Recovery for disabilities and disfigurement
• Repair or replacement of the damaged vehicle
• Punitive damages in case of exceptional negligence

Cases vary and it may be impossible to estimate the value of your claim by yourself. Fortunately, our legal team can calculate the extent of the recoverable damages and then fight for your fair compensation. Contact a member of our team today for a free case review.

A Mount Pleasant Accident Caused By Illegal Drug Use Lawyer Is Ready to Help You

A driver who causes an accident driving under the influence of drugs may be found negligent and liable for the damages that result from the accident. We work hard to determine if the illegal use of drugs was a contributing factor in an accident and establish the liability of the driver responsible for the accident. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident caused by a driver who was under the influence of drugs, we are ready to help you pursue reasonable compensation. We will not charge for the services unless you recover the damages. Contact George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today for a free case evaluation.