Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
We all recognize that alcohol is a dangerous drug which causes unsafe driving on the roads. There many educational programs in place to prevent drunk driving and strict rules to prevent anyone with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 from driving on our streets. There are roadside checks and harsh penalties to catch anyone who drinks and drives.
Most of us are aware of the dangers of DUI. We know alcohol can slow response times, cause bad judgement, and even cause us to fall asleep at the wheel. However, driving under the influence of drugs can be just as deadly – or even more so.
While there are a breathalyzer, urine, and blood-alcohol tests to help us enforce drunk driving laws, drugged driving is more complex. There are a wide numbers of drugs which can affect mobility, response times, and judgment. However, not all of these drugs have reliable tests that would allow law enforcement to help enforce the laws.
Make no mistake: drugged driving is illegal in Hollywood and Florida. If you are caught driving under the influence of drugs, you will be charged. If you have illegal drugs in your system, you may face drug charges in addition to dangerous and DWI charges.
What Drugs Cause Car Accidents?
Some of the drugs which can impact safety on the roads include:
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Oxycodone (Brand name: OxyContin)
- Diazepam (Brand name: Valium)
- Crystal meth
- Prescription drugs
- Codeine drugs
- Painkillers
- Alprazolam (Brand name: Xanax)
- Hydrocodone (Brand name: Vicodin)
- Sleeping pills
- Antidepressants and mood-altering drugs
Many prescription, over-the-counter, and illegal drugs can lead to serious accidents in Hollywood, Miami, and Homestead. Even simple medication – such as over-the-counter medication used for allergies and colds – can cause drowsiness and can result in a serious car collision.
What to do if you’ve been injured by a drunk driver or drugged driver
If you’re in a car accident in Hollywood, Miami, Homestead, or any South Florida community and you notice the other driver is acting strange or appears to be affected by drugs, contact police right away. Police can gather evidence of drugged driving and can take the driver off the streets before they injure anyone else.
If you have been injured by a driver driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you may be able to file a civil suit. The driver may face criminal charges, but regardless of the outcome of their criminal case, you may be able to pursue compensation from the other driver’s insurance company to pay for lost wages, medical bills, and the other expenses you will face.
You shouldn’t have to suffer because someone else made a poor decision to use drugs and then to get behind the wheel of a car. If you have been injured and believe drugs played a role, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation. Contact us as soon as possible and we can work with our network of investigators, medical consultants, and other experts to get answers. In a free accident consultation, we can answer questions you may have and offer a free case analysis.