If you are injured, our car accident attorneys will fight for full compensation
Regardless of your general feelings towards drug use, we can all agree that drugs and driving should not be mixed. People who choose to drive have a responsibility to remain alert, alert, and attentive at all times, and people who are unable to do so may choose not to drive. Unfortunately, some drivers don’t take this responsibility seriously and often someone else pays for it. An accident caused by a drunk driver can change your life, and under Texas law, you may be entitled to compensation.
We are proud to represent accident victims and fight for accountability for dangerous drivers. If you were injured in a car accident caused by a driver under the influence of drugs, a Smith & Hassler attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf before your insurance company. Schedule a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney today.
Many substances, legal and illegal, can make driving difficult
Driving is a complex task that requires physical reflexes, mental awareness, and emotional stability. Some drugs affect a driver’s ability to understand and respond to changing road conditions, while others affect judgment and make defensive driving more difficult.
Marijuana: Although many people believe that marijuana is essentially harmless to people over the age of 21, this is not the case if a person under the influence of marijuana is behind the wheel. THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, has been shown to impair motor skills, decrease cognitive function, and make it difficult to multitask. Drivers under the influence of marijuana may experience impaired judgment and slower reaction times, which can lead to serious accidents.
Cocaine: Cocaine and other stimulants such as methamphetamine produce feelings of euphoria and a surge of energy, which can make people under the influence think they can drive. However, these drugs can also make drivers more aggressive and reckless, which can lead to unsafe behavior such as weaving through traffic, ignoring signs and signals, speeding, and driving out of the lane or into the opposite lane. Conversely, people experiencing withdrawal symptoms may feel very tired and are more likely to fall asleep while driving.
Medications: Both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can cause side effects that impair your ability to drive, most commonly drowsiness and dizziness. There’s a reason why many medications come with a warning not to “operate heavy machinery” – remember, cars are heavy machines.
Also, remember that the harmful effects of any drug (legal or illegal) can be increased when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.
Key takeaway: If you feel different, you drive differently. No one should get behind the wheel after consuming dangerous substances, and those who do so endanger themselves and others on the road.
Proving that a driver was under the influence of drugs can be a difficult task
Under Texas law, victims of drunk driving have the right to seek damages (financial compensation) through the civil justice system, just like victims of other types of car accidents. However, to hold a driver responsible, you have to prove that their carelessness caused the accident, and that can be difficult. The police report may show that the driver who injured you failed a drug test, but compared to drinking and driving, depending on the substances involved, it may be more difficult to prove that the driver was under the influence of drugs. Unlike alcohol, marijuana, for example, remains in the system for some time after its effects wear off, so a failed drug test does not prove that the driver was impaired at the time of the accident.
Fortunately, we don’t need to prove that the driver who injured you was under the influence of drugs – we just need to prove that he acted recklessly and the accident occurred because of his carelessness. A civil lawsuit for your damages is different from any criminal lawsuit the state of Texas might file in response to the same incident, and because the standard of proof in civil court is lower, you may be able to recover compensation even if the drunk driver is acquitted. or criminal charges are dropped.
Remember that police play an important role in investigating accidents and holding drivers accountable