We often hear about the dangers of drunk driving, but drugged driving does not receive an equal amount of attention despite the growing prevalence of the problem. The increasingly common recreational usage of illicit and prescription drugs and the growing addiction problem in Austin and throughout the United States means drugged driving rates have climbed alarmingly in the past decade.
Drugged driving presents similar dangers to others on the road as drunk driving but may be more difficult to manage due to the many different types of illicit drugs and the lack of a single, measurable standard like the Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measure used to determine drunk driving.
At Shaw Cowart, skilled car accident lawyers in Austin stand ready to help those injured in crashes involving negligent drivers and large corporations like Amazon. Their legal team builds strong cases by collecting evidence, handling insurance negotiations, and aggressively pursuing fair compensation for their clients.
What Are the Effects of Drugs on Driving Ability?
According to CDC recommendations, more research is required to clearly identify the impacts of different drugs on driving ability since the science of drugged driving lags behind the decades of studies on drunk driving. However, the known effects of some popular recreational drugs are as follows:
- Marijuana impairs coordination, slows decision-making, distorts perception, and decreases reaction time
- Cocaine and illicit amphetamines impair memory, reduce attention, distort perception, and cause problems resulting from sleep deprivation
- Opioids impair perception, increase drowsiness, slow reaction time, decrease attentiveness, and reduce the ability to divide attention between several tasks, as required when operating a vehicle safely
- Over-the-counter medications for cough, cold, allergy, and flu cause drowsiness, dizziness, and slowed reaction time
The use of multiple substances is common in those with addiction problems. Using multiple substances compounds the above problems and increases overall driving impairment.
Driving under the influence of any intoxicating or mind-altering substance is illegal as well as dangerous. An impaired driver is liable for damages to others when they cause a car accident in Austin.
What Types of Accidents Result From Drugged Driving In Austin?
A driver commits an egregious act of negligence when they get behind the wheel while under the influence of illicit or recreational drugs. Common accidents caused by drugged driving in Austin and elsewhere include the following:
- Head-on collisions due to drifting out of the proper lane on two-lane roadways
- Sideswipes from lane departure on multi-lane, divided highways
- T-bone accidents from missing stop signs or driving through red lights
- Rear-end collisions from failing to stop in time to avoid colliding with a slowing or stopped vehicle directly in front
- Collisions with obstacles
- Roadway departures
- Rollover accidents
- Multi-car pileups
- Pedestrian accidents
When an impaired driver causes an accident and injures other motorists, they are responsible for the economic losses and pain and suffering they’ve caused. They also face criminal charges under Texas law.
Recovering Damages After a Drugged Driving Accident in Austin
All accidents are frightening and cause lasting distress, especially when they leave motorists with injuries. When an injury victim learns that the driver responsible for the accident was impaired, it’s even more disturbing.
Common damages recovered in Austin drugged driving accidents include past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, compensation for pain and suffering, and additional compensation for catastrophic injuries such as loss of limb, disfigurement, or the loss of one of the senses. If a drugged driver causes a fatality in a car accident, a close family member may file a wrongful death claim against the responsible driver.
In some cases, punitive damages may also be available for egregious actions such as impaired driving.
How Can the Austin Drugged Driving Lawyers at Shaw Cowart Help?
You shouldn’t have to take on a challenging endeavor like a compensation claim against an impaired driver while also dealing with post-accident trauma. Instead, call the best Austin injury attorneys at Shaw Cowart LLP for experienced representation throughout the process of recovering full and fair compensation.