You can file a California personal injury claim after suffering a brain injury in a motor vehicle accident. The relationship between prescription drugs, driving, and traumatic brain injuries leads to serious consequences. Accidents have been known to be a leading cause of traumatic brain injury.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 56% of drivers involved in crashes that caused serious injury or death were taking at least one drug. Several accidents are reported each day due to the use of prescription drugs.
There could be two circumstances that involve driving, traumatic brain injuries, and drugs. A person who suffered a traumatic brain injury and is taking prescription drugs puts the lives of others in danger when they get behind the wheel. Or a person suffers a traumatic brain injury because of an accident caused by someone else who was driving under the influence of drugs.
If you or your loved ones have sustained a traumatic brain injury because another driver was using drugs, speak to our experienced attorney to know about your legal rights.
Types of Prescription Drugs Found in Drivers After Car Accidents:
Proceeding with a California personal injury claim requires you to completely understand the influence of prescription drugs. The driver taking prescription drugs may have a variety of substances in their body due to drugs when they are involved in a car accident. Moreover, alcohol increases the intensity of symptoms of many prescription drugs. You will see warnings about the use of alcohol with the medicine you are taking. Just a glass of wine with prescription drugs can lead to disaster behind the wheel.
Common types of prescription drugs found in impaired drivers include:
- Opioids include pain relievers such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, codeine, and more
- Benzodiazepines includes sleeping pills like Sonata, Lunesta, and Ambien
- Antidepressants include Prozac, doxepin, Zoloft, amoxapine, Paxil
- ADHD includes stimulants like Adderall, Strattera, and Ritalin
- Legal marijuana also impairs driving
Drugged Driving & Its Relation to a California Personal Injury:
It is a common criminal offense to drive under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. Many people do not know that driving under the influence of prescription drugs holds the same penalties. If a person is under the influence of any chemicals listed in the statute, they will be subject to jail time and fines.
If you have a legal prescription, you can still operate the vehicle illegally as you will be taking prescription drugs that can impair your normal functions. This includes difficulty in hearing, walking, vision, and distance judging. If an impaired person causes a fatality or an accident while driving, they will be responsible for the damages. They will be responsible for paying compensation to the victim.
Traumatic Brain Injury & Driving:
People who sustain mild to severe traumatic brain injury often want to drive again as soon as possible. Doctors don’t have standardized guidelines for the approval of patients to return to driving. These patients are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Doctors may not be able to make the right decision every time.
Traumatic brain injuries not only result in physical symptoms but include emotional and cognitive symptoms. These symptoms interact with a person’s ability to drive. Around 70% of traumatic brain injury patients return to the road; these people are more likely to have seizures.
A patient with traumatic brain injury behind the wheels is already a danger before adding prescription drugs. The doctor will also be liable for the damages if a traumatic brain injury patient is permitted to drive too early. They can also be held liable if the doctor prescribes drugs without informing them about their impact on driving and the patient gets in an accident.
Speak to our Experienced Attorney:
If you experience a situation that involves prescription drugs, traumatic brain injury, and driving, you will be needing an experienced California personal injury attorney. Our professional attorneys have experience with traumatic brain injury cases, medical malpractice cases, and accident cases.
If you suffered an accident due to someone else’s negligence or if you were under the influence of prescription drugs because of traumatic brain injury, speak to our attorney. Our experienced attorney will navigate through different areas of personal injury law to ensure the best possible outcome for your case. We aim to strengthen your case and protect your rights while you recover from injuries.
