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A Fort Myers drunk driving accident lawyer at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. says according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “drugs other than alcohol (legal and illegal) are involved in about 16% of motor vehicle crashes.”

Sixty-six percent of all adults in the United States are taking at least one prescribed medication; however, just because a drug is legal does not mean that it is safe to drive after taking it. Over the years, prescribed and over-the-counter medications have outpaced alcohol as the top cause of vehicle accidents.

According to a Fort Myers drunk driving accident lawyer, both over-the-counter and prescribed medications may have warnings and clauses about avoiding driving and operating machinery as they may affect a driver’s abilities after taking them.

Some prescriptions, such as opiates, can cause drivers to become drowsy when driving. An American Automobile Association (AAA) study showed that nearly 15 million people reported driving while high on pot, making them twice as likely to be involved in a crash. The 2018 traffic safety culture index survey showed more drivers viewed texting or talking on cell phones while driving riskier than smoking marijuana and getting behind the wheel. The study cited research that driving while cannabis-impaired approximately doubles the risk of a car crash. AAA says, “Medications can keep people feeling fit and healthy longer than ever before. But some can impair driving, especially if used in combination with other drugs.”

Following are some examples from AAA of typical medications known to impair driving: 

• Tranquilizers
• Narcotic pain pills
• Sleep medicines
• Some antidepressants
• Cough medicines
• Antihistamines
• Decongestants

Some of the most common brand medications that can cause driving impairments are:

• Ambient
• Lunesta
• Oxycodone
• OxyContin
• Percocet
• Prozac
• Trazodone
• Valium
• Vicodin
• Xanax

Some of the potential side effects that may cause impaired driving include: blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, fainting, irritability and excitability, nausea, and slow movements.

“Should you or a loved one be injured in an accident involving a drugged driver, you have the same rights as you would in any other accident. The driver who was driving in a drugged condition would be liable based on Florida’s negligence law. In some incidents, there may be others who are also liable, such as hospitals and pharmacies if they did not discuss a medication’s side effects before administering the drug, or in the case of pharmacies if they dispensed medication without a required warning label,” said Randall Spivey, Fort Myers drunk driving accident lawyer. 

Attorney Spivey recommends contacting Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. after seeking medical attention. “We have the experienced Fort Myers drunk driving accident legal team to assist you 24/7, and there are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you. See what our clients say about their experiences with our firm at Testimonials.”

Fort Myers Drunk driving Accident Lawyer Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.