Irving Illegal Drug Use Accident Lawyer

Illegal drugs cause many problems in society. Often, illegal drug use results in car accidents that injure or kill innocent bystanders. These accidents are sadly common. An estimated 12.6 million Americans engaged in drugged driving in 2018 by operating a vehicle while under the influence of illegal drugs.

Illegal drug use accidents can result in severe damage to your vehicle or other personal property. These accidents are also responsible for injuries and fatalities. Recovering from an illegal drug use accident can be a lifelong ordeal.

Have you been in a car accident caused by illegal drug use? If so, you are not alone. Our Irving, TX accident lawyers are ready to help. We will help you exercise your rights and get the compensation you’re owed.

Contact us online today or call (469) 998-4069 for help with illegal drug use accidents. Consultations with our lawyers are completely free. If our Irving legal team doesn’t help you win your case, you won’t pay for our services.

Facts About the Dangers of Illegal Drug Use and Driving

There’s a reason certain drugs are illegal. Substances like opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other illicit drugs come with a heavy price. These drugs cause a range of severe health problems, including death. They also ruin many families. Addiction, crime, and violence are strongly linked to illegal drug use.

When driving is added to the mix, illegal drug use becomes even more dangerous. Driving under the influence of illegal drugs is a huge problem for many communities in the United States. In a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) survey, 20% of drivers tested positive for drugs.

Although different illegal drugs have different effects, all drugs impair driving ability. Illegal drugs can affect a driver’s ability to control their vehicle. A driver who is using illegal drugs may become easily distracted, misjudge speed or distance, and react too slowly.

Here are some specific driving problems caused by common illegal drugs:

Marijuana

Recreational marijuana is still illegal in many states, including Texas. Drivers under the influence of marijuana may cause car accidents for several reasons:

It can make you drowsy and affect coordination.
It can affect depth perception and balance.
It can cause drivers to lose focus and not pay attention to the road.
It can cause paranoia that impacts decision-making.
In extreme cases, marijuana can also cause visual hallucinations.

Opioids

Opioids include street drugs like heroin, as well as prescription painkillers that are used illegally. Prescription drugs like oxycontin and fentanyl are commonly abused in Texas and elsewhere in the United States. People should never drive while using opioids for these reasons:

Opioids can cause dizziness that impairs vision.
They can cause stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.
They can cause extreme drowsiness; passing out while using opioids is common.
They can relax muscles to a degree where drivers cannot physically control their car.
They can impair cognitive function.

Methamphetamines and Cocaine

Unlike marijuana and opioids, methamphetamines and cocaine are both stimulants. This means that users feel “sped up,” often with an increased energy level that feels manic. Although drivers who use these drugs may be less likely to fall asleep at the wheel, they will experience other problems, including:

Severe anxiety that impacts judgment
Aggression resulting in road rage
Impaired vision, including double vision
Increased heart rate; users may feel jittery
Physical shakiness that impairs motor control
Lethargy and slowed reaction time when the drug’s effects begin to wear off

Psychedelics

Psychedelic drugs such as LSD and mushrooms are very dangerous to use while driving. This class of illegal drug causes people to become detached from reality. Hallucinations are very common, along with other effects that impair driving:

Visual impairments
Reduced coordination and motor control
Impaired sense of balance and direction
Inability to judge speed and distance
False feelings of being “invincible” or delusions of superpowers

What to Do in an Illegal Drug Use Accident

Whenever you’re in a car crash, always focus on safety first regardless of the cause of the accident. Move your vehicle off the road, if possible, and check for injuries. Call an ambulance if needed. Then, contact your local police, highway patrol, or sheriff’s office.

If you have been in an accident caused by illegal drug use, you may not realize it right away. You may be in a state of shock from the accident and unable to tell if the other driver is on drugs. That’s why it’s important to call law enforcement.

When law enforcement arrives on the scene of the accident, they will ask everyone involved about drug use. If the other driver is behaving oddly, officers will require them to perform a sobriety test or other drug testing. If the other driver is injured, they will be required to take a drug test at the hospital.

Make sure you get a full police report of the accident. If the other driver tests positive for illegal drugs, they will most likely face criminal charges in addition to liability for the accident. This information will be included in the police report, which will make your civil case against the driver much easier to win.

Our legal team will ask for this accident report, as well as any supporting documentation. This may include photos or videos of the accident scene, plus a verbal or written testimony describing the accident. If possible, gather testimonies from passengers or anyone else involved in the accident.

We will review your legal case and help you determine how much compensation you may be owed. Compensation from an illegal drug use accident can help you in several ways. It can pay medical bills, replace a damaged vehicle, and cover lost wages. You may also be eligible for compensation for your pain and suffering.

To learn more, reach out to our Irving law office today. Remember, calls are 100% free, and there’s no obligation to you. If we take your case, we won’t charge for our services unless we help you win. Call us at (469) 998-4069 or use our online contact form.