Chicago Drugged Driving Accident Lawyer

A motorist driving under the influence of prescription and illegal substances might have diminished abilities to operate a vehicle. Driving while intoxicated or under the influence does not just pertain to substances like alcohol and marijuana.

Motorists can be held criminally and civilly liable if they take any medication or substance that has altered their ability to drive safely.

Hiring an Illinois Drugged Driving Vehicle Crash Attorney can Help

The Chicago car accident injury attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC uses Illinois law to prove negligence if an irresponsible drugged driver caused your injuries.

Our Chicago car accident lawyers currently represent clients throughout Illinois and the Chicago area, including Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, Will County, Aurora, Chicago, Cicero, Elgin, Naperville, and Schaumburg.

Drugged Driving Car Accident FAQs

Drugged Driving is a Serious Safety Problem

Drunk driving claims thousands of lives every year. Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol (excessive blood alcohol levels) gets most of the attention in driving-impaired accidents.

However, drugged driving presents the same risks and hazards to public safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about twenty-two percent of drivers have at some point driven while under the influence of some mind-altering substance.

Illegal drug use like cocaine, heroin, or LSD and prescription drugs or over the counter medications can alter the driver’s mental state. The effects of medications before driving can alter the way you handled power machinery and motorized vehicles.

Many drivers who find themselves liable for drugged driving were taking prescribed medications under their doctor’s care. They underestimated the impact that the drug had on their ability to safely operate a vehicle before injuring innocent people in the process.

What Illinois Law States Concerning Drugged Driving

According to 625 ILCS 5/11-501, It is illegal to operate a vehicle if under the influence of any intoxicating compound or combination of compounds that impact their driving abilities. Many medications cause drowsiness, affect depth perception, cause dizziness, or reduce reaction time like alcohol.

Street drugs have even more pronounced effects, and there is no excuse for drivers who place others at risk by getting high and driving.

However, it is alarming how many drivers seem oblivious to the effects of common medications impacting their driving abilities. Almost half of all motorists tested for substances following an accident had some form of prescription medication in their systems.

In some cases, their driving abilities were impaired due to drug interactions, while in others, it was due to deliberate drug misuse.

Types of Medications That Impact Driving Ability

It is crucial to understand what medications are most likely to impact your mental state to prevent causing an accident while under the influence of mind-altering substances. You should take the medication home and determine its effects on your body before you operate a vehicle.

Medications and drugs that can affect your driving abilities include:

• Prescription pain relievers and medications for anxiety – Some medications like Vicodin, OxyContin, Valium, or Xanax can be an effective medical treatment for numerous conditions.
  However, the drugs could impair your ability to drive by causing drowsiness or blurry vision. Consider alternate, safer forms of transportation if you need to take these drugs.
• Street drugs – Street drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, morphine, and methamphetamines all have marked effects on our mental state. These illegal drugs never mix well with the operation of machinery and motor vehicles.
• Over the counter medications – These medications and remedies are most likely to surprise drivers who never suspect that a dose of cold or allergy medication can impair their ability to drive. Always make sure that you take the correct dosage and avoid driving if you feel drowsy or dizzy after taking an over the counter drug.

Seeking Compensation Following an Accident With a Drug-Impaired Driver

Are you, a family member, or a loved one, an accident victim involved in a drugged driving or DUI car accident? If so, our personal injury lawyers can help.

Our law firm can work on your behalf and talk directly to the insurance company to resolve your car accident case. After a free case evaluation, we can build a strong compensation injury claim to ensure you will receive funds to pay for your medical expenses, hospitalization costs, property damage, time away from work, pain-and-suffering.

Hiring a Chicago Drugged Driving Vehicle Injury Attorney can Help

Our award-winning Chicago car accident injury attorneys have extensive experience handling drugged driving cases and a strong record of successful monetary recoveries for clients with cases like yours. Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 or through the contact form to arrange a free consultation.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so you will never be required to pay an attorney’s fee unless we can secure compensation on your behalf.

For information on Illinois law, drunk driving accidents, and distracted driving cases involving injuries, look at our Drunk Driving Accident FAQs.