15. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of Drugs.

Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs is an unspoken danger on the roads. Sure, there are organizations fighting against drunk drivers — and rightfully so — but “drugged driving” (DUI) is an issue that has fallen on the backburner of driver’s education even though it is a top cause of car accidents.

According to the 2006 Nation Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 10.2 million people admit to driving under the influence of drugs. It is important that car accidents caused by drugged driving — due to not only illegal substances but prescription and non-prescription over-the-counter medications — are stopped and that the dangers of this kind of DUI are taken seriously.

How Does Driving Under The Influence Of Drugs Cause Car Accidents?

Our firm’s car accident lawyers have seen the effects of drugs on the brain, how they alter perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, reaction time and various other qualities required for safe driving. The results of specific drugs differ depending on how they are administered (smoked, inhaled, injected, etc.), the amount consumed, and the abuser’s drug history.

One common misconception is that drugged driving is limited only to illegal drugs. The fact of the matter is that drugs legally prescribed to a person can also alter perceptions, induce drowsiness or sleepiness and produce other negative side effects that are detrimental to safe driving. Many bottles actually contain warning labels that warn users against driving for a specific period of time after usage to curb the number of drugged drivers on the road. In short, drugged driving is a concern for everyone on the road looking to steer clear of car accidents.

What Drugs Impair Drivers & Lead To Accidents?

There are several different types of drugs:

Depressants
Stimulants
Hallucinogens

Most Drugs Make Driving More Difficult

Each drug affects the human brain in a distinctly different fashion. Making matters worse, drug abusers sometimes use several different drugs, as well as alcohol, at the same time. This complicates the effectiveness of the drugs and further increases the chances of a car accident if a driver is intoxicated by this mixture of substances.

Marijuana usage can cause car accidents. Marijuana contains an addictive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that has been shown to affect areas of the brain that control reaction time, body movement, balance, coordination, memory, judgment and sensation. These are all necessary attributes for safe driving. Tests have shown that drivers’ attentiveness, perception of time and speed, and the ability to draw information of past experiences have all been diminished by a marijuana usage. Using marijuana while operating a car makes driving unsafe for you and the other motorists around you.

Drugged Driving Enforcement Helps Prevent Car Accidents

In 15 states, including California, it is illegal to drive a car if there is any detectable level of an illegal drug in your system, while other states define “drugged driving” as the incapacity to driving safely due to driver impairment from a controlled substance.

Since no breathalyzer test can be performed, an officer must determine if there are any outward signs of drug impairment, such as physical appearance, performing with field sobriety test, erratic driving, incriminating statement or conduct. Once a driver is suspected of drugged driving, a blood or urine test can be administered in order to gain proof of driving under the influence.

There are drug abuse and prevention programs which are designed to prevent drug use from starting, as well as helping current users stop. Drug education may never completely stop drug abuse, but it will at least give people the knowledge of the dangers associated with it, which includes driving under the influence of drugs.

Call Our Lawyers If You’ve Been Injured Drug-Related Car Accident

At the end of the day, the decision about whether or not to drive under the influence of drugs rests in the hands of each car driver. The best we can hope for is that you will be aware of the consequences of DUI and avoid impaired driving all together. Hopefully, that will lead to fewer car accidents caused by drugged driving, making the roads a safer place for everyone.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by a driver under the influence of drugs then call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer. Since 1992, our San Diego law office has been geared primarily towards auto accident claims. We know how the insurance companies work, so let our insider knowledge help you in your time of need.

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[caption id="attachment_21715" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo Credit: The San Diego Union Tribune"][/caption] Last week, we reported on a car accident in San Diego that resulted out of alleged teen street racing. In new developments, the 18-year-old driver charged with the death of the two teenagers involved in the street racing has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter among four other charges according to reports at the San Diego Union Tribune. The news follows the earlier arrest of another 16-year-old driver that was taken into custody on similar charges. Just shortly after his arraignment, Michael Johnson, the 18-year-old driver of a Volvo S40, said, according to his attorney, that he is not the responsible party in the tragic San Diego accident fatalities that occurred April 4. Accident reports indicate that Johnson was returning from a spring break beach party in La Jolla when he was allegedly involved in a street racing contest with another teen driver – the unidentified 16-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Passat whose name has not been released since he is a minor. According to Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the two vehicles were zigzagging across lanes at speeds reaching up to a staggering 100 m.p.h. The 16-year-old driver in the Passat lost control over the vehicle, causing the car to flip over several times across multiple lanes of the road. Two passengers, Anthony Foreman, 18, and Jayli Campbell, 16, were thrown from the Passat and died at the scene of the accident. Two passengers survived the crash. Charlotte McQuillen, survived the accident although she suffered serious injury as a result of the collision including reports that say the teen will have to recover from traumatic brain injury. Anthoney Taylor, 16, also survived the crash although his injuries are unclear at this time. Johnson did not flee the scene of the accident according to police reports and cooperated with authorities once officers assessed the scene of the collision. The teen has no prior criminal record, although authorities say his vehicle was found containing a small amount of marijuana. Johnson is being charged with intoxicated driving, although his lawyer says there were no field sobriety tests to confirm the teen’s alleged intoxication. Teen driving: reminders for concerned parents Last week, we blogged on actions parents can take to prevent teen car accidents. Tips include:

Sign a parent-teen contract. Download your free contract now.
Enforcing the rules. Every teen driver needs to know that rules are there for a purpose, and when they are broken, consequences will follow.
Have a DUI backup plan. As most parents can attest, there are many instances when teen drivers run into problems that supersede their know-how and maturity. Drinking is one of those problems. In cases of emergency, your teen should have an open-door policy where they feel safe to call you when they need help – such in the case of drunk driving or driving while intoxicated.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC are specialists in car accident injury. Every personal injury attorney in our San Diego office works hard to seek maximum recovery for every injured client. Your case is handled without any out-of-pocket costs, so do not hesitate to speak to a San Diego personal injury lawyer today for a free legal evaluation. Call us at 1-800-655-6585.