As the number of accidents involving a drugged driver rises, it is becoming increasingly important for drivers to know what to do if they suspect someone was driving under the influence. Driving while high on drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamines, and cocaine can lead to car accidents that result in serious injuries or death. If you were involved in an accident with a drugged driver, there are certain steps you should take immediately following the accident and this article can serve as a guideline.
What Is Drugged Driving?
Drugged driving is taking drugs before or while driving. Drugged drivers experience slower reaction times, poor coordination, difficulty concentrating, and loss of judgment skills, all of which can contribute to car accidents that result in injuries or fatalities. As seen at https://www.davidchristensenlaw.com/southfield-car-accident-lawyer/drugged-driver/, more than 50% of U.S. drivers involved in serious injury or fatal crashes in late 2020 tested positive for one or more drugs. The most common drugs include marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines. Besides this, drugs for mental illness and drugs for pain such as opioids, which are produced in the form of prescription medications, often lead to accidents when they impair drivers’ judgment and reaction time.
Get Medical Attention
The first thing you need to do after an accident with a drugged driver is to get medical attention. Make sure that you receive proper treatment for any injuries you may have received, even if they are not immediately visible. Some injuries that happen as a result of accidents take time before they can be observed or diagnosed, and it’s important to monitor the situation closely even after initial treatment is given. Most common injuries include whiplash, bone fractures, various contusions and lacerations, back injuries, concussions, nerve damage, etc. Don’t attempt to take care of your injuries by yourself. If you are not sure whether or not your injuries are serious, there is no harm in getting checked out.
Report The Accident To The Police
Police take all car accidents seriously, but accidents involving drugged drivers are taken even more seriously. If you were hit by a drugged driver, when you dial 911 besides an ambulance, you should also ask for the police. It’s important for police to investigate drugged driving accidents thoroughly because if it is determined that someone was under the influence, not only would that person be charged with a crime but they may also face civil litigation for any damages caused in an accident.
Hire A Lawyer
For those who have been involved in a drugged driving accident, it is important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. You can discuss your case and consider legal options. In most cases of drugged driving accidents, the victims will seek compensation from the at-fault party for any damages they suffered. An experienced lawyer can help you understand your rights and options.
Gather Witness Statements
Witnesses are important to have in car accidents. If you were involved in an accident with a drugged driver, it’s important for you to get the names and contact information of anyone who may have seen or heard what happened. Some things that should be gathered are whether any other people were injured in the accident, how fast the vehicles were going, and whether there was a passenger in the drugged driver’s car. It’s also helpful to get the contact information of officers on duty so that you can ask them questions at a later time. Besides witness statements, you should also gather physical evidence such as any photos or videos you can take of the accident scene.
Physical evidence should be gathered and preserved in order to build a case for civil litigation or criminal charges after a drugged driving accident. If you already have a lawyer, they can assist you in gathering evidence and preserving it and they should also be the ones to talk to witnesses.
Preserve All Medical Records
Medical records are important in any car accident case. They can play a big role in determining the extent of injuries suffered by victims and whether compensation is necessary. If you were involved in an accident with a drugged driver, you should keep all appointments with medical professionals including doctors and therapists. It’s also wise to save all test results as well as reports from first responders and police officers.
Can I Sue a Drugged Driver?
There are a few ways that you may be able to file a lawsuit against a drugged driver. In some cases, victims of car accidents involving drugged drivers can seek compensation from the at-fault party by filing a personal injury claim or an insurance claim. You should also consider pursuing criminal charges via negligence and driving under the influence laws. It’s important to note that there is a statute of limitations on filing personal injury and insurance claims.
You may be able to file a civil lawsuit if you were involved in an accident with a drugged driver. You can consult with your attorney and they can help you understand your options and rights. Similarly, if police determine that a driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of an accident, they may file criminal charges against them and put them on trial. The penalties for drugged driving vary depending on the number of drugs present in the person’s system as well as whether they’d been previously charged with a DUI (driving under the influence).
Did you know that marijuana, methamphetamines, and cocaine are increasingly making their way into car accidents? This type of accident is something that can affect everyone. If you were involved in an accident with a drugged driver, it’s important to know your rights and options. Hiring an attorney with experience in personal injury is the best way to understand your legal options. You should also gather witness statements and physical evidence, including medical records. There are several options for getting the compensation you need such as filing a personal injury claim or filing criminal charges. Hopefully, this article has given you plenty of information on what to do if you were involved in a car accident with a drugged driver.
