The driver who caused the accident that injured you or a loved one may have been impaired. You may think that means he or she drank too much or was high on an illegal drug. Often that’s not the case. That other driver may have been taking a medication he or she bought at a pharmacy, prescribed by his physician.
Dawson Hatfield was booked into a Louisville jail on several charges, including murder, on April 1, reports the Lexington Herald Leader, because he was driving under the influence of prescription drugs and caused an accident. One passenger in his car died and another was injured. Police stated Hatfield admitted to taking prescription drugs before the crash.
When a driver gets behind the wheel, he or she has a legal obligation to follow the law and to drive reasonably safely to protect their passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians. Driving while impaired by drugs (prescription, over the counter or illegal) violates criminal law and can be the basis of a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for injuries in an accident.
Generally, some prescription drugs are more dangerous than others when mixed with driving. If taken with other drugs and or alcohol, it can make a bad situation worse. How a person reacts to medication is unique. A prescription drug may not impair most of us, but there could be individuals who are heavily impacted by it.
Which medications are more dangerous than others? A 2014 medical journal article was based on the review of 30 earlier studies and came up with several medications that need to be handled with care if a patient is using one and driving. Driving involves many actions, from planning, focus, and thinking to sight, coordination, and physical movement. Many drugs can impair one or several tasks needed for safe driving.
The use of 25 classes of medications were connected to at least a 40% higher crash risk in one 2008 study. Some of them include:
- Barbiturates treat anxiety, seizure, insomnia, as well as to sedate patients undergoing surgery. Their use increases the chance of an accident by 7.5 times compared to a driver not taking them
- The use of benzodiazepines (BZDs or benzos) doubles the risk of a motor vehicle crash. They impair thinking and muscle function. They could also cause severe breathing problems, weakness, clumsiness, loss of balance, dizziness, and distorted vision while the user is driving. These drugs treat alcohol withdrawal, anxiety, panic disorder, and seizures
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are used by those suffering from depression, pain, specific anxieties, and menopausal symptoms. A prior study found their use increased the chance of a vehicle accident by 41%
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed class of drugs to treat depression and are used for anxiety disorders. They can cause unsafe driving when used in high doses
Other potentially dangerous drugs are:
- Opioid painkillers
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) when used with other drugs
- Anticonvulsants
- Antipsychotics
- Medicines that treat Parkinson’s disease
- Muscle relaxants
- Insulin
When it comes to impaired driving, it’s not just illegal drugs that pose a danger. Pharmacies are filled with drugs whose use can lead to an accident. Have any questions or need help with an injury caused by an impaired driver? Call The Fleck Firm for a free consultation at (270) 446-7000. We’ll talk about the accident, your injuries, the law, and your best options to proceed. Insurance companies have lawyers. You should have one too.
