While many people in Mississippi and across the U.S. are aware of the substantial reach and magnitude of the danger associated with drunk driving, but the majority of drivers in Mississippi do not realize the extent of the danger posed by drivers impaired by narcotics. A study conducted by the federal government found that one in eight drivers stopped and drug tested while driving at night one weekends tested positive for some form of illicit drug. There are many types of illegal narcotics that impair drivers including methamphetamine, ecstasy, heroin, marijuana, cocaine, LSD, opium, oxycodone, PCP and more. When drivers attempt to navigate the roadways with illegal drugs in their bloodstream they are the equivalent of someone using a deadly weapon like a firearm when impaired by drugs.
Unfortunately, many drivers disregard the dangers of operating a motor vehicle when under the influence of illegal drugs. These drugs can disrupt perception, promote sleepiness, adversely impact judgment, interfere with coordination and reflexes and promote an inflated sense of confidence in one’s driving ability. When a car accident occurs involving a driver who is under the influence of drugs, the officer may administer field sobriety tests and a breath testing. Because illicit drugs do not show up in a breath test, the police officer investigating the accident will typically conduct a blood test. If a driver impaired by street drugs causes a serious auto accident resulting in serious personal injury including spinal cord damage causing paralysis, traumatic brain injury causing loss of cognitive functioning or amputation of limbs, the judge or jury will often award substantial punitive damages.
Although driving while under the influence of alcohol is a widely acknowledged and discussed dangerous driving practice, drivers that are stoned while driving receive a lot less attention. While drug impaired drivers are less common, another reason that drugged driving receives less publicity is that it is much harder to prove. Many times police officers do not even test for drugs in a driver’s system unless a motor vehicle accident occurs.
When you are involved in a motor vehicle accident with a driver who engaged in erratic driving behavior before causing a collision, you should summon law enforcement to the scene of the motor vehicle accident. Any erratic or unsafe driving that you observed prior to the collision should be clearly described to the police officer. These statements provide additional evidence supporting the basis for the investigating officer to conduct a drug and alcohol screening. Sometimes if the officer suspects that the driver was impaired by drugs a specially trained expert called a Drug Recognition Expert may be summoned to conduct tests and make observations to support expert testimony that the driver was drug impaired at the time of the collision.
If a driver who you suspect may be under the influence of illicit drugs injures you, you may have a right to pursue a claim for financial compensation against the other driver. The experienced Mississippi motor vehicle accident attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing effective representation to Mississippi motor vehicle accident victims for over 75 years. We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.
