Debate Rages on Regarding Red Light Camera Effectiveness in Preventing Car Accidents

The national debate over the role, effectiveness, and legality of red light cameras is heating up.  States are fairly evenly divided on the issue of using red light cameras at intersections to prevent collisions that result in injuries and fatalities.  A recent article in the USA Today reported that currently 24 states have at least some red light cameras.  Some states are passing bans completely prohibiting the use of red light cameras while other states are expressly authorizing use of the cameras to take a picture of vehicles that fail to stop then issuing tickets by mail.  There are also many states that take an intermediate position.  At the heart of the debate over the use of red light cameras is whether they are a cost-effective means of reducing car accident rates and preventing motor vehicle related injuries and fatalities.

Many municipalities that are installing red light cameras are being accused of focusing on generating revenue rather than public safety.  There is little dispute that using red light cameras in intersections can be an enormous source of revenue at a time when many local governments are drowning in red ink.  Red light cameras in Chicago generate a staggering $60 million per year in additional public funds according to the USA Today article.  Critics that view the cameras as primarily a revenue source take various positions, including:

  • Red light intersection cameras should not be used at all because they are ineffective at preventing car accidents.
  • The cameras should be used only with transparency so that it is clear what the program costs, the results in terms of preventing car accidents, the amount of revenue generated by the cameras, and the ways the revenue is used.
  • Red light cameras should only be installed in intersections with a history of significant car crashes.

One of the key issues involving the use of red light cameras is whether they play a significant role in reducing intersection collisions. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a study last year that found red light cameras reduce auto accidents by almost 25 percent.  However, many other studies have suggested that red light cameras are far less effective.  There have even been studies that suggest that red light cameras increase car accidents because drivers are overly cautious or focused on the presence of the camera.

The law is equally muddled on the appropriateness of red light cameras.  Some examples include:

  • A Florida court has ruled that the cameras are unconstitutional.
  • In Missouri, one court ruled the cameras invalid while another court found them permissible within a one month period
  • A court in Washington determined that voters could not prohibit red light cameras via ballot initiative.

These diverging views reveal that courts are as conflicted about the legal status of red cameras as the public, government entities, and safety advocates on the effectiveness of the cameras.  While our car accident attorneys are staunch advocates of motor vehicle safety, we also realize that the resources to promote safer roadways are not unlimited.  One positive aspect of this particular vehicle safety tool is that the program is self-financing.

If you or someone you love was recently injured in a Mississippi car accident by a driver who ran a red light or otherwise was driving negligently, we encourage you to contact our experienced team of personal injury attorneys today.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Taking Texting and Driving to Extremes: Woman Arrested for Texting with Baby in Her Lap

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Texting while driving is never safe under any circumstances, but a woman was arrested in Southern California after taking the practice of texting and driving to ridiculous extremes.  The woman was texting as she drove on the freeway with her one year old baby in her lap.  If this does not sound bad enough, she also had a four-year-old in the back seat who was not wearing a seatbelt.  The woman was charged with child endangerment and has a history of similar past violations for not securing her child in a car seat and not wearing a seatbelt.

While this is a rather extreme case, it highlights two common but unacceptable practices, texting while driving and failure to use safety restraints that cause serious injuries and even wrongful death.   A few statistics provide some alarming facts about the dangers of texting messaging while driving:

  • Nearly forty percent of drivers admit texting while driving
  • Almost twenty percent of drivers concede they routinely text and drive
  • Teen drivers who are texting spend ten percent of their time in the wrong lane
  • Responding to a text message results in diverting one’s eyes from the road for five seconds
  • A vehicle moving at freeway speeds can travel the length of a football field in five seconds
  • Studies show that drivers engaged in text messaging have response time similar to drunk drivers

There are three types of driver distraction: visual distractions, manual distractions and mental distractions.  Text messaging poses a distraction risk at all three levels of distraction.  A visual distraction involves activities that cause a driver to avert one’s eyes from the road.  A driver who reads a text message or looks at the keyboard to compose or send a text message must avert one’s eyes from the roadway.  Even when a driver is not busy trying to hold both a baby and a cell phone, texting on a mobile phone, iPod or other portable electronic device requires physically holding the phone and manipulation of the keys.  Regardless of whether you are reading a text, sending a message or composing a message, your mind also is distracted.

The other troubling aspect of this case is that the woman had the baby in her lap rather than a child safety restraint.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that a properly used child safety restraint system (i.e. car seat) reduces the child fatality rate in car accidents by more than seventy percent.  Child safety restraints prevent vehicle ejections, which are a leading cause of fatalities in car accidents.  Car seats also keep children from being thrown against the dashboard or other hard surfaces in the vehicle where they may suffer head injuries, spinal cord injuries and other catastrophic injuries.  Child safety seats also are tailored to the unique anatomy of children.  Car seats restrain a child while dispersing the force of impact to less vulnerable areas of a child’s body.

Motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of death for children ages 3-14 according to the National Center for Health Statistics.  Every day across the country, there are four children in this age range who die in car accidents and almost 530 more that are injured.  When parents drive the roads of Mississippi with their children in their car, they should exercise caution, pay attention, and require children to wear seatbelts and car seats.  If your child has been injured in a car accident, our experienced Mississippi car accident lawyers at Barrett Law may be able to help you obtain the compensation your child needs to promote the fastest, fullest recovery.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

 

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Rental Car Companies Putting Unsuspecting Customers behind the Wheel of Defective Vehicles

Many Mississippi residents are traveling for Spring Break or looking forward to visiting relatives for Easter.  If you are traveling by plane, there is a fair chance you will need to rent a car when you arrive at your destination.  Most motorists have no idea that many vehicles are kept in circulation for rental despite the vehicle or components of the vehicle being subject to a safety recall.  This is much more than a theoretical problem; for example, Enterprise settled a case for $15 million stemming from a horrific collision that resulted in the death of two sisters that was caused by a defective component in their rented Chrysler PT Cruiser.

The PT Cruiser in the Enterprise case had been recalled because of a defective component that posed a fire hazard.  The mother of sisters, Jacqueline Houck and Rachel Houck, filed a wrongful death action after the women died when the power steering failed because the vehicle caught on fire.  The failure of the PT Cruiser’s power steering resulted in the plaintiff losing control of the vehicle and colliding head on with a commercial truck.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has acknowledged issues with rental cars that are made available to the public despite the vehicles being recalled for safety issues. Although there is currently discussion about legislation to prevent recalled vehicles from being rented to unsuspecting customers, no legislation has yet been enacted.  While car manufacturers and new car dealers cannot sell vehicles to consumers until recalled components have been repaired, there currently is no similar requirement for rental car companies.

Legislation being discussed might extend federal oversight of the NHTSA to the rental car industry and require the repair of vehicles subject to recall before they are made available to rental car customers.  The frightening thing for consumers is that rental car agencies do not disclose that the vehicle a customer is about to rent is the subject of a safety recall.  This means that rental car agencies are knowingly exposing consumers to a known risk without warning consumers of this risk.

If you need a rental car during Spring Break or over Easter weekend, you should specifically ask the rental car agency if the vehicle you are being assigned is the subject of any recalls and whether the defect has been repaired.  Barrett Law has been representing those injured in Mississippi car accidents for decades.  If you or someone you love is injured in a Mississippi car accident involving a rental car that has unrepaired defects or any defective vehicle, the experienced product liability car accident attorneys at Barrett Law may be able to represent you in seeking compensation for your injuries or loss.

At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent personal injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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The Real Scoop Regarding Mississippi Car Accident Whiplash Injuries [Part II]

Basis of Liability in Motor Vehicle Collisions Resulting in Whiplash Injuries

Because many, though not all, whiplash injuries are caused by rear-end impact collisions, there are a number of types of unsafe driving that are more likely to cause a whiplash injury.  Some of the types of negligent driving that are most typically the basis for imposing fault in whiplash injury crashes include:

·         Distracted drivers who avert their eyes from the road so they do not notice traffic flow interruptions

·         Speeding drivers who cannot stop in time to avoid a rear-ender

·         Failing to allow a safe following distance so that one can stop if traffic comes to an abrupt stop

·         Drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol that have impaired perception and delayed reaction time

·         Motorists that do not adapt driving in adverse weather

·         Unsafe roadways that do not drain properly so that vehicles hydroplane

Special Challenges in Making Legal Claims for Whiplash Injuries

Any experienced Mississippi whiplash injury attorney at Barrett Law will be familiar with the common types of negligence that cause rear-end accidents resulting in whiplash injuries.  A whiplash injury lawyer will also understand the unique challenges in pursuing settlements and judgments in whiplash accident cases.  Despite the fact that many whiplash injuries leave car accident victims unable to work for months and with a lifetime of pain, it is sometimes difficult to produce objective diagnostic evidence of whiplash.

These challenges in litigating whiplash car accident cases are compounded by the fact that many times the symptoms of whiplash may take days or even weeks to become obvious.  Since many serious whiplash injuries occur in collisions at relatively low rates of speed, insurance adjusters will point to delays in seeking treatment, lack of objective diagnostic evidence of injury, and a lack of vehicle damage to suggest that whiplash victims are exaggerating or lying about their injuries.

Recovery for Serious Whiplash Injuries and Chronic Back and Neck Pain

Our Mississippi auto accident whiplash injury lawyers may refer you to a neurologist or neck expert promptly, which may aid your recovery and provide evidence to substantiate your whiplash injury legal claim.  If you suffer a whiplash injury in a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for a wide range of damages, including:  medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, vehicle repair/replacement costs, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and adverse effects on one’s marriage and quality of life.

It is important to keep in mind that whiplash injuries frequently lead to chronic pain and long-term disability.  Studies have shown that almost one in seven whiplash victims continue to suffer from symptoms of whiplash including pain as much as three years after suffering a whiplash injury.  An experienced car accident whiplash attorney can provide effective legal representation so that you can obtain the financial resources that you need to obtain medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, and pain management.  An experienced whiplash injury lawyer understands that insurance carriers tend to disregard whiplash injuries and undervalue whiplash claims.  Your whiplash injury attorney can help you confront this dismissive attitude and provide aggressive advocacy for the full value of your whiplash car accident claim.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Mississippi car accident or a loved one dies, you may have a right to seek legal compensation for your injuries and loss.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

 

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The Real Scoop Regarding Mississippi Car Accident Whiplash Injuries [Part I]

Although whiplash injuries are among the most common injuries suffered in car accidents and other types of accidents, many do not understand the intense pain and degree of debilitation associated with whiplash.  A significant reason for this misconception is the tendency of television sit-coms and movies to make whiplash the object of comic fodder.  Despite these depictions of whiplash as a fabrication of malingers looking to “cash in,” whiplash is a serious injury that can inflict pain for months and even years after a car accident.  More than a million people experience whiplash injuries annually, and three-fourths of those who suffer such injuries continue to be affected by symptoms even six-months after their car accident.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash injuries are alternatively referred to as “cervical strain,” and “hyperextension/hyperflexion” injury.  The term “whiplash” refers to the motion of the head and neck that are jerked forward then backward similar to the motion of a whip.  Whiplash is an injury that occurs most typically in rear-end accidents when one’s vehicle is struck from behind while stopped or moving slowly.  The force of impact on the vehicle results in the head being jerked backward.  Because the whiplash victim generally does not see and anticipate the collision, there is little chance to brace one’s body for the impact, but the natural reaction when one’s head is whipped back is to contract the muscles in the front of the neck to compensate for the sudden backward movement of one’s neck.

Common Symptoms of Whiplash Injuries

The intense whipping motion of the head and neck in a rear-end car accident can do additional damage to the back and neck, including injury to the cervical muscles, discs of the back, ligaments, nerves and intervertebral joints.  It is important that whiplash injuries be identified promptly so that treatment can be initiated as soon as possible.  Early treatment can accelerate long-term recovery and result in a more favorable prognosis.  Some of the more common symptoms of whiplash injuries include the following:

  • Neck stiffness
  • Pain in the back
  • Discomfort when swallowing
  • Impaired balance
  • Tingling in the back, neck and shoulders
  • Diminished concentration and/or memory
  • Hoarseness or sore throat

If you or a loved one is injured in a Mississippi car accident or a loved one dies, you may have a right to seek legal compensation for your injuries and loss.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Understanding the Tactics of Insurance Companies in Mississippi Car Accident Cases

If you are seriously injured by the negligence or misconduct of a third party, it is likely that any amount of compensation that you receive for your injuries will be paid by an insurance company.  This is both good and bad.  When the party that injures you has insurance, it means that there should be available funds to compensate you for your injuries if you prove your claim.  However, it also means that you may have to deal with the tactics used by insurance companies to avoid paying valid claims.

While from the perspective of a customer who pays premiums, you may conclude that the function of auto insurance companies is to cover the financial risk of loss when someone is liable for a collision.  An insurance company function from the perspective of its stockholders and management is to increase profits, which is not accomplished by paying more claims and higher amounts of recovery.  Insurance companies use a wide array of approaches to deny, delay and minimize meritorious insurance claims.  We have provided an overview of some of the types of tactics and strategies that are frequently used by auto accident insurance companies:

Shifting Blame to the Victim: While many car accident victims know that the usual basis for imposing liability in a car accident is negligence, some victims do not realize that a court may determine that an accident victim is also liable for his or her own injures.  Insurance companies commonly argue that a car accident victim in a Mississippi car accident failed to take responsibility for the victim’s own injuries.  It is important to have an experienced Mississippi car accident attorney on your side that can defend you against the claim that your own negligence contributed to your injuries.  If you are found to have had some role in causing your own injuries, your recovery may be reduced based on the amount of fault assigned to you.

Any Injuries Were Pre-Existing: While a distracted, drunk, or otherwise unsafe driver may be liable for exacerbating a pre-existing injury, insurance companies frequently argue that an injury allegedly suffered in a car accident was actually the result of an earlier trauma in an attempt to reduce the amount of recovery for the injury.  Insurance companies often engage in extensive discovery and carefully scrutinize a Mississippi car accident victim’s medical records to make this claim.

Failure to Mitigate Damages: Although a careless driver or other negligent party may be liable for your injuries suffered in a car accident, the law imposes an obligation on accident victims to take appropriate steps to minimize any loss.  An accident victim that fails to seek medical treatment or follow through on physical therapy may be vulnerable to a defense based on lack of mitigation of damages.  This defense essentially provides that any additional harm that could have been reasonably avoided, but for the failure of the plaintiff to take reasonable steps to reduce his or her loss, should not be compensated.

War of Attrition: Mississippi car accident victims may have enormous medical bills and be unable to work for long periods of time.  Sometimes the insurance company will drag out the claims process as long as possible to increase the financial pressure on an accident victim to settle for less than the value of the claim.  An experienced Mississippi car accident attorney can counter such tactics and may even be able to advance certain amounts against the potential recovery depending on your case.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Mississippi car accident or a loved one dies, you may have a right to seek legal compensation for your injuries and loss.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Are GPS Devices Just as Dangerous as Cell Phones When Driving?

According to studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver distraction is estimated to be the cause of approximately 25-30% of all vehicle accidents in the United States each year.  One cause of driver distraction is GPS tracking devices, which are an indirect cause of automobile accidents but contribute to driver inattention in the following ways:

GPS voice command has been disabled

Disabling (turning off) the audio voice function of a GPS tracking device forces the driver to physically look at the device in order to determine its data output – this means that drivers must avert their eyes and divert their attention from the road.

Command input while driving

Attempting to input coordinates or commands into the GPS tracking device while the vehicle is moving is similar to talking or texting on a mobile phone while driving.

The statistical link between GPS tracking devices and automobile accidents is a clear indication that many drivers rely heavily on their GPS unit to locate their destination.  Sometimes this reliance can lead to a more confused driver because the unit’s maps may be out-dated or may not accurately reflect new road construction.  Additionally, communication errors are common and may be caused by the satellite signal being blocked.  When a driver is concentrating on a GPS or relying heavily on it when driving in an unfamiliar area, the driver can experience confusion and anxiety that increases the risk of a Mississippi distracted driving accident.

GPS devices are commonly used throughout the United States in privately owned vehicles as well as commercial vehicles.  When GPS devices are used correctly and safely, they can greatly benefit drivers by saving both time and money.  Additionally, the installation of a GPS unit in commercial vehicles may contribute to a reduction in the company’s insurance premiums.  The installation of a GPS unit in commercial trucks also allows the company to track their fleet traffic as well as assist in locating and tracking individual drivers.

All drivers, both private and commercial, should exercise the utmost caution when using a GPS device to ensure their own safety as well as the safety of others.  Drivers should exercise common sense when using a GPS device – never taking their eyes from the road to read the output generated by a GPS device and always bringing the vehicle to a complete and safe stop prior to entering the coordinates of a location into the GPS unit.

The incorporation of GPS devices in many smart phones also has contributed to the ineffectiveness of many cell phone driving laws.  Because using a GPS device while driving is not prohibited for non-commercial drivers anywhere in the U.S., it can be difficult for law enforcement to differentiate between prohibited uses of a cell phone and those like GPS functions that are permitted.  Ironically, there has been a widespread movement to restrict or ban cell phone use while driving because of the widely recognized risk associated with texting or talking and driving.  However, it is legitimate to wonder whether those who use a GPS device without exercising extreme caution are creating just as great a risk.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one has died in an accident involving a driver distracted by a GPS device, our Mississippi distracted driving attorneys may be able to help. If you or a family member is injured in a Mississippi distracted driving accident, the experienced districted driving accident attorneys at Barrett Law may be able to represent you in seeking financial compensation for any injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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The Life Changing Consequences of a Spinal Cord Injury

There are approximately 20,000 spinal cord injuries in the United States every year with an estimated 52 percent of these injuries resulting in someone becoming paraplegic and approximately 47 percent of victims being left quadriplegic.

Some of the most common causes of spinal cord injury are as follows:

  • 37% Automobile Accidents
  • 28% Violence
  • 21% Falls
  • 6% Sports Related Injuries
  • 8% All Other

Long term medical and rehabilitative expenses for this type of serious injury range from $500,000 to in excess of $3,000,000 over the victim’s lifetime. This estimated range does not, unfortunately, include costs associated with permanent disability, the need for long term care or the personal loss of one’s quality of life.  These astronomical medical expenses are even more oppressive because a spinal cord injury victim may be unable to continue in the same occupation or may even be completely disabled.

Whether you have suffered a spinal cord injury in a severe Mississippi car accident, a physical assault or a fall from a scaffolding or ladder, an experienced Mississippi spinal cord injury attorney can help you navigate the potential legal and insurance pitfalls that can undermine your accident claim.  If you suffer the type of life-altering consequences that result from a spinal injury suffered in a car accident, it is important to obtain legal advice immediately to protect your rights to legal compensation for medical, financial, physical and emotional losses and expenses.

An experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney will have experience working with accident reconstruction experts, life planners, medical experts and forensic accountants or economist to develop the most compelling case for a jury.  Accident reconstruction experts can assist the jury in understanding the physical dynamics and fault in the collision so that the jury can determine the reason that the defendant’s unsafe driving behavior caused your spinal injury.  Medical experts can provide evidence to combat claims by the insurance company for the other driver that your injuries are not serious.  Life planners and economists can communicate the limitations on your quality of life, ability to work and supportive care needs as well as the projected cost of this and other losses.

If you or someone you love suffers a serious spinal injury in a Mississippi car accident or through other negligent or intentional misconduct, our experienced Mississippi spinal cord injury attorney understand the financial, physical and emotional obstacles that you face. At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Study Shows Adapting Safety Equipment to Perception Limits Can Prevent Rear-End Collisions

During any hour of watching television, there is a good chance you will see advertisements lauding the new safety features that are now being equipped on many vehicles.  These safety features can include early crash warning systems, extra air bags, crash avoidance systems and other technologies designed to prevent Mississippi car accidents.  However, one of the factors that is critical to making vehicles more safe and preventing car accidents is understanding the way human being process information as well as the limitations of human perception.  One study that looked at the human perception factors in causing rear-end collisions provides a good illustration of how many car accidents could be avoided by building motor vehicles with the limitations of human perception in mind.

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology conducted a study that revealed that drivers cannot perceive the urgency with which the brakes are applied in the vehicle that a driver is following.  Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of car accidents in Mississippi and nationally.  Approximately a third of all car accidents are rear-end collisions.  These accidents are particularly common when driving in heavy traffic with an inconsistent flow.  A momentary glance at one’s cell phone or slightly delayed response because a driver is tired or drowsy can easily result in a driver slamming into you from the rear.

There are a number of frequent contributing factors to rear-end collisions, including the following:

  • Failure to adhere to the two-second following rule (tailgating)
  • Speeding
  • Not slowing down in inclement weather
  • Inattentive driving because of distractions
  • Drunk driving or drugged driving
  • Poor brake maintenance

While these factors have long been recognized as causes of Mississippi rear-end collisions, the Georgia Institute of Technology used a driving simulator to gauge the ability of motorists to perceive the speed of a vehicle directly in front of them.  The study showed that drivers generally are unable to detect when the vehicle they are following is moving at a slower speed until the difference in speed reaches 8-10 mph.

Gregory Corso, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta commented, “Well, if people can’t detect that the car in front of them is going slower, you’re going to run into it.”

While current safety devices are designed to reduce the seriousness of injuries when a rear-end collision occurs, the researchers have developed an algorithm that can be incorporated into a collision warning system that makes adjustments based on your actual driving and braking behavior.  The system could notify drivers that the vehicle they are following is traveling at a slower rate of speed and predict a potential collision based on the rate that the trailing vehicle is gaining on the lead vehicle.  If this technology is implemented, it could prevent some of the most common types of Mississippi car accidents – rear-end collisions.  This provides a good example how vehicle manufacturers can be expected to adapt vehicles to protect vehicle occupants.  Sometimes when a manufacturer builds a vehicle without adequate safety equipment, this may form the basis for a product liability claim against the vehicle manufacturer.

Our experienced Mississippi rear-end accident attorneys offer a free consultation so that we can evaluate your Mississippi rear-end auto collision claim and explain your rights and remedies.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi rear-end accident lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Prescription Drug Abuse Linked to Increase in Car Accidents

Although many people are aware of the dramatic rise in the abuse of prescription drugs, the increased danger of severe car accidents linked to this abuse is less well known.  Many prescription drugs that are abused are taken for the same reasons as recreational drugs. This means that they are often sought out for their impact on one’s mental state so those who abuse these drugs are fully what aware of the danger of driving while under their effects.  Many prescription drugs with side effects that make it unsafe to drive carry warnings, which expressly indicate it is not safe to operate heavy machinery while under the influence of the medication.  Unfortunately, some drivers choose to ignore these warnings which often results in serious Mississippi car accidents that can cause life altering injuries.

There are a wide variety of types of prescription medications that may be involved in drugged driving accidents in Mississippi including pain killers, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medications and muscle relaxants.  These drugs may include Xanax, Ambien, Flexeril, Percocet, Norcos, Vicodin and similar medications.  They may contribute to serious Mississippi drugged driver car accidents because of a number of adverse effects on driving ability, including but not limited to the following:

  • Impaired driver judgment
  • Distorted perception
  • Drowsiness
  • Diminished coordination
  • Slow reflexes

While these are only a few of the ways that prescription medications can adversely impact driving ability, the current epidemic of abuse and misuse of prescription drugs poses a serious danger to everyone who travels the roadways of Mississippi.  Drivers who disregard warning labels on prescription drug bottles may be determined to be at fault even if they are lawfully taking the medication. Our experienced Mississippi drugged accident attorneys carefully investigate car accident cases where drugged driving may be involved. A driver who is using a prescription drug illegally may be considered to be engaged in reckless conduct, particularly if they are speeding or otherwise consciously engaging in extremely unsafe driving practices.  If a drugged driver is impaired because of illegal use of a prescription drug plan that causes a serious car accident, you or your loved one may be entitled to punitive damages to punish particularly egregious conduct.  Our Mississippi drugged driving attorneys typically examine police reports, toxicology analysis, and medical records to develop evidence of drugged driving.

The experienced Mississippi drugged driving lawyers at Barrett law are committed to holding wrongdoers accountable and compensating victims.  Our experienced Mississippi drugged driving accident attorneys offer a free consultation so that we can evaluate your accident claim and explain your rights and remedies.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi drugged driving lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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