Drugged Driving Accident
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Injured By A Driver Whose Ability Was Impaired By Drugs?

Drugged driving or operating a vehicle while impaired by an illegal or controlled substance is a crime under Missouri law and a cause of thousands of drug-related crashes involving injuries and fatalities across the state.

By taking drugs and getting behind the wheel, motorists place not only themselves but others at an increased risk of bodily injury or death. Although courts in Missouri take personal injury claims filed by victims of drugged driving accidents seriously, proving that the at-fault driver was impaired by drugs is not always easy.

The Kansas City drugged driving accident attorney from Mayer & Associates, P.C., can help you hold the drugged driver responsible for your injury that resulted from the accident.

What Is A Drugged Driving Accident?

It is true that drunk driving accidents involving the consumption of alcohol are more common than car accidents involving motorists impaired by illegal or controlled substances. However, drugged driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving and presents similar risks and hazards.

Fact: About 22% of motorists in the U.S. admit to having driven while impaired by illegal or controlled substances. As you can guess, the real number of drivers who have at some point driven a vehicle while under the influence of drugs is much higher, because not all of them admit to drugged driving.

More often than not, drugged driving accidents involve the use of illegal substances such as cocaine, heroin and LSD, but operating a vehicle while under the influence of prescription marijuana or other prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications that affect the motorist’s mental state and ability to operate a vehicle are also a common cause of car crashes.

In 2018, Missouri became the 31st state to legalize medical marijuana, yet many residents of Kansas City and other cities in Missouri are still not aware of how marijuana affects their driving abilities. Also, it is not uncommon for drivers to underestimate the impact of drugs that were prescribed to them on their ability to safely drive a vehicle.

Types Of Drugs That Cause Drugged Driving Accidents

In general, a drugged driving accident is any accident that is caused by a motorist operating a vehicle while under the influence of any type of substance other than alcohol. Our experienced drugged driving accident attorney in Kansas City explains that the following types of narcotics, opioids, illegal and controlled substances, and drugs can cause a drugged driving accident:

  • Marijuana: It affects the driver’s ability to operate a vehicle and stay vigilant and aware of his or her surroundings. For example, a motorist operating a vehicle under the influence of weed may have a hard time perceiving speed, time and the distance between vehicles.
  • Cocaine: Cocaine alters the driver’s state of mind and affects his or her judgment, reaction times and ability to safely operate a vehicle.
  • Tranquilizers: They are often used by motorists to obtain a high.
  • Opiates: Opiates are often used by drivers struggling with depression, anxiety, pain, and other types of physical and psychiatric illnesses (opiates can result in drowsiness and cause the driver to fall asleep while operating a vehicle).
  • Amphetamines: They alter the driver’s state of mind and make it nearly impossible to safely operate a vehicle and make wise driving decisions.

Schedule A Free Consultation

Recovering damages after a drugged driving accident may not be as simple as it seems. After all, you will have to prove that the driver was driving under the influence of drugs during the accident and also establish the driver’s fault. For this reason, it is important to be represented by a knowledgeable Kansas City drugged driving lawyer. Call 816-692-2877 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with our attorney to discuss your case.