Drugged driving has become an increasing threat on Louisiana roads. While drunk driving has long been recognized as a danger, more drivers are now getting behind the wheel under the influence of drugs, both legal and illegal.
Prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, marijuana, and illicit narcotics can all impair a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. Unlike alcohol, which can be measured with a breath test, drug impairment is harder to detect. This makes it more challenging to prove in court, but the risks to other motorists remain just as severe.
Why Drugged Driving Accidents Are on the Rise
Several factors have contributed to the rise in drugged driving accidents across Louisiana. The increasing legalization and availability of marijuana in neighboring states has led to more impaired drivers crossing state lines. The widespread use of prescription medications, such as painkillers and sedatives, also plays a significant role. Many drivers underestimate how strongly these medications affect reaction time, focus, and coordination.
In addition, law enforcement faces greater challenges in detecting drugged drivers compared to alcohol-impaired drivers. There is no quick roadside test equivalent to a breathalyzer, and officers must often rely on field observations and blood tests to determine impairment. These limitations allow some impaired drivers to avoid immediate detection, leading to preventable accidents on Louisiana highways and city streets.
The Dangers of Drugged Driving Crashes
Drug impairment affects drivers in ways that directly contribute to crashes. Slowed reaction times, poor judgment, and difficulty maintaining vehicle control can all lead to catastrophic accidents. Victims of drugged driving crashes often suffer severe injuries because the impaired driver is less likely to take evasive action or brake in time to avoid a collision.
Common types of accidents caused by drugged driving include:
- Head-on collisions from drifting across center lines.
- Rear-end crashes due to slowed reaction times.
- Side-impact collisions at intersections from failing to yield.
- Single-vehicle accidents that spill into traffic, causing multi-car pileups.
The aftermath of these crashes can leave victims facing medical bills, lost wages, and long-term disabilities.
How Victims Can Prove Driver Impairment
Proving drug impairment in a personal injury claim requires a thorough investigation and substantial evidence. Unlike alcohol cases, drug impairment cannot always be measured with a single number, such as blood alcohol content. Our attorneys often rely on multiple sources of evidence to demonstrate that a driver was impaired at the time of the crash.
Evidence that may prove drugged driving includes:
- Police reports describing signs of impairment, such as erratic driving or slurred speech.
- Blood or urine test results showing the presence of drugs.
- Dashcam or surveillance video capturing unsafe driving behavior.
- Witness testimony from passengers or bystanders.
- Expert testimony from toxicologists who can explain the effects of certain drugs on driving ability.
By gathering and presenting this evidence, victims can strengthen their case and show that negligence directly caused the accident.
Protecting Victims of Drugged Driving in Baton Rouge
Drugged driving accidents are preventable, yet they continue to rise in Louisiana as more drivers ignore the risks of getting behind the wheel while impaired. For victims, pursuing legal action can provide not only compensation for injuries and losses but also accountability for drivers who endanger others.
At Russell Law Firm, our East Baton Rouge Parish personal injury attorneys are committed to holding drug-impaired drivers responsible. We investigate thoroughly, work with experts to prove impairment, and fight to secure the compensation our clients need to recover after devastating crashes.
Contact us today at 2252172518 or online for a free consultation.
The Russell Law Firm is in Your Corner, and We Fight to Win.
Information furnished herein is only general and not a substitute for personalized legal advice. Any discussions and photographs herein depict no actual event or scene but merely a dramatization.