When people think of driving under the influence or driving while impaired, they usually think of driving after having consumed alcohol. Although alcohol consumption causes road accidents, it is not the only way that an individual’s ability to control and operate a vehicle can be affected. A negligent driver’s affected judgment, reflexes, response times, coordination, and decision-making abilities may have led to your accident.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) survey, one in 10 drivers tested positive for the use of prescription or over the counter drugs. Serious accidents can occur due to prescription side effects. If you were involved in an accident that involved prescription drug use, a Lafayette prescription drug use lawyer can help. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777.
Many prescription drugs that people take for depression, sleeplessness, anxiety, and chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune issues can affect an individual’s driving ability. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that one common prescription drug side effect includes drowsiness. Any negative side effect that could distract someone from the task of driving could also cause or contribute to accidents, such as nausea or migraine.
There are many prescription drugs like opioids, sedatives, muscle relaxants, and various antidepressants can result in excessive side effects that impair senses and driving ability. Additionally, if the driver who hit you took their medication with another drug or with alcohol, the combined effects of these substances may have led to your injuries.
We may be able to seek arrest, civil damages charges, or criminal charges such as vehicular manslaughter if you or a loved one was injured or killed by a driver who used or abused prescription drugs behind the wheel.
We Can Help You Seek Compensation and Damages
You can seek compensation and damages for an accident that was caused by prescription drug use. The NHTSA reports that impaired drivers have slower reflexes, can drive at higher speeds, cannot react to changing road conditions in time, and may drive rashly or dangerously—depending on the effects of the drugs that they took.
A Lafayette prescription drug use lawyer can help you if you suffered injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Amputations
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Burns
- Death
If you or someone you know was injured in any way in an accident that was caused by prescription drugs, we will help you seek the damages that you may be entitled to pursue. Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 to get started.
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We Will Identify Defendants and Quantify Claims
Anyone involved in a road mishap may share some of the blame for the accident, but there may be some parties (such as an employer, the owner of a trucking fleet, or a service crew that was not on-site during the accident) that may share some of the blame.
Determining the parties responsible for your accident is the first step in the claims process. The next step is proving that prescription drugs did, in fact, cause, contribute to, or aggravate an accident. Doing this will involve collecting blood or test samples from the at-fault defendants we deem responsible for the accident and investigating the scene to determine how and why the accident took place. We will accomplish all the necessary actions to identify and pursue compensation from the liable parties, including:
- Identifying possible defendants
- Connecting prescription drug use to the events that caused the accident
- Obtaining police reports of the crash
- Obtaining dashcam surveillance footage of the crash
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Obtaining the medical history of the at-fault driver
- Quantifying the damages that you suffered
- Putting together a civil claim for damages from the at-fault parties
- Reviewing photos or video evidence of the crash to determine how and why the accident occurred
- Obtaining the testimony of crash reconstruction experts to isolate events that contributed to the accident
- Connecting the injuries you suffered to the accident in which you were involved
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULATION
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Statutes of Limitations Could Limit How Long You Have
In most cases, you have one year to file a claim for injuries sustained in a road accident in Louisiana, as per CC 3492. This means you have one year to gather evidence, determine fault, put together a case, and file a claim. You will only win a settlement or a damages payout if the at-fault parties identified in your claim—otherwise known as the defendants—agree to settle with you or if the court arrives at a ruling in your favor. A lawyer can take on these tasks for you. We can negotiate with insurance companies for you or represent you in court.
Trucking companies (and even the insurance agents of private individuals), in an effort to protect their bottom line, may attempt to undervalue your losses by offering you a low settlement. We can valuate every available loss you suffered and help you advocate for compensatory damages.
Protecting yourself in these situations is a full-time job. It can be especially difficult to pursue a claim if you sustained injuries in an accident. A Lafayette prescription drug use lawyer is here to help.
Call the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 for a free case evaluation. We charge no upfront fees for our services and only charge you when you win. You have nothing to lose, so please call us so we can handle your case on your behalf. Call our team today so we can get started.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
