Driving Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs Can Lead to Accidents
In San Mateo County, California, a woman recently incurred very serious injuries due to an accident caused by an oncoming vehicle. The woman’s injuries were so severe because she was not actually in a car when the accident occurred. She was standing outside of a market with her daughter and a number of other young women selling Girl Scout cookies. The unsuspecting women did not realize the tragedy that was about to befall them as the driver of the vehicle pulled into a parking spot near the place where they stood. The driver opened his door to leave the vehicle, but changed his mind when he realized his car was still moving. He slammed his door shut and instead of tapping the brakes in order to stop the moving car, he instead slammed down on his gas pedal. The car sped forward, hitting the woman, her daughter, and the rest of the Girl Scouts head on.
Although many of the children received serious injuries, the worst of the accident was sustained by the woman. Shortly after the accident occurred, one of her legs had to be unavoidably amputated because of the extent of the damage done. Now, as the woman, her daughter, and many of the other Girl Scouts have had to undergo minor to extensive medical treatment for their injuries, charges are being filed against the driver for his reckless endangerment and the injuries that came as a direct result of his behavior. The woman, who is acting as plaintiff in the case, has filed charges against the man for driving while under the influence of a prescription painkiller.
The prescription painkiller the man was allegedly taking has been highly scrutinized as of late for its morally questionable results, function impairing side effects, and highly addictive qualities. The drug, which is too often prescribed to patients for extensive periods of time, has pain relieving results similar to that of morphine and other powerful painkillers. It has not been made clear for what condition the man was taking this prescription drug, but it is known that he took the medication shortly before getting in his car, driving to the market, and hitting and injuring the group of Girl Scouts.
As for the side effects, this painkiller has been cited as having a history of causing confusion and anxiety in those who take it on a regular basis. The drug can also cause nausea, dizziness, ad depression, all of which can lead to impaired and slow response time while driving a vehicle. In addition, studies have shown that this particular prescription painkiller can create dependency in those taking it in as little as five to seven days. If you have been injured by a Los Angeles prescription drugs car accident, consider contacting a Los Angeles personal injury attorney today.
Prescription drugs, when prescribed negligently by doctors or indigested improperly by patients, can have the same effects as excessive amounts of alcohol when one is driving. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident that involved the ingestion of prescription drugs, you should speak with a personal injury attorney to determine how to receive compensation for your injuries.
