Richardson Illegal Drug Use Accident Lawyer

Drugs and driving are a deadly combination. Even in low doses, illegal drugs cause many car and truck accidents. Drugs impair judgment, slow reaction time, and reduce a driver’s ability to control their vehicle.

In Texas, it’s illegal to drive under the influence of any drug. These laws protect drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Driving a truck while using illegal drugs often results in extreme accidents. Drivers who use illegal drugs injure or kill many people each year.

If you’re in a truck accident involving illegal drugs, contact a lawyer as soon as possible. You could be owed a settlement. When a truck driver on drugs causes a collision, it could take months or years for survivors to recover. Don’t let your life come to a halt because of illegal drug use.

Dial (214) 740-4556 to speak to a lawyer at our Richardson, TX accident firm. Our team is happy to assist you. We’ll get the facts about your truck accident, then create a legal strategy just for you. Our lawyers handle personal injury and wrongful death suits relating to illegal drug use accidents.

Best of all, consultations are always 100% free. There’s no obligation when you call. If we take your case but don’t win, you won’t pay for our services. Contact our Richardson lawyers today to schedule your appointment.

Illegal Drug Use Accident Statistics

The statistics around illegal drug use and truck driving aren’t pretty. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted many surveys about drug accidents. Over the years, their findings have concluded:

From 2013-2014, 20% of drivers surveyed tested positive for illegal drugs.
12.6% tested positive for marijuana.
18% of drivers killed in accidents tested positive for THC.
11% tested positive for other illegal drugs, like MDMA, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

As we examine the dangers of drugs and truck driving, it’s worth making a brief note about marijuana. Is marijuana still an illegal drug? Recreational marijuana is now legal in many states. However, as of 2020, Texas is not one of them.

According to Texas marijuana laws, possessing up to 4 ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor crime punishable with a $4,000 fine or up to a year in prison. Possessing over 4 ounces is a felony that carries more severe punishments.

Medical marijuana is legal in Texas under certain circumstances. However, even with a prescription, driving a truck under the influence of marijuana is still against the law.

How Do Illegal Drugs Affect Driving?

Different drugs have different effects. Some illegal drugs make a user feel unnaturally relaxed, while others create a feeling of extreme energy. Other substances cause hallucinations. In some cases, an illegal drug could produce all of these effects.

All illegal drugs impair driving ability. When you’re high, you’re not your normal self. People on drugs often make unsafe decisions that they would never make while sober. When a drug user gets behind the wheel of a truck, they could cause a fatal accident.

Here are some of the ways specific illegal drugs impair truck driving ability:

Amphetamines

Also known as “speed,” amphetamines include illegal drugs like cocaine, crack, and meth. However, prescription amphetamines such as Adderall, an ADHD medication, are also abused for recreational purposes. Amphetamines cause a burst of fast, high energy. Users often feel manic. They may become nervous, jittery, and paranoid.

When a truck driver uses amphetamines and gets behind the wheel, they drive recklessly. They may speed, drive through red lights, and make unsafe lane changes. This behavior causes accidents.

Psychedelics

LSD, magic mushrooms, and mescaline are the most common psychedelic drugs. These illegal substances cause the user to “trip.” Users experience visual and auditory hallucinations. They may also believe they have superpowers. For example, some users report feeling like they can fly while using psychedelics.

It’s easy to see how psychedelics impair driving. People on psychedelic drugs often crash because they hallucinate objects in the road that aren’t really there. Psychedelics also impair decision-making. A user may become completely detached from reality. They believe they’re invincible and drive recklessly.

MDMA

MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, produces feelings of euphoria. Users may feel happy, energized, and alert. However, driving under the influence of MDMA is still dangerous. The “high” from MDMA can quickly transform into mania, resulting in panic attacks. MDMA also increases a user’s sensitivity to light, sound, and touch.

When driving a truck, an MDMA user may become easily overwhelmed. They could lose control of their truck. They could also speed, misjudge distances, or become distracted. MDMA users sometimes feel nauseous and may become sick when they drive. Each of these dangerous behaviors could cause a crash.

Opioids

Opioids include heroin, oxycontin, and fentanyl. Currently, opioids are the most commonly abused drug in the United States. Many people become addicted to prescription painkillers, then become opioid addicts. These drugs are a leading cause of death in many states.

When using opioids, people become very relaxed and experience difficulty concentrating. Users exhibit poor motor control, slow reaction times, and impaired thinking. These inhibitions make opioid users deadly drivers. Some users even pass out behind the wheel of their trucks.

Marijuana

Marijuana causes a “high” where users feel a calm, sleepy euphoria. Proponents of legalizing marijuana believe that the drug is similar to alcohol. They say marijuana is harmless when consumed responsibly by adults.

However, it’s never responsible to use marijuana and drive. High drivers cause many accidents. They experience impaired judgment and often lose control of their car. Marijuana truck accidents result in property damage, injury, and death.

What to Do After an Accident Caused by Illegal Drug Use

If you’re in a truck accident and you suspect the other driver may be using illegal drugs, call the police. Law enforcement may require the driver to take a drug test.

Then, you can request a police report with the results of the test. This will be valuable information for an accident lawsuit.

Our Richardson, TX attorneys have handled many truck accidents caused by illegal drug use. We understand how victims suffer when drugs cause a truck accident. Contact us today for your free legal consultation.