Drugged Drivers Cause Serious Car Accident Injuries & Fatalaties
Last April, 27-year old Tashe N. Disroe of New Orleans died from injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a driver who was allegedly impaired by drugs at the time of the accident. The driver was charged with vehicular homicide, careless operation, and driving under suspension. Unfortunately, the number of drivers on our roads impaired by drugs seems to be increasing.
Drugged Driving Increasing as Drunk Driving Decreasing
DUI accidents can cause traumatic injuries for the driver and passengers of other vehicles. Another person’s bad judgment can change your life forever. The good news is that studies from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Admiration) indicate that the number of drunk drivers is falling. Unfortunately, another problem is rising that can be just as dangerous to drivers and others on the road — drugged driving.
The NHTSA’s National Roadside Survey asks drivers to voluntarily submit to drug and alcohol tests when stopped at roadblocks. The NHTSA has conducted the survey five times in the past 40 years including 2007 and 2014. Between 2007 and 2014, the number of drivers with alcohol in their system decreased by almost one-third. However, the number of drivers who tested positive for drugs increased. Almost one-fourth of drivers tested positive for a legal or illegal drug that could impair their ability to operate a motor vehicle.
Drugged driving can impair a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle as severely as alcohol. Drugged driving is a crime regardless of whether the drug is an illegal drug or a legally prescribed drug. If the person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner, the driver can be charged with impaired driving and face serious criminal punishments if convicted.
Am I Entitled to Damages From a Drugged Driver for a NoLA Car Accident?
If you or a family member has been injured due to an accident caused by a drugged driver, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. You may be entitled to receive compensation for financial and non-economic damages including but not limited to:
- Medical bills (including past and future medical expenses)
- Lost wages (including past and future lost income)
- Loss of earning capacity if you are unable to earn the same income as you did prior to the drugged driving accident
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Funeral, cremation, and/or burial expense in the event of a death
- Physical pain, emotional suffering, and mental anguish
- Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries
In order to receive compensation from the drugged driver, your personal injury attorney must show that the driver was impaired by drugs at the time of the accident and the accident was caused by this impairment. Our drugged driving accident attorneys investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident including subpoenaing toxicology reports from law enforcement agencies to show that the at-fault driver was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.
New Orleans Drugged Driving Accident Attorneys
The Olinde Firm represents victims who have been injured in a drugged driving accident. Contact our office for a free case evaluation. We never charge an attorney fee until we win compensation for your damages and injuries. Call us today for your free legal consultation. Our car accident attorneys want to help you receive the compensation you deserve from a drugged driver.