Impaired Driving in Boca Raton: Who is at Fault When a Driver is Under the Influence of Legal Drugs?

Fall means football, pumpkins, and fall festivals. It also means fall allergy season in Florida. Sneezing, itchy throats, and watery eyes can take the joy out of the season. Fortunately, your local drugstore has several medications that can quickly stop your symptoms without a prescription. However, when you seek relief from a box of Benadryl or Zyrtec, you could be increasing your risk of a Boca Raton car accident.

Most consumers assume that any medication available without a prescription is perfectly safe. In fact, most of us read only dosage instructions; we skip over the warnings. Yet, over-the-counter medicines have been linked to side-effects that can affect a person’s ability to drive. These include:

• Drowsiness and fatigue
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Light-headedness
• Insomnia
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Slowed reactions
• Trouble focusing

You might feel that although you are a little dizzy, you can concentrate well enough to drive. But when drivers feel tired or unwell, they are more likely to make the simple driving mistakes that can lead to a serious Boca Raton car accident. An improper turn, failure to yield, or missing a stop sign can cause serious injury, or even death.

Non-prescription medicines that affect driving include:

• Cold medicines
• Allergy medications
• Sleep aids
• Heartburn and indigestion medications
• Motion sickness medications
• Diet pills
• Energy pills
• PMS medications
• Medicines that treat a combination of symptoms

To avoid endangering yourself and your family in a Boca Raton car crash, always read the inserts and warnings that come with your medications. If there is a warning that the medication may affect driving ability, wait until you know how the medication affects you before you drive.

One-third of all Florida car accidents involve a medicated driver. A person who drives while impaired by medication is considered a drugged-driver, even if the medication is legal and available without a prescription. If that driver causes an accident, he is liable for the injuries that he causes.

If you are injured by a medicated driver in Boca Raton, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, property damage, and lost wages. For more information, request a free copy of The Florida Accident Workbook: Tools, Tips & Tactics to Resolve Your Injury Claim. To discuss your accident with a Boca Raton accident injury lawyer, contact David Glatthorn at 866.413.5525.