Drugged driving has been on the rise for the last seven or eight years. It was suspected to be involved in a recent head-on crash in Warren County Kentucky that resulted in two people being injured. When emergency personnel arrived at the scene of the crash, two vehicles were on the road’s shoulder, and an injured 40-year-old woman was lying on the ground. Police believe that the woman crossed over into the opposite lane of traffic and hit a car driven by a 49-year-old man. According to News Channel 5, Warren County Sheriff’s Department spokesman reported that the woman was suspected to have been in possession of meth and other drugs. She was flown to a hospital in Tennessee, and the man was treated at the scene.
Drugs are More Difficult to Detect
A recent report that the Governors Highway Safety Association participated in concluded that the number of drivers who died from car crashes in which drugs were detected surpassed those who died in crashes where only alcohol was detected. What comes to issue for law enforcement is that driving under the influence of drugs is more difficult to detect on the side of the road than driving under the influence of alcohol.
Drugs and Alcohol
Many impaired driver are combining different drugs along with alcohol. Unlike driving under the influence of alcohol, there isn’t any type of a breath test that can detect drugs. Only blood tests can be used for that purpose, and without the consent of the suspect, a search warrant must first be obtained drawing blood. What complicates the search warrant issue in Kentucky is that any testing must be done within two hours of the cessation of driving. Unless a judge is on duty specifically for this purpose, it ordinarily takes longer than that just to get the warrant. A person who is suspected of driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs might have a blood alcohol content of under .08, but combined with one or more drugs, he or she might be significantly impaired.
Prescription Drugs
Some drivers are surprised to be taken into custody on a charge of driving under the influence of drugs when they’re using medications that were prescribed by their own physicians. They simply don’t realize that many medications cause drowsiness or dizziness and affect reaction time, and they’re not aware of how medications can affect their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Then, they go out on the road and injure innocent victims.
Contact a Kentucky Car Accident Lawyer
All drivers have a legal duty to comply with applicable traffic laws and be free from negligence. A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any combination of the two could be used against a driver to show negligent conduct. Our law firm has handled numerous cases involving victims who were seriously injured by drunk, drugged or otherwise impaired drivers. If you were injured in an accident that was caused by a drunk, drugged or impaired driver, contact our offices right away to arrange for a free consultation and case review.
