DUIs as a result of drinking are a common cause of many car accidents, but there recently there has been a sharp increase in another form of DUI: drugged driving. According to Pennsylvania State Police, drugged driving arrests have skyrocketed 43 percent over the last two years. In 2015 alone, 4,431 individuals were charged with DUIs stemming from operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs.
The Difficulties Assessing Drugged Drivers
The state police agency examined 4,492 DUI car accidents in Pennsylvania in 2015. Due to the difficulties present when assessing whether a person is driving while impaired on drugs, officers cannot always bring charges against drivers that may have caused a drugged driving crash. According to Pennsylvania State Police DUI Coordinator Cpl. Scott Davis, the problem assessing drugged drivers is always varying due to new designer drugs and synthetic forms of marijuana.
Drugged Driving Car Accidents in Pennsylvania
Due to the surge of drugged driving across America, drivers in Pennsylvania face a different risk on the road. Different drugs have numerous side effects that can impair driving in ways similar and also different from alcohol. Users of methamphetamine or cocaine may engage in negligent driving practices due to aggressive behavior. Marijuana users may experience lowered reaction times and loss of coordination. Sedatives, such as benzodiazepines, may trigger a loss of equilibrium along with feelings of drowsiness. Any form of impaired driving increases the risk of a car accident.
Car accidents in Pennsylvania continue to occur due to the negligence involved when individuals drive under the influence of drugs. A 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health concluded that 10 million people, aged 12 or older, within the United States admitted to drugged driving that year.
Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers at Geoffrey B. Gompers & Associates Represent Victims of Drugged Driving Car Accidents
If you or someone you know has been a victim of a drugged driving car accident, it is important to contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyer. At Geoffrey B. Gompers & Associates, we will explain your rights and guide you through this difficult and oftentimes complicated process. We have successfully represented victims of DUI crashes and assisted in them receiving the compensation they deserved. Our law offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia and Voorhees, New Jersey. To schedule your free confidential consultation today, call us at 215-567-6600 or contact us online.