When a Denver driver gets behind the wheel while intoxicated by prescription drugs, the consequences can be severe or even fatal. Prescription drugs can cause intoxication in a great many ways. The effects of these drugs can make it difficult or downright impossible for a driver to operate a motor vehicle safely. This will inevitably lead to terrible accidents—ones that can change your life, and the lives of your family forever.
If you or someone you care about has been killed or injured as the result of a driver under the influence of prescription drugs in Denver or the greater Denver metropolitan area, an experienced personal injury attorney at accidentdenver.com can represent you. You deserve financial compensation for your injuries and losses.
Prescription Drugged Driver Accident Lawyers in Denver, Colorado
When you are involved in an accident caused by a driver driving under the influence (DUI) of prescription drugs in the greater Denver, Colorado area, you need an attorney knowledgeable in personal injury law to represent your interests. Injuries resulting from a driver under the influence of prescription drugs can greatly affect your life for years to come. You may be entitled to significant financial compensation if you were injured as the result of an intoxicated driver.
No matter how small or how big your case may be, the accidentdenver.com team will keep you informed every step of the way throughout the process and they will handle every detail seamlessly to put you on the road to recovery. Our team at accidentdenver.com pride themselves on clear, honest, and open communication with each and every one of their clients.
Our attorneys at accidentdenver.com take cases on a contingency basis, which means that you pay nothing until your case has reached a favorable resolution. Let us put our years of experience to work for you and your loved ones.
Prescription Drugs and DUI in Colorado
Most people do not first think about DUI and prescription drugs as going together. Most people think of illegal narcotics or alcohol when they think about DUI. While those tend to be more common, all too often prescription drugs lead to accidents on the road. Many of those involve very serious injuries or even fatalities.
Legal or Illegal: The Results Are the Same
When a driver gets behind the wheel under the influence of prescription drugs, it typically occurs in one of two types of circumstances. First, the driver of the vehicle may have a valid and perfectly legal reason to take the prescription drug that caused the intoxication. When this is the case, taking the medication is not illegal. However, when a prescription drug causes a person to become intoxicated and that person chooses to get behind the wheel, this act is illegal and can be the basis for a personal injury lawsuit if that driver caused you or your loved ones' injuries.
On the other side, many individuals obtain legal prescription drugs in an illegal manner. This means that although the drug itself is legal, the manner in which the person bought, stole, or however else they acquired it was not through legal means. No matter how the person obtained the prescription drug, driving under its influence is both illegal and incredibly dangerous.
Common Prescription Drugs That Cause Intoxication
Even though these particular drugs are "legal," their intoxicating effects are well known to the general and medical community. When taken in conjunction with driving, your life and the lives of others are needlessly put at risk. Common prescription drugs that may lead to intoxication include, but are not limited to:
- hydromorphone
- methadone
- buspirone
- naltrexone
- morphine
- oxycodone
- antihistamines
- antidepressants
- buprenorphine
- tramadol
- Xanax
- prescription decongestants
- fentanyl
- zoloft
- cough medicines
Each of the drugs listed above can cause significant intoxication in a person, leading to the possibility of accidents on Denver roads. If a person intoxicated by a prescription drug was the cause of your injuries, you have the right to file a legal action against him or her and pursue financial compensation.
Side Effects of Prescription Drugs
Different medicines have different intended effects and possible side effects. Many drugs have an intended intoxicating effect, while many others have the possibility of causing intoxication. In either case, when a person chooses to get behind the wheel in this condition, he or she should be held responsible for any damages caused.
Intended effects and side effects of prescription drugs that may cause intoxication include, but are not limited to:
- loss of consciousness,
- euphoria (feeling ecstatic or "high"),
- poor decision-making ability,
- anxiety,
- drowsiness or sleepiness,
- overdose and death,
- decreased reaction time,
- slow heart rate, and
- inability to concentrate or focus.
Impacts on Driver Reaction Times
Of the effects listed above, a great many impact a person's ability to react to situations occurring on the road. This can include both normal things that occur every day on the road (such as another vehicle driving next to you in the adjacent lane) or abnormal things (such as a broken red light).
Many prescription drugs significantly decrease a person's reaction times to these outside stimuli. This means that a person is not able to react as quickly as he or she would otherwise be able to do. This decrease in reaction time, no matter how small, can mean the difference between life or death for other drivers. A driver with decreased reaction time cannot:
- make quick decisions,
- react to stopping traffic quickly,
- handle lane changes appropriately, and/or
- deal with other drivers and their impact on the driver.
Decreased reaction time is one of the most debilitating factors that intoxicated drivers face, and this is no less true for those under the influence of prescription drugs, even when legally prescribed to that driver.
Consult an Experienced Denver Prescription Drug Accident Lawyer
Intoxicated drivers are dangerous, and when they are the cause of your injuries, you have the right to file a lawsuit to recover financial compensation from the responsible party.
If you or someone you care about has been injured as the result of a driver under the influence of prescription drugs in the greater Denver metropolitan area, please do not hesitate to contact accidentdenver.com today at 303-642-8888 for a free consultation. We are here waiting for you.