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Marijuana and Driving

Marijuana is legal in the state of Colorado, but marijuana and driving are still an illegal and dangerous mix. Marijuana can cause a person to become intoxicated, and a DUI is still illegal. Further, it can cause side effects that greatly impact a person's ability to drive safely. This can cause accidents that cause significant harm to other drivers or even cause fatalities.

While marijuana is often considered a less serious "drug" than others (such as cocaine, heroin, etc.) the effects on driving are still dangerous and significant. When your injuries are caused by an intoxicated person under the influence of marijuana, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against that person to recover financial compensation for your injuries.

If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed as the result of a marijuana-related accident in Denver or the greater Denver metropolitan area, an experienced personal injury attorney at accidentdenver.com can fight for the financial compensation you deserve.

Marijuana-Related Accident Lawyers in Denver, Colorado

When you are involved in an accident caused by a drugged driver driving under the influence (DUI) of marijuana in the greater Denver, Colorado area, you need an experienced legal team to fight for your rights. Damages resulting from a driver under the influence of marijuana can affect your life for many years to come. If you suffered an injury because another driver was under the influence of drugs, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

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.

Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana

Like nine other states, the state of Colorado has legalized the use of recreational and medical marijuana. Because of this legalization, the availability and use of the drug have gone up exponentially. As a result of this increased use, there has been a significant increase in the number of drivers on Colorado roads under marijuana's influence.

While marijuana use is itself legal, using it and getting behind the wheel is still illegal and also constitutes negligent conduct. The intoxicating effects of marijuana make it a dangerous thing to use in conjunction with driving.

Side Effects of Marijuana Use

A person who uses marijuana can do so in a number of ways, including smoking it, eating it, or vaping it. The intoxicating effects of marijuana make it extremely dangerous when combined with the use of a motor vehicle.

These side effects include, but are not limited to:

  • decreased reaction time
  • paranoia
  • slow-moving
  • loss of consciousness
  • red or watery eyes
  • distorted sense of time
  • decreased motor skills
  • mild hallucinations (more severe hallucinations can occur if the marijuana is "laced" with other substances)
  • lower inhibitions
  • distractibility
  • altered sensory perception (louder noises, brighter colors, etc.)
  • depression
  • listlessness
  • poor decision making
  • sleepiness or drowsiness

The level and intoxicating effect of marijuana can differ greatly based on a number of factors, including:

  • the person's tolerance for marijuana
  • the type of plant used
  • the THC levels present in the marijuana
  • the time it was used
  • how much was used
  • the size, weight, and other biological factors of the user
  • how the drug was ingested

Proving the Other Driver Was Intoxicated

Proving the other driver was intoxicated by marijuana is a powerful method of making your case. To do so, you and your attorney will start an investigation into the facts of the case and determine how best to prove the other driver was under the influence of marijuana.

Police Reports

When an accident occurs, especially in one with injuries, the police are called. Law enforcement will put together reports that detail what occurred, what the officers observed, and whether arrests were made. When officers appear at an accident scene, they are trained to look for signs of intoxication in the drivers involved in the accident. If an officer notices signs of intoxication like those listed above, they will take note of these in the police report. The report, or the testimony of the officer who wrote it, can be powerful evidence in your personal injury case.

Field Sobriety Tests

Field sobriety tests are conducted at the scene of an accident on a driver suspected of being intoxicated. Officers are trained to look for clues of intoxication based on how a person performs on these tests. This evidence can be presented to help prove the other driver was under the influence of marijuana.

Blood and Urine Tests

As part of the investigation and after an arrest, officers will usually take a blood or urine sample to determine if a person was under the influence at the time of the accident. This blood or urine test evidence can be used in court to help prove your case.

The DUI Case

If the other driver is charged with and successfully convicted of a driving under the influence charge related to your accident, you can use that conviction as conclusive proof that the other driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident. You will still have to technically prove that the driver caused the accident, but this greatly reduces the difficulty and time involved in proving your case.

Consult an Experienced Denver Drugged Driving Accident Lawyer

The injuries you suffer from an intoxicated driver can change your life forever. Marijuana may be legal, but using it and driving is not. Injuries caused by "high" drivers should appropriately be compensated by those drivers. You should not have to pay because of the negligence of someone else.

If you or a loved one has been injured in any sort of drugged driving vehicle accident 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.

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