Sudbury personal injury lawyers often handle cases where innocent people have been badly hurt in motor-vehicle accidents caused by impaired driving.

These accidents happen when the at-fault person has consumed alcohol, drugs or medication that interferes with his/her ability to control the vehicle, resulting in fatal collisions.

When we discuss impaired driving, what immediately comes to mind is someone who’s returning home from a party or a night out after having had one too many drinks, or a person whose judgment is completely impeded by mind and body affecting substances.

However, something that we often fail to consider are the equally hazardous effects of consuming over-the-counter or prescription medications that have been prescribed by a qualified medical specialist.

These medications comprise cough and cold remedies, flu treatments, anti-histamines, allergy drugs, pain-killers, muscle relaxants, eye-drops, nebulizers etc. and they are necessary to deal with a diagnosed health condition.

However, since they can cause side-effects that affect your body and mind, serious accidents can result if people drive or use machinery in factories etc after consuming them.

Motor-vehicle offenses committed under the influence of alcohol, recreational drugs and prescription medication are all considered to be equal. There is no leniency for drivers under the influence of any of these.

If you or a dear one has been injured in an accident caused by a driver whose abilities were impaired by prescription medications, consult a Sudbury personal injury lawyer who regularly handles such cases. You may be entitled to compensation.

Effects of Prescription Medications

Most of us would never drive under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs but we tend to be casual about taking prescription medicines. These drugs are not illegal or illicit, they have not been taken to enhance your mood or satisfy a craving. However, many prescribed and over-the-counter drugs can make a person unfit to drive. If someone causes an accident while under the influence of such a drug, it’s still considered to be an impaired driving offense.

Such medications include opiates like morphine and codeine, anti-histamines which cause drowsiness, cough remedies containing anti-histamines which should be taken only at bed-time, anti-anxiety drugs which calm the nervous system, causing muscle relaxation, impaired judgment, blurred vision, etc.

Common side-effects of prescription drugs include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness or loss of balance and orientation
• Eye-hand co-ordination problems
• Blurred vision
• Lack of concentration
• Impaired judgment
• Memory problems
• Physical unease like stomach upset, bloating or gas
• Severe dehydration
• Mood changes

The drugs commonly prescribed by physicians are meant to deal with a particular condition. They may be tranquilizers, anti-histamines, anti-depressants, sleeping pills, decongestants, pain-killers, etc and most doctors advise patients to avoid driving or doing hazardous outdoor work while they’re taking them.

Common side-effects can also vary from person to person, and hence, some people may react more severely than others. Follow your doctor’s advice and avoid driving as much as possible.

The government has recently made important changes to the laws regarding impaired driving.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a driver who has consumed prescription drugs, consult an experienced Sudbury personal injury lawyer immediately to ensure that your rights and interests are safeguarded.