While drunk driving accidents show some decrease, drug related accidents are up.

A recent study published by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that the use of drugs by drivers involved in fatal car accidents has increased over the past several years, even as the number of drunk driving accidents has decreased.

The study looked at the number of drivers who died in car accidents from 2005 to 2009. According to the study’s results, the rate of drug use among drivers in fatal motor vehicle accidents over the five year period increased by 5 percent. The study found that 18 percent of the drivers who died as a result of the accidents were under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident. The drugs detected in the drivers’ systems included legal and illegal drugs, such as narcotics, depressants, stimulants and steroids, among others. The study did not conclude whether the driver’s drug use was a contributing factor in the motor vehicle accident.

While all states have laws prohibiting the use of certain drugs while driving, including the use of
prescription and over-the-counter medications that impair driving performance, enforcement of these laws has been problematic. This is due in part to the fact that it is more difficult to determine when a driver has been operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs than it is for alcohol. Regardless, the use of drugs can have a severe impact on an individual’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. Just like alcohol, drugs can impair a person’s judgment, decrease their reaction time and cause them to make mistakes that may result in an innocent person’s death or personal injury.

Of the top ten causes of personal injury, vehicle crashes regardless the cause are number one. The others include machinery whether at home or at work, medical mal-practice and others.

Studies have shown that personal injuries are one of the major contributors to family stress. You are unable to perform daily tasks, medical bills mount and the mental and physical pain becomes too much to bear. Personal injuries can come in many different forms whether through negligence or unforeseen circumstances.

In Connecticut like other states the law allows for those damages to be compensated. Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn, compensation by insurance companies, the primary source of compensation, is decreasing. Insurance companies are finding it easier to settle out of court for smaller amounts. The primary reason is that individuals are in need of cash due to the economy. This is where CT personal injury lawyers come into the picture.

About the Author

The Hartford personal injury lawyer and auto accident lawyers of are committed to helping injured people get the compensation they need for medical bills, lost wages, car accident repairs, and pain and suffering. We have helped thousands of clients recover millions of dollars throughout Connecticut, including Bridgeport, Hartford, Milford, New Britain, and Waterbury.

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