Lancaster, TX DWI Accident Lawyer

The decision to drive while intoxicated demonstrates recklessness on the part of a driver. When a person causes a car accident because they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they may be held responsible for the harm they have caused. These collisions can destroy the lives of victims, causing catastrophic injuries that may lead to enormous medical expenses, lost income, and emotional trauma. In these situations, victims will need to understand what steps they can take to achieve justice.

Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. provides representation for people who have been injured by drunk drivers in Lancaster, Texas. Our attorney works to hold drunk drivers responsible when they have made the choice to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. He will work to ensure that victims can receive the full compensation needed to address their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other ways they have been affected. With his help, victims can make sure they will have the financial resources they need to rebuild their lives.

Intoxication That Can Lead to Car Accidents

Drivers may become intoxicated due to the use of different types of substances that may affect their ability to drive safely. Any substance that leads to physical or mental impairments that affect a person's ability to operate a vehicle may be considered intoxication, regardless of whether the substance is legal or illegal.

Alcohol Impairment

Alcohol is the most common intoxicating substance involved in impaired driving cases. Alcohol will affect the central nervous system, leading to slower reaction times, impaired judgment, reduced coordination, and blurred or double vision.

Even when a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is below the legal limit, alcohol can affect their ability to drive safely. At 0.02 BAC, a driver may experience a loss of judgment, and they may begin to have difficulty tracking moving objects. At 0.05 BAC, a person's coordination will decrease, steering may become more difficult, and they may have trouble responding to emergency situations. By 0.08 BAC, the legal limit for adult drivers, a person's concentration, information processing, and ability to maintain control of a vehicle will be significantly impaired.

People metabolize alcohol at different rates depending on their weight, gender, food consumption, and other factors. Some drivers may believe that they are safe to drive after having one or two drinks. However, impairment will often begin before a person starts to feel intoxicated. In many cases, drunk drivers believe they can drive safely when their abilities are severely compromised.

Marijuana and Cannabis Products

As attitudes toward marijuana have shifted, and some states have legalized recreational marijuana use, more drivers may attempt to operate vehicles after using this drug. Texas has not legalized recreational marijuana, but people may still use the drug and attempt to drive after doing so.

Marijuana can affect a person's cognitive functions, coordination, reaction time, and their ability to track moving objects. THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, can affect a person's ability to maintain lane position, judge distances, and respond appropriately to unexpected events.

Illegal Drugs

Controlled substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and other illegal drugs can severely impair a person's driving ability. Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine may create false confidence and encourage a person to engage in aggressive, risky behavior. These substances can cause hallucinations, paranoia, and severely impaired judgment. Depressants and opioids can lead to slower reaction times, drowsiness, and impaired coordination. Hallucinogens can distort a person's perceptions and make it impossible to respond appropriately to road conditions and traffic.

Prescription Drugs and Over-the-Counter Medications

Many legal medications include warnings against operating vehicles while taking them. Prescription pain medications containing opioids, medications used to address anxiety, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, and certain antihistamines can cause drowsiness, dizziness, slowed reaction times, or impaired judgment. Some medications may affect people differently, and combining medications can create unexpected interactions and impairments.

Drivers have a responsibility to understand how their medications affect them and to avoid driving if they are unable to operate a vehicle safely. The fact that a doctor prescribed a medication or that it can be purchased without a prescription does not excuse driving while impaired. When drivers cause accidents because medications affected their driving ability, they can be held liable, just as they would for an accident caused by alcohol or illegal drug impairment.

Intoxication by Multiple Substances

In some cases, drivers may be under the influence of multiple intoxicating substances. This can lead to especially dangerous impairments. Alcohol combined with marijuana, certain prescription medications, or other drugs can increase the effects of intoxication. These combinations may create unpredictable reactions, including severe drowsiness or a loss of bodily coordination.

Some people may believe that combining substances in small amounts is safer than using larger quantities of a single substance. However, the combination of substances can often lead to more severe impairment with unpredictable effects. Drivers who cause accidents while impaired by multiple substances may be held liable for causing harm to others.