Posted: July 7, 2015
Everyone knows – or should know – that you should never get behind the wheel of a car while drunk or under the influence of drugs. Furthermore, behaviors associated with distracted driving, such as talking on cell phones or texting, can pose equal or greater safety hazards on the road, leading to accidents and resultant injuries and fatalities.
But Eisbrouch Marsh would like to make New Jersey drivers aware of another kind of impaired driving safety hazard: driving after taking sleep aids. A new study suggests that those taking sleeping pills like Restoril, Desyrel or Ambien, particularly in the first year of usage, had a significantly higher risk of being involved in car accidents. Drivers using such sleep aids need to have a thorough understanding of the risks involved and may want to discuss alternative sleep therapies with their doctors.
If you have suffered loss or injury due to the negligence or recklessness of an impaired or distracted driver, we would like to encourage you to contact a New Jersey car accident lawyer from our firm to discuss possible legal options.
Life-altering implications of impaired driving
Those who have been injured in an accident because of another driver’s negligence related to impaired driving will likely have a strong case to present in a court of law, particularly if that negligence included the use of drugs or alcohol. But the legal system is increasingly recognizing that other causes, such as sleep deprivation and texting while driving, can make a driver equally dangerous.
Researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle have confirmed that sleep impairment related to the use of sleep aids can, in some cases, be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Their study, published in the online journal American Journal of Public Health on June 11, surveyed more than 400,000 Washington state drivers and found a significantly increased risk of car accidents among users of Restoril (temazepam), Desyrel (trazodone) and Ambien (zolpidem).
Attorneys at Eisbrouch Marsh would like to echo the concern expressed by chief researcher Ryan Hansen about those driving while taking sleep aids: “It’s not just a risk to them, if they’re out there driving. It’s also a risk to each and every one of us that’s out on the road with people who are taking the medications.”
Consult with an experienced NJ car accident lawyer
Remember that you need a clear head and eyes on the road when you drive; you owe it to yourself and others to practice responsible behavior behind the wheel. But if you are the victim of someone else’s reckless behavior, it is important that the liable parties be held accountable. Being a car accident victim can mean all sorts of expenses related to medical bills, lost income or earning potential, or rehabilitation therapy. You should not have to foot these bills if someone else is responsible.
Eisbrouch Marsh can make sure that accident victims of distracted or impaired driving receive maximum compensation through the courts. To learn more about your options for pursuing a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey, please call 201-342-5545 to set up a no-cost, no-obligation case review with one of our attorneys.
Resources
- HeathDay, Car Crash Risk Doubles for New Users of Sleeping Pills, Study Finds http://consumer.healthday.com/sleep-disorder-information-33/ambien-news-21/car-crash-risk-doubles-for-new-users-of-sleeping-pills-study-finds-700334.html
- NBC News, Sleeping Pill Use Raises Car Crash Risk, Study Finds http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/sleeping-pills-raise-car-crash-risk-study-finds-n373891
