Over the last decade, the incidence of traffic fatalities in which at least one driver tested positive for drugs has almost doubled.
With the number of U.S. traffic fatalities on the rise in general, federal data shows the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) has also detected a steady succession of drivers who are testing positive for illicit drugs and prescription medications.
The increase has been correlated to the movement to legalize marijuana, despite the fact that experts readily admit they don’t yet fully understand the effects of the drug on drivers. Recreational marijuana is now legal in Alaska, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington State.
Colorado’s highway safety manager, Glenn Davis concedes that Colorado’s decision to legalize recreational marijuana has very likely contributed to the rising number of fatal car accidents.
While recent years have generally seen a decrease in the number of deadly car crashes, the number of those crashes involving a drugged driver has steadily increased. Of the 31,166 deadly crashes in 2015, 21 percent of them involved at least one driver who later tested positive for drugs. That number is up from 2005 when only 12 percent of deadly crashes could be attributed to drugged driving, according to NHSTA. Only between 2014 and 2015, did that number fall slightly- less than 1 percentage point.
NHSTA administrator Mark Rosekind reports that drugs are becoming a more significant factor as a cause of accidents.
Further Reading: Parking Lot Slip and Fall Accidents – Who’s to Blame?
In an unrelated study of weekend, nighttime drivers, 15.1 percent of them tested positive for illicit drugs in 2013 and 2014, as compared to only 12.4 percent in 2007. Marijuana constituted the largest increase- 12.6 percent of drugged drivers in 2013 and 2014 up from 8.6 percent of drugged drivers in 2007.
Experts warn that the effects of drugs on fatal crashes is not yet as significant as the effect of alcohol. Drunk driving is responsible for nearly one-third of traffic accident deaths. However, many drugged drivers can be subject to arrest just like drunk drivers.
In 2014, Rodolfo Alberto Contreras was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for second-degree murder after running a red light at nearly 80 mph and killing a man.
While safety experts are concerned about the increase in drugged driving fatalities, proponents of marijuana contest the idea that use of the drug is causing more traffic fatalities.
Staff attorney, Jolene Forman, with the Drug Policy Alliance, supporters of marijuana legalization, warns against drawing premature conclusions about the effect of marijuana legalization on drivers. She wants policies to be based on empirical facts instead of fearful reactions.
That may be complicated by the fact that drugged driving research is scarce, many of the drivers involved in deadly crashes aren’t tested for drugs, and while marijuana is detectable in the bloodstream for weeks, its strongest effects dissipate after just a few hours.
Additionally, there is no standard level of impairment for marijuana and no widely accepted field sobriety test for the substance like there is for alcohol. A recent study conducted by the University of Iowa’s National Advanced Driving Simulator, found that a blood concentration of 13.1 ug/L of THC, the primary active ingredient in marijuana, resulted in impaired driving similar to a 0.08 blood alcohol content.
J.T. Griffin, the chief government affairs officer with Mothers Against Drunk Driving feels the best way to combat drugged driving is to intensify the work done against drunk driving.
While more research needs to be done to fully understand the effects of marijuana on drivers, everyone can agree that any type of impaired driving is dangerous.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a drunk driving car accident in Broomfield, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, or anywhere in Colorado, it is important to contact our experienced drunk driving accident attorneys immediately. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our committed personal injury lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More
$1,250,000.00 –awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries.
$1,200.000.00 –awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis.
$450,000.00 –settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement.
$425,000 –awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier.
$300,000.00 –settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air.
$300,000.00 –settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager.
$250,000.00 –awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job.
$250,000.00 –settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit.
$150,000.00 –settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury.
$125,000.00 –settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino.
$75,000.00 –awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident.
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to talk to. They made my experience very comfortable through my whole journey.
My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the whole staff at Hull & Zimmerman. Thank
you
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– R. Hamilton
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would just like to send a “thank you” to you and your staff. You have been the
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– D. Hassoun
would
just like to send a “thank you” to you and your staff. You have been the most
professional and efficient law office if have ever dealt with. I will continue
to tell people about the wonderful job you have done for me and my family. Mr.
Zimmerman you are the most professional lawyer and I truly appreciate all you
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I was
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were hit by an uninsured driver in 2006 and my husband was unable to work for
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Exceeded expectations!
– T. Thiel
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accident first happened, Rick went to bat for me right away to make sure that I
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appreciated the fact that Rick Hull always explained everything to me. No matter
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addition, he explained certain aspects of Colorado law thoroughly to me so that
I could make an informed decision that best suited my needs.
11:27 pm
February 15th, 2017