The Number of Drug Impaired Vehicle Drivers In Pennsylvania Is Skyrocketing and In Fact Has Doubled Since 2004 - Car Accident Victim’s Lawyer Weighs In
Over the last three decades as a Pennsylvania car accident and truck accident lawyer, I have shared the pain with all too many parents and families who have suffered losses or catastrophic injury and wrongful death as a result of a car accident caused by a driver while intoxicated by virtue of drugs or alcohol.
While we often read of high statistics for DUI, statistics are not normally kept for those driving a motor vehicle while high on the intoxicating drugs. Law enforcement officials claim that this situation is a growing challenge and state arrest statistics of drivers charged while operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs have more than doubled since 2004 in Pennsylvania.
Our neighboring state, New Jersey, has approved a bill legalizing medical marijuana and the rising rate of drug impaired drivers presents a problem in enforcement. Most people can easily recognize a person intoxicated by the effects of alcohol, but not everyone knows what a drug impaired person looks like. Many times our experts and investigators have been able to determine that a driver who killed or catastrophically injured one of our client’s was under the influence of prescription medication or other intoxicating drugs at the time of the accident despite the fact that the initial police investigation never revealed the same. Law enforcement officials require probable cause to obtain blood tests when a driver is suspected of driving drug impaired and there is no breathalyzer or other type of analytic tool that can determine the use of drugs by an impaired driver.
As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who has steadfastly maintained a hard stance against driving while intoxicated, I believe the issue of increased drug impaired drivers needs to be seriously addressed by the legislatures of Pennsylvania and other states in order to prevent senseless deaths and catastrophic injuries to innocent victims of car and other motor vehicle accidents. Laws with strict enforcement and penalty provisions are called for.
Jeffrey Reiff is a partner in the law firm of Reiff & Bily and has represented generations of motor vehicle and car accident victims for over three decades. Recently the catastrophic injury law firm of Reiff & Bily has joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and together our attorneys have been awarded over $2 billion dollars since 1957 representing the rights of catastrophically injured victims and those wrongfully killed due to the negligence of others. We always offer a free, confidential no obligation consultation. For more information, please contact us online at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
