New Hampshire Car Accidents Involving Impaired Drivers

August 18, 2021

The public generally associates impaired driving accidents with negligent drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol. However, many New Hampshire accidents involve drivers impaired by prescription medications. While prescription medications may be necessary for individuals to function and remain healthy, these medications can also cause significant impairment to the user.

Many prescription medications cause the user to have a slower reaction time because of drowsiness or confusion. Although medications typically have warnings on their bottles, many users fail to review the warnings or abide by them. Moreover, even when the user takes the medication as prescribed, they may still experience adverse or unexpected side effects. These side effects generally occur when the user mixes medications or uses alcohol with the medication.

Prescription and illicit medications can impair a person’s ability to make educated and safe decisions while driving. Further, the person may experience diminished control over their gross motor skills. This combination can be deadly to the driver and anyone in their path. For example, local news reports described a fatal New Hampshire crash. A 66-year-old Maine woman admitted that she took nerve and heart medication the morning of the accident and drank three glasses of wine. She also consumed a THC gummy the night before.

The woman was traveling northbound when her vehicle veered to the left and sideswiped another car. The woman then crossed through a grassy median into the southbound lane and crashed into a Jeep Wrangler. The collision caused the Jeep to roll over and ejected one of the passengers. The man who was thrown from the vehicle died from his injuries. Emergency responders transported the other passengers in the Jeep to a local hospital. The woman was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. At the hospital, she told officers that she began to feel drowsy, and she believes she “blacked out” shortly before the incident. The state is charging the woman with aggravated DUI.

Various types of over-the-counter and prescription drugs may lead to a New Hampshire car accident. Some common drugs that can cause car accidents include antidepressants, opioids, allergy medications, sleep aids, anxiety medication, antihistamines, decongestants, diet pills, and stimulants. Most drivers who cause an accident while on these medications report experiencing similar symptoms just before the crash. The symptoms typically include sleepiness, blurred vision, dizziness, confusion, fainting, and nausea.

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries or died in an accident with an impaired driver, contact the New Hampshire car accident lawyers at Peter Thompson & Associates. The attorneys at our firm have consistently been voted “Best Personal Injury Lawyers” by Market Surveys of America. We pride ourselves on providing New Hampshire injury victims with compassion, respect, and zealous representation. We handle New Hampshire accident claims involving motor vehicles, pedestrians, dangerous products, premises liability, and medical malpractice. Our attorneys have recovered significant amounts of compensation for our clients and their families. Contact our office at 1-800-804-2004 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney on our team.