Common Medications That Increase Naples Car Accident Risks

Medications serve a vital purpose and help in managing a wide variety of health conditions, but they can prove dangerous on the road. Driving is an activity that requires focus, quick reaction times, and coordination. While you may have years of experience behind the wheel or otherwise pride yourself on being a safe driver, both prescription and over-the-counter medications can impair your driving abilities.

Our Naples car accident lawyer represents victims in these cases and knows firsthand the serious harm that can result. Our office wants you to be aware of common medications that increase the risk of crashes and how impaired drivers can face legal liability.

Medications That Can Make Car Accidents In Naples More Likely To Happen

Whether you have a winter cold or suffer from allergies, migraines, high blood pressure, anxiety, or other medical conditions, it is important to be aware of how the medicine you take could interfere with your daily activities. This includes driving. Even medications you take regularly or consider harmless could make car accidents in Naples more likely to happen.

The federal Food and Drug Administration advises that some medications take hours for potential effects to kick in, while others are likely to impact your abilities soon after you take them. Those most likely to pose risks to you and other motorists include:

• Over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines;
• Motion sickness drugs, such as Dramamine;
• Weight loss drugs and other stimulants;
• Sleep aids, such as Ambien and Lunesta;
• Muscle relaxers, such as Flexeril;
• Anti-seizure medications;
• Opioid pain relievers;
• Anti-anxiety medications, such as Xanax and Valium;
• Antidepressants, such as Prozac and Zoloft;
• Some blood thinners and high blood pressure medications;

Even when taken as directed, prescription and over-the-counter medicine can cause impacts that increase the likelihood of causing harm. If you take any of the above, talk to your doctor about the potential risks.

Impaired Driving In Naples and Legal Liability

While most drivers are aware of how dangerous drunk driving is, they may not realize how certain medications they are taking increased crash risks. Among the different types of impairments that can occur due to common prescription and over-the-counter medications include:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness;
• Drowsiness;
• Blurred vision;
• Delayed reaction times;
• Lack of coordination;
• Impaired judgment.

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) warns that impaired driving is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Impaired drivers can face serious criminal charges as well as personal liability if they are responsible for a car accident in Naples.

Injured By An Impaired Driver? Contact Our Naples Car Accident Lawyer

Medications can play an essential role in protecting our health but can also create risks. Common prescription and over-the-counter medicines may impact driving ability, making car accidents in Naples more likely to happen.

If you get injured due to an impaired driver, contact Cardinal Law, P.A. While you focus on your recovery, we fight to get the compensation you are entitled to. Request a consultation today with our Naples car accident lawyer.

Sources:

fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/some-medicines-and-driving-dont-mix

flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/education-courses/dui-and-iid/florida-dui-administrative-suspension-laws/#:~:text=Under%20Florida%20law%2C%20Driving%20Under,08%20or%20above.