Driving under the influence (DUI) is not only a charge someone could receive for driving drunk in Arizona. It is also against the law to drive while under the influence of intoxicating drugs. Driving while drugged could lead to catastrophic car accidents and serious personal injuries. If you or someone close to you has injuries from a drugged driver in Phoenix, Arizona, waste no time in contacting an attorney. The lawyers at Gerber Injury Law have more than 22 years of experience helping clients recover compensation. Call (623) 486-8300 today for a free consultation.
A Phoenix accident attorney is one of the only people you can trust in the aftermath of a serious DUI auto accident. Although you pay your insurance premiums every month, your insurer might not be on your side when you file an injury claim. Insurance companies want to save money, not maximize client payouts. The same is true for the insurer of the impaired driver. Before dealing with insurance companies alone, contact an attorney for claim assistance. Legal representation could ensure you do not accept a lower settlement than your damages demand.
Driving impaired is a reckless act that causes thousands of serious accidents each year. A driver could face a DUI charge for operating a motor vehicle while impaired by any substance. Under Arizona Revised Statute 28-1381, it is unlawful for a driver to be in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating substances. Driving under the influence of any substance – even legal prescription and over-the-counter drugs – is illegal in Arizona. A DUI conviction could lead to jail time and hefty fines. An impaired driver could also face civil liability for any injuries or damages he or she inflicted while driving under the influence.
It will not matter that the driver has a valid prescription from a physician for the drugs he or she took before operating a motor vehicle if those drugs cause driver impairment. It remains against the law for someone to drive while drugged and impaired even if the drugs were legal. Most medications with potential side effects like drowsiness or dizziness will include warning labels or instructions from physicians not to operate heavy machinery while on the drug. It is the driver’s responsibility to understand how a prescription medication will affect his or her ability to drive before getting behind the wheel.
Driving impaired can also refer to driving while under the influence of cannabis. The State of Arizona prohibits possession and use of marijuana unless the user has a valid medical marijuana identification card. Impairment by cannabis legally or illegally could still result in a DUI charge if the driver is too intoxicated to control the motor vehicle. Any trace of cannabis in a driver’s system could be enough to serve as evidence of fault for a DUI accident.
Hiring a lawyer from Gerber Injury Law could help you prove another driver’s intoxication during your car accident claim. We have enough experience representing clients during DUI claims to know how to collect available evidence and build a convincing case. We may be able to obtain you and your family compensation for tangible and intangible losses connected to an impaired driver in Arizona. Discuss your case in more detail today. Call (623) 486-8300 or request a consultation online.