Drivers in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice are fully aware that laws are in place in Florida against driving while drunk. In fact, unlike distracted driving which is illegal but not considered a criminal act, drunk driving is a criminal violation, not a civil one, with possible jail time attached to a drunk driving charge as a penalty. However, driving while under the influence applies to more than just alcohol. Driver impairment can arise from the use of illegal drugs as well, such as marijuana, and Sarasota drivers can be charged with driving under the influence if they are using drugs such as marijuana as well.

What may surprise some drivers in Bradenton and Venice, however, is that even drugs considered legal may also fall under the purview of being considered a substance that can result in charges if people have consumed them before driving.

Legal Doesn’t Mean Harmless

Drivers should always remember that whether a substance is considered legal or not has no bearing on its ability to impair driving ability. Alcohol is a prime example of this. Even though it is not illegal to purchase or consume alcohol, it is illegal to drink it, then drive. The same is true for marijuana. Other states have legalized it for recreational use, similar to alcohol or tobacco, while Florida only permits it for medicinal purposes with a prescription. However, marijuana’s ability to impair reflexes and judgment is well documented, so even with a prescription, consuming marijuana and then driving can result in accidents and criminal charges afterward.

The same is true for some other types of prescription medication. In Florida, the following medications, while legal to consume if prescribed by a doctor, are illegal to use if you plan to drive:

Opioids

Hydrocodone, better known as Vicodin, codeine, Fentanyl, and morphine, are all considered opioids, usually prescribed as painkillers. In their function to help pain management, they work very well. However, they also bring side effects such as euphoria, drowsiness, and lightheadedness, which can severely impact situation awareness and reflexes.

People who drive while under the influence of opioids will be slower to react to road situations than those who drive sober.

Stimulants

Some medications are stimulants that are prescribed to help with focus and concentration. Adderall and Ritalin, for example, are sometimes prescribed to people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, to help improve focus and situation awareness. In theory, these drugs should help, not hinder driving, and to some extent, this can be the case.

However, the biggest risk with these stimulants is what happens after they wear off. The tiredness and fatigue that come several hours after consuming Adderall or Ritalin can leave drivers in the same state of poor awareness and drowsiness as someone awake all night.

Tranquilizers

Medications such as Diazepam, more popularly known as Valium, Alprazolam, or Xanax, are usually prescribed as anti-anxiety medications to help with issues such as alcohol withdrawal, depression, and a host of other problems.

However, similar to opioids, these types of medications can severely impair judgment and reflexes. In addition to their anti-anxiety properties, tranquilizers have a host of potential side effects, including lightheadedness, difficulty with coordination, clumsiness and unsteadiness, drowsiness, and a host of others, depending on the specific medication that has been taken.

If you’ve been in a traffic accident where the other driver claims they did not consume alcohol but were under the influence of prescription medication, you may have been injured by someone committing a criminal act. Talk to an experienced auto accident attorney about what’s happened to you. You can get the help you need to get compensation for an injury that happened to you while someone else was committing an illegal act.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a life-threatening illness. In Manatee County, over 100 people lose their lives to TBI every year. According to the CDC, auto accidents are the second leading cause of TBIs only after falls. Unfortunately, one of the reasons TBIs can be so deadly is that they often have delayed symptoms. People can experience trauma to their heads and feel fine outside of a bit of a headache. Then days, weeks, and even months later, symptoms can start appearing.

Why The Early Diagnosis Of TBI Matters

As with any injury, the earlier the diagnosis the better. Early diagnosis can catch injuries before they become life-threatening. An early diagnosis also offers a broader range and more effective treatment options. TBI is an injury that worsens over time. An early diagnosis can also help save you a lot of pain. That is why, no matter how you feel after an auto accident, you need to always see a physician. This is especially true if you incurred trauma to your head.

From a legal perspective, an early diagnosis is also very important. If you get diagnosed with a TBI immediately following a car accident, it is easy to connect the injury to the accident. Showing that the accident caused your injury will make it easy to fight for fair compensation. Further, if your diagnosis does not come until after the accident, insurance companies can use that to get out of paying. They will argue that your TBI came after the accident. Even if they do acknowledge the connection, they can argue the injury is not that severe. Otherwise, you would have sought treatment sooner. This can cost you a lot.

Delayed Symptoms To Watch For Following An Accident

Even after you’ve seen a physician, it’s important to monitor for symptoms of a TBI. Without extensive and very expensive diagnostic screening, certain types of TBI can be missed. If you aren’t exhibiting symptoms, the physicians may decide these often painful and invasive screenings are excessive until you do show symptoms. Thus, it is very important to monitor your symptoms following an accident and stay in close contact with your physician. Update your doctor if anything with your health changes, even if it seems minor.

Here are some of the delayed symptoms of mild TBIs:

● Headaches
● Sensitivity to light
● Depression, anxiety, or sudden mood changes
● Fatigue and sleepiness
● Insomnia
● Brain fog and memory issues
● Dizziness
● Loss of balance
● Changes in taste and smell

Here are some of the delayed symptoms of more severe TBI:

● Numbness or tingling in your limbs
● Difficulty speaking
● Extreme mood swings
● Amnesia or total memory loss
● The inability to think
● Paralysis
● Fluid coming out of ears or nose
● Seizures
● Coma

You can learn more about what symptoms to monitor from the Mayo Clinic and by speaking to your physician.

TBI Following An Auto Accident

TBIs are very severe injuries that can impact both your cognitive and physical capabilities. In some cases, these injuries are so severe they make it so you can no longer live your normal life. You cannot work or enjoy your hobbies, and your future has become unclear. TBI also requires a lot of medical care. This can get very expensive, especially with complex diagnostic testing, treatments, and therapy. In many cases, TBI is financially devastating. However, you do have rights.

If you have a TBI as the result of a Bradenton accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Contact the knowledgeable TBI attorneys at Justice Pays. We offer a free case review to help you understand your legal options following an accident.

People drive all kinds of cars in Sarasota. Therefore, it should come as no surprise when you see Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge vehicles on Washington Boulevard. Of course, there are tons of other options too. However, today’s focus is on one particular brand, Subaru. Do you own one of these impressive machines and use it to travel along Fruitville Road, US 41, and more?

If that’s the case, and it is a particular model, it’s in your best interest to park the vehicle now. That is because it could have an issue that can cause its wheels to fall off. Don’t do a double-take. You read that correctly. Its tires may fall off.

1,182 Subaru Solterra Vehicles

Driving in Sarasota County can be pretty dangerous, even if your vehicle is in top form. So, just imagine how things will be if you’re traveling at 55 miles per hour or more, and one or more of your tires come off. It has come to our attention that there are 1,182 Subaru Solterra vehicles in circulation that could have under-torqued hub bolts. This dilemma stems from repairs made by a third-party contractor for a recall.

Subaru believes the repair specifications were not followed. Hence, the under-torqued bolts might exist. As a result, the wheels can become loose, increasing the risk of a crash. This problem is so significant that a do not drive order has been issued for the Solterra vehicles. Subaru is supposed to contact the owners of affected models directly.

Then, they will need to schedule services with their local dealerships to get the bolts tightened. Whatever you do, address the matter sooner rather than later because it could put you and others in danger. Have you been injured by a defective product or negligent manufacturer?

Seek Compensation For Your Damages

Manufacturers or sellers are responsible for the harm defective products produce. Therefore, if it can be proven that negligence occurred in some form, you might have the grounds to seek compensation for your damages. Don’t underestimate auto manufacturers. They typically have legal teams standing by, waiting to discredit injury and wrongful death claims.

Why do people need monetary settlements/judgments following injuries caused by negligence? There are many different reasons, but we’ll outline some of the top prospects here. Often, accident victims cannot work for a specific time or indefinitely. Thus, they experience lost wages. Plus, they’re hurt, so medical bills enter the picture for doctors, hospitals, treatments, prescriptions, and more. The injuries Floridians receive in crashes vary but often include:

• Fractures And Broken Bones
• Paralysis
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Burns
• Whiplash

Of course, death is another unfortunate outcome of auto accidents. You don’t have to merely take our word for it, though. According to the FLHSMV, there were 3,454 fatal crashes across Florida in 2020 that caused 3,741 fatalities. Therefore, it is also possible for loved ones to lose their lives in car crashes. If that happens, you could be responsible for their final expenses.

Research shows the average cost of a funeral is around $6,500 in Florida. However, that price can easily climb to $10,000 or more when it comes to a traditional funeral.

Regardless of where you’re driving in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, or anywhere in Manatee County you are likely to see a commercial truck here and there. That’s because these vehicles and their drivers are essential. They help our local economy thrive. However, because there are so many of these vehicles roaming the streets, accidents happen. Of course, it isn’t just this community, though.

Crashes between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles occur all over the United States daily. But please, don’t simply take our word for it. Instead, review the following stats and see for yourself. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 4,998 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes. People don’t only die in such events, though. Victims also sustain injuries in accidents.

In fact, the FMCSA says large trucks and bus injury crashes totaled 108,000 in 2020. Meanwhile, sometimes, commercial truck accidents only cause property damage. Obviously, none of these outcomes sound good. Therefore, Palmetto motorists should do what they can to avoid incidents with tractor-trailers. The following tips can help with that.

Pass Carefully And With Caution

Big rigs are long and have plenty of blind spots. That’s why passenger vehicle operators must pass them carefully and with caution. There’s a good chance you’ve noticed the sign on the back of a trailer before stating not to pass on the right side. However, on occasion, like when a trucker won’t move out of the left lane, a person may have no choice but to go that way.

It really doesn’t matter what side you attempt to pass on, though. You should always make it a point to do so cautiously. Taking your time and ensuring the coast is clear could be just what the doctor ordered to keep truck crashes at bay.

Don’t Enter/Exit Highways Hastily

Many Palmetto drivers seem to regularly be in a hurry. They operate their vehicles aggressively by swerving in and out of traffic. Plus, they enter and exit highways hastily. Even if commercial trucks are right next to some motorists, they simply continue merging and expect the vehicle to stop or yield. But did you know that isn’t always what happens?

It’s true. Sometimes, truckers continue going and strike the cars. Perhaps they cannot see them. Then again, maybe the person just didn’t give them enough room to apply the brakes. Don’t let this fate be in store for you. Instead, enter and exit highways cautiously. That might just save you a lot of grief in the long run.

Avoid Slamming On The Brakes

If you’re riding in front of an eighteen-wheeler, you might not care what’s happening behind you. However, you probably should. Tractor trailers weigh between 12,000 to 80,000 pounds, on average. With all that weight, these vehicles can’t stop on a dime. Rather, they need room to slow down and stop gradually. So, if you lock up your brakes in front of a commercial truck, it could wind up slamming into your car’s rear.

Of course, you won’t always be able to give trucks the distance required because when the traffic in front of you stops, you have to stop. Still, if you can avoid slamming on the brakes in front of a truck, do so. Then, with any luck, you won’t get injured or killed in a crash.

Have you been injured in a Bradenton truck accident because of negligence? If that’s the case, you may have the grounds to seek compensation for your damages. Contact us to schedule a meeting with an attorney and discuss your options today.