The Centers for Disease Control reports over three million COVID-19 cases in the U.S. As more people contract the illness, and as the number of infections grows, many states consider rolling back re-opening plans, pausing re-opening plans, and some have even asked that residents stay home again as cases surge. While the immediate impact of the increased number of cases is the reality that more people will end up sick, the surge in cases can also have several unintended consequences. While people who are sick are being told to stay home, others who choose to get behind the wheel could be putting other people on the road in danger, especially if they choose to take popular over the counter cold medicines before they drive. While we hear quite a bit about the dangers of drinking and driving, we don’t hear much about the dangers of impaired driving. Over the counter and prescription medicine can impact a person’s ability to drive. If you are sick and are taking cold medicine, it is important to carefully read the label for potential warnings. If you don’t feel alert or well, your best bet might be to stay home and avoid getting behind the wheel.
What if you’ve been in a car accident and suspect that the other person was driving while under the influence of cold medicine? This could be considered impaired driving. Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC is a personal injury law firm in Iowa City, Iowa that works with families and victims who have been hurt in crashes. Our attorneys may be able to help you.
Which Cold Medicines Could Pose Car Accident Risks?
A study performed by the journal of Accident Analysis and Prevention analyzed several medications for their potential risk to cause car accidents. Several medications were associated with a higher car accident risk. Drugs that were found to be associated with increased car accident risk were codeine, which is a drug often found in prescription cough medicine. But even over the counter medicines used to treat coughs, allergies, and colds were also found to impair driver ability. Drugs used to treat sleep apnea, dementia, arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, and Parkinson’s disease were also found to have an impact on driving ability. When people take these drugs or mix them with over the counter medicines, it is possible that the effects of these drugs could get magnified.
If you are sick and are taking over the counter medicines, it is important to consider the potential impact these drugs might have on your ability to drive. If you believe you are sick with the coronavirus, your best option is to remain home. People who believe they are sick are being asked to stay home. If you do take cold medicine, it is important to read the label and to talk to your doctor about driving risks, especially if you are taking other medications.
Finally, if you’ve been hurt in a crash and the other driver was sick, or appeared impaired, what can you do? Victims of car accidents should call the police, report the accident, and seek medical attention for their injuries. If you think the other driver was at fault for your crash, you might be entitled to seek damages for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC may be able to help you. Reach out to our personal injury law firm today to learn about the next steps you can take.
Personal Injuries in the Era of COVID-19
If you’ve been hurt due to the neglect or negligence of another person or party, you may have the right to seek damages for your losses. Insurance companies are still required to honor their policies and drivers and others on the road may even be required to take additional care due to increased risks at this time. While some hours of service laws have been relaxed, drivers are still required to drive while alert and to not drive while they are impaired. Impairment can mean many things, including being tired, sick, or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or even cold medicine. At the end of the day it is everyone’s responsibility to drive safely and consider the safety of everyone on the road. Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC is a personal injury law firm in Iowa City, Iowa. If you or someone you love was recently hurt in a car accident, we may be able to help you. Reach out to our lawyers today or connect with us by reaching out to USAttorneys.com, where you can be matched with the personal injury lawyer at Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC today. We are here to help.
