Was The Other Driver Under The Influence?

From distractions to drowsiness,  the roads today are getting far more dangerous than before. According to a study at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, “Two in 5 people in the sample reported driving under the influence, which indicates that it is not a rare occurrence among people using these substances.” Let’s take a look at how to tell if the other driver was under the influence.

Spotting drivers under the influence

CNN, reported,” over 40% of people using alcohol or cannabis recently drove under the influence.” If you believe you’re a safe driver and got into a car accident, you might want to ask yourself if the other driver was under the influence. Here are some quick observations to note after an accident:

• Were they swerving in and out of lanes?
• Was their speed inconsistent (such as speeding up or braking excessively)?
• Were they driving with their face close to the windshield, or hunched over their steering wheel?

For more tips on what to record, here’s a great reference for How to Prove You Are Not At Fault in a Car Accident.

Does this link to the legalization of marijuana?

Colorado and Washington were the first states to legalize marijuana, followed by California. A study analyzed the changes in Colorado and Washington’s motor vehicle fatality crash rate three years after recreational marijuana was legalized and compared it to similar states that had not legalized marijuana. It concluded that drug-related fatal crashes did not increase in Colorado or Washington post-legalization, compared to the other states. For a closer look, check out our blog, An Analysis of Drug-Related Fatal Crashes in the United States.

Working With a Colorado Car Accident Attorney

If you or somebody you care about has been in a car accident caused by another driver under the influence,  your Denver and Longmont car accident lawyers can conduct a complete investigation into the incident in an effort to help ensure that you do not face unwarranted liability for the claim.