Sleeping Pills are Putting Morning Drivers at Risk
Sleeping Pills are Putting Morning Drivers at Risk
A new study suggests that sleeping pills, such as Ambien and Restoril, are putting drivers at-risk as the drugs take much longer to wear off than previously thought.
Fatigued driving is the cause of hundreds of accidents each year. If you or someone you love has been hurt in an accident with a drowsy driver, our experienced Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, examined medical and driving records of more than 400,000 people and found a correlation between the use of sleeping pills and car collisions.
Patients who were prescribed Resotril had a 27 percent higher chance of being involved in a collision. Those most at-risk? Ambien users. Those who used this popular sleeping medication were found to be twice as likely to be involved in a car crash than non-users.
When users get behind the wheel the morning after taking a sleeping pill, they are essentially driving while impaired. Researchers compared the impairment to that of drunk drivers. Those who used sleeping pills could reach impairment levels of up to 0.11; the legal limit is 0.08.
Two years ago, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recommended the dosage of sleeping pills be decreased. Research had revealed the sleeping pills could remain in a patient’s system for much longer than originally believed. Now, this recent study, has prompted the FDA to ask doctors to prescribe the lowest dosage possible.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each year, approximately 100,000 auto accidents are a result of fatigued driving.
At Simien & Simien, our auto accident lawyers believe that drug manufacturers should be warning patients about the dangers in using their medications. Doctors must also be sure to inform users on how these medications may lead to risky situations.
Have you been hurt in an accident caused by a drowsy driver? The lawyers at Simien & Simien have handled numerous car accident cases and can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
