Now that state law says it is legal to possess and use marijuana, many expect to see a sharp increase in the number of car accidents caused by drivers who are under the influence of drugs. Drivers should keep in mind that just because it is legal to use does not mean it is legal to drive under its use – just as it is legal to drink alcohol but not to drink if intoxicated.
For those who need more information on just how dangerous it can be, keep reading to learn about the effects of marijuana on a person’s ability to drive safely. If you are injured in an accident that resulted from a person who was under the influence, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
One Study of 250 People Resulted in Interesting Findings
Researchers looked at 250 people and used three metrics to determine how unsafe they were while driving: whether they were weaving in the lane, how many times their car left their lane, and how fast they were driving while weaving. According to the study, marijuana smokers who had ug/L THC of 13.1 drove as dangerously as a person who was driving with .08 alcohol concentration.
Note that .08 is illegal in all states. Most states do not have a legal ug/L THC level, but Washington and Colorado do. In both states, the legal limit is five ug/L. You will note that the study found that drivers were as dangerous as drunk drivers when they were more than twice that level at 13.1 ug/L THC.
The Study Looked at How Many Accidents Occur Involving Marijuana
Regardless of whether the limits for marijuana are fair or reasonable, it is clear that there are more car accidents involving a person using marijuana than there were in the past. The study looked at stats from 2000 and 2013 and found that as states legalize the drug, more accidents involving the drug occur. In fact, they went up by 300% in those years. The study further noted that when a person is under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana, they have a particularly difficult time driving safely.
Were You Involved in an Accident with Someone Who was Under the Influence?
It is illegal to drive while intoxicated. As a result, if you are involved in a car accident with someone who is intoxicated, then they are negligent per se. This means that even if your actions caused the accident, they are still considered at fault because they were acting negligently by driving at all. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 now to request a free legal consultation and determine what your options are.
