West Virginia Car Accident Attorney at Recht Law Offices Comments on Report about Fatal Car Crashes Involving Marijuana
Weirton, WV (PRWEB) February 26, 2014 -- Commenting on a news article stating fatal marijuana-related car accidents are on the rise in the United States, West Virginia auto accident lawyer Steven M. Recht of the Recht Law Offices said today marijuana, like alcohol, impairs drivers and should be avoided before getting behind-the-wheel.
According to HealthDay (“Fatal Car Crashes Involving Pot Use Have Tripled in U.S., Study Finds,” Feb. 4, 2014) a Columbia University study on drugged driving used accident statistics from six states, including West Virginia, to conclude that fatal marijuana-related car crashes tripled between 1999 and 2010.
“We have handled cases involving impaired drivers, and the findings of this study do not come as a big surprise,” said Recht, whose firm represents injury victims and their families in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. “Like alcohol, marijuana affects judgment, impairs vision and can lead to increased driver distraction and inattention. We urge everyone to avoid any intoxicants before driving. Your best bet is to drive sober.”
According to HealthDay, researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health drew its conclusions after analyzing crash statistics from six states that routinely perform toxicology tests on drivers involved in fatal car accidents, including West Virginia. The statistics included over 23,500 drivers who died within an hour of a car wreck, the HealthDay article said.
Researchers told HealthDay that alcohol-related traffic fatalities experienced no significant increase or decrease throughout the decade and remained at about 40 percent. However, according to the report, fatal accidents involving drivers using marijuana increased from 4 percent in 1999 to 16 percent in 2010, representing the sharpest increase in drug-related fatal accidents.
According to the article, researchers indicated that drivers under the influence of both marijuana and alcohol are 24 times more likely to be involved in a car accident than a sober driver, and marijuana use has been reported across all age demographics and both sexes.
“Drugged driving is impaired driving, period,” Recht said. “Too much is at stake to risk driving while under the influence. If you or a loved one is injured or a loved one is killed in an accident involving a drugged driver, we encourage you to seek the advice of legal counsel. An attorney can help hold the negligent driver accountable and send a message that such behavior will not be tolerated.”
About Recht Law Offices
Recht Law Offices handles all types of serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, from car and truck accidents to nursing home abuse, slip and fall injuries and workers compensation claims. The attorneys at Recht Law Offices work on a contingency fee basis. That means clients do not pay any fees if they don’t win.
For more information about what to do after a car accident in West Virginia or Ohio and the legal options available to families, call 1-800-HURTLINE (1-800-487-8546) or complete the online contact form.
Recht Law Offices
3405 Main Street
Weirton, WV 26062-4505
http://www.rechtlaw.com
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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