While many public and private organizations have focused on the dangers of drinking and driving, the National Transportation Safety Board now wants motorists to be aware of the equally dangerous mix of drugs and driving.

Drugged driving may be an even bigger problem than drinking and driving, according to the NTSB. While drugged driving is thought to be highly under-reported, a California Office of Traffic Safety survey shows that almost twice as many drivers tested positive for drugs than for alcohol in a sampling of nighttime week-end drivers. In addition, many of the drivers who tested positive for alcohol also tested positive for drugs.

Statistics released by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that during the four -year period of 2005-2009, fatally injured drivers who tested positive for illicit drugs rose from 13 percent to 18 percent.

Drugs May Be Evidence of Negligence

Drugged driving can include not just illicit drugs but prescription and even over-the-counter drugs as well. Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, for example, can cause sedation, drowsiness or confusion. These side-effects, in turn, can cause catastrophic results if the person taking the medication is behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Just as a drunk driver is a negligent driver, a drugged driver may also be a negligent driver. Aside from any criminal charges, a drugged driver may be held accountable for injuring others in a car accident. Anything that affects a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle can potentially be the basis for a claim of negligence in a collision.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a driver who was using drugs of any kind, you may have grounds to seek compensation for your medical and other expenses. A New York or New Jersey car accident attorney can provide information about your legal options.