Cold Medicines and Driving Don’t Mix in Texas

As the U.S. nears seeing over three million coronavirus infections according to the most recent reports by the Centers for Disease Control, Texas officials are calling for people who are ill to stay home. Officials in south Texas have even gone as far as to warn individuals who go outside after testing positive that they could face jail time for engaging in actions that could put others at risk. If you aren’t feeling well, you should stay home. Here at the Cooper Law Firm, we are personal injury lawyers who assist clients who have been hurt due to the negligent actions of other people. Driving while sick with COVID-19 is an action that could potentially put others on the road at risk, not just because the symptoms of COVID-19 can impair your ability to drive, but because common cold medicines could also seriously impair a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. If you are not feeling well or are taking cold medicine, especially during this time of pandemic, it is best to stay home and avoid getting behind the wheel. Choosing to drive now could have serious consequences, among them car accidents stemming from those who choose to drive while sick or while taking medicine.

Risks of Driving While Taking Cold Medicines

While we all know that individuals can face arrest for drinking and driving because alcohol can impair a person’s ability to drive, many over the counter cold medicines can also interfere with a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that individuals should never get behind the wheel when they start taking a new medication, but should take the time to get a sense of what kind of effect the drug might have on their coordination, judgement, and reaction time. The problem with drugs that affect reaction time, judgement, and coordination is that the person suffering from impairment may not always know that they are suffering from impairment. If you are taking a cold medicine labeled with warnings against using or operating heavy machinery, you may want to think twice before getting behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that common over the counter medicines, sleep aids, and allergy medicines can lead to drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, and other effects that can interfere with a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

The FDA notes that some medicines can cause sleepiness, blurred vision, dizziness, slowed movement, problems paying attention, nausea, excitability, and other impairments. Drugs like opioids, prescription drugs for anxiety, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, prescription medicines containing codeine, cold remedies and allergy products, including antihistamines, sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, motion sickness and anti-nausea drugs, and some types of diet pills can interfere with a person’s ability to safely drive. Mixing drugs can have an even more deleterious effect. The FDA notes that even CBD can impact driving ability. If you are sick or are taking a new prescription or over the counter drug, your best bet is to stay home and get well.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a car accident where you suspect that the other driver might have been impaired, it is important to call the police at the scene of the accident, make a police report, and consider seeking the assistance of a personal injury law firm in Texas like the Cooper Law Firm. The Cooper Law Firm is a car accident attorney in Texas that works with victims and families who have suffered injury because of another driver’s decision to drive while impaired. If you have questions about your rights, the Cooper Law Firm is here for you.

Reach Out to the Cooper Law Firm Today

Many of us are struggling with news about new cases of COVID-19. Some of us have become sick, and some of us are struggling because a loved one has become sick. However, officials are counting on each of us to take steps to protect ourselves and one another. This means staying home if you are not feeling well, if you have tested positive for COVID-19, or if officials have asked you to quarantine. Even if you haven’t tested positive, if you are not feeling well, it is best to stay home. The risks of venturing outside extend far beyond getting other people sick. You could also be endangering others on the road. If you or someone you love was hurt in a car accident because the other driver may have been impaired, you and your family might have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. The Cooper Law Firm is a car accident law firm in Texas that may be able to help you. Reach out to our personal injury attorneys today or get connected with USAttorneys.com to get matched with a lawyer at the Cooper Law Firm today.