JONES LAW GROUP | Your Lawyers for Life! Personal Injury Law Firm in St. Petersburg

Jones Law Group logo, Personal Injury Lawyer in St Petersburg Floridajones law group attorney lawyer logo
drugs causing accident

Car Crashes Caused by Drugged Drivers Increases in Tampa Bay

Cases of drivers under the influence of drugs in Tampa Bay have been increasing exponentially in recent years. Illegal drugs as well as legal prescription drugs can all inhibit a driver, from slowing a driver’s reaction time to affecting coordination and motor skills. A drugged driver is a dangerous driver. Fatal crashes caused by drivers […]

Call our personal injury law office directly at (727) 512-9847

Find Out If You Have a Personal Injury Case

At Jones Law Group in St. Petersburg, FL, we would like to hear from you. Contact us for a free personal injury case consultation.

Call our personal injury law office at (727) 512-9847

Florida Personal Injury Insights

Get educated on the Florida's personal injury laws and more.

Cases of drivers under the influence of drugs in Tampa Bay have been increasing exponentially in recent years. Illegal drugs as well as legal prescription drugs can all inhibit a driver, from slowing a driver’s reaction time to affecting coordination and motor skills. A drugged driver is a dangerous driver.

Fatal crashes caused by drivers under the influence of drugs are up 47% in the past three years in the Tampa Bay area; 465 crashes have been reported since 2014, according to ABC Action News.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GSHA) has found that opioids and marijuana were the most common drugs found in fatally-injured drivers.

How Common are Drugged Driving Crashes?

It’s hard to tell how many crashes are caused by drivers under the influence of drugs for a few reasons. Drivers in Florida can refuse a blood test which would prove intoxication, whereas in several other states, simply having a driver’s license serves as “implied consent” for drug and alcohol tests.

The recent investigation by ABC Action News also determined that some drivers who are charged with driving under the influence never get prosecuted, and some don’t even lose their driving privileges.

Who is at Fault?

It would be easy to assume the at-fault party would be the impaired driver, but sometimes it is not that simple to determine, especially if prescription drugs are involved. Fault could be found with:

The impaired driver – Clearly the driver has taken something to diminish his or her driving skills, and caused an accident. This is the most common case, and easiest to determine.
The doctor or hospital – If the doctor of the impaired driver failed to sufficiently warn the patient of a medication’s side effects, or prescribed the wrong dosage or the wrong drug, the doctor may face liability.
The pharmaceutical company – If the prescription drug taken may be defective, or perhaps the label or instructions fail to disclose certain side effects, the pharmaceutical company could be at fault.
The other party involved in the accident – Even though the driver in this scenario was impaired, it is still possible that the impaired driver did not cause the accident.

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer at Jones Law Group

Have you or a loved one been injured by someone driving under the influence of drugs? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorney at Jones Law Group today. When you contact our office we will immediately either put you on the phone with one of our attorneys, or set an appointment where you will meet your attorney and be provided with his/her contact information. If you do not have transportation or you cannot drive, your attorney will travel to meet you and discuss your case with you. Call an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg at Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.
Jones Law Group
5622 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33707

https://www.jlgtampabay.com/home/personal-injury
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/i-team-crashes-caused-by-drugged-drivers-skyrocket-in-tampa-bay
https://www.ghsa.org/resources/news-releases/DUID18

Related Car Accident Insights

bike rider

Sharing the Road: How to Drive Safely Around Motorcycles in Florida

Florida is known for being a dangerous state not only for motor vehicle drivers but for motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users. As the driver of a passenger vehicle, there are many things that you can do to help ensure the safety of motorcycle riders. Sharing the road is important and can prevent accidents from […]

Dr checking x-ray

How Much is My Catastrophic Injury Case Worth?

Getting into a personal injury accident can have a huge impact on one’s life. With massive medical debt, lost wages, and more, it may seem impossible to return from an especially catastrophic injury or incident. However, with a good catastrophic injury attorney on your team, you’ll be able to get the compensation that you deserve […]

Driver with blunt force trauma head injury after a car accident being helped by a paramedic

The Cause and Effect of Blunt Force Trauma

Blunt-force trauma from a personal injury accident can cause long-term consequences for an individual’s health and finances. Summary During a personal injury accident like a motorcycle, car, or slip-and-fall accident, the victim can come into contact with a hard object. A direct blow from a hard object, such as a car door, wall, dashboard, or […]

door lock

Negligent Security on a Business Property

Crime can impact any of us. With the constant rise in population in the Tampa Bay Area, commercial areas such as shopping malls, venues, restaurants, and parking lots are becoming crowded. The owners of these businesses and properties have a duty to keep guests reasonably safe from harm. The owners must take precautions to ensure […]

bed bug

Do You Have a Bed Bug Case?

Florida is home to some of the world’s most popular theme parks, as well as beautiful beaches and tropical weather. With so many vacationers, some Florida cities have become a popular destination for bed bugs as well. Bed bugs are tiny parasitic insects that are excellent at hiding, and can easily squeeze into luggage, clothing, […]

Green light on a pedestrian traffic light. Safe crossing of the road by pedestrians.

FAQs After You Are Injured in a Pedestrian Accident

Pedestrian accidents can be devastating, leaving the victim with severe injuries and significant financial losses. If you’ve suffered an injury after you were struck by a car, you likely have many questions and concerns about what to do next. Jones Law Group attorneys have decades of experience representing people struck by vehicles while on foot. […]

Do you have a personal injury case in Tampa Bay, Florida?

Speak with us before time runs out! In Florida, you have a limited window to file a personal injury case, so speak to an Attorney today.

Call our personal injury law office directly at (727) 512-9847

Jones Law Group logo, Personal Injury Lawyer in St Petersburg Florida

Jones Law Group is a dedicated personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL, serving the Tampa Bay area since 2006. Our experienced attorneys specialize in car accidents, slip and fall cases, employment law disputes, construction law issues, and overtime wage claims, fighting for maximum compensation on a contingency fee basis. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.

5622 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33707

Call our personal injury law office at (727) 512-9847

© Copyright 2006–2025 Jones Law Group Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Terms of Use 

Website by Hip Bip

Attorney Advertising.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Do I have a personal injury case?

Find out now if you have a case!

Can't talk now?
We can call you when you're available.

Call us to find out if you have a personal injury case!

Would you prefer a callback?

We will gladly call you on your schedule.
Use the secure and confidential form below.