Drugged Driving

In recent years, North Carolina has witnessed a significant rise in drugged driving accidents, which pose a grave threat to the safety of drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and anyone else on the road. Drugged driving, which is the act of operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs—legal or illegal—undermines a driver's ability to make safe and informed decisions on the road.

At the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, we understand the impact of a DUI accident, and we’re here to help ensure that you are not left paying for another’s bad decision. Our Charlotte drugged driving lawyers have extensive experience holding intoxicated drivers financially responsible for the harm they’ve inflicted upon our clients. We’re here to support you every step of the way, doing everything we can to ensure your case ends in the best result possible.

According to recent data, drugged driving is on a concerning upward trend. In North Carolina, the Department of Transportation reported an increase in drug-related crashes over the years. A sizable proportion of fatal accidents are attributed to drug impairments, which underscores the severity of this issue.

National statistics paint a grim picture as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in recent years, an estimated 20% of surveyed drivers tested positive for drugs. These disturbing figures reveal that drugged driving is not just a local, but a national crisis.

The length of time that drugs remain detectable in a driver's system can vary considerably depending on several factors, including the type of drug, the dosage, the frequency of use, and individual metabolic differences of the user. However, on average, the list below gives you an idea of how long certain drugs can stay in a driver’s system.

Marijuana: Marijuana can be detected in urine for up to 30 days, and in blood for 1-2 days, although it might linger longer in habitual users.

Cocaine: Cocaine typically stays in the system for 2-3 days, but can be detected up to 3 months in certain tests for chronic users.

Opioids: Opioids generally remain detectable for 2-3 days in urine, and up to 36 hours in the bloodstream.

Amphetamines: Amphetamines can be found in urine tests for 1-3 days after usage, and in blood tests for about 12 hours.

It's important to note that while drugs may stay in a driver’s system for days or weeks after ingestion, the period of intoxication is typically much shorter—usually a few hours. The question in a drugged driving case isn’t necessarily whether the driver had drugs in their system but whether their ability to drive was affected by their drug use.

One of the trickiest aspects of any car accident case—including drugged driving accidents—is North Carolina’s contributory negligence law. Contributory negligence is a legal doctrine that prevents an accident victim who shared blame for causing an accident from recovering financial compensation [link to What's My Case Worth page] from any other at-fault drivers. Thus, if a drugged driver is able to successfully prove that, although they were intoxicated, you also contributed to the collision, it could defeat your claim. This is one reason why it is essential to bring an experienced Charlotte drugged driving lawyer onto your case as soon as possible.

If you or a loved one was recently involved in a car accident, and you believe that the other driver was under the influence of drugs, you may be able to recover significant financial compensation for what you’ve been through. At the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, we’ve assembled a dedicated team of DUI accident lawyers who understand this complex intersection of law and science, and we’re available to meet with you to discuss your case today. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with one of our Charlotte personal injury lawyers, give us a call at 704-405-2580. You can also reach our Cabarrus County injury attorneys at 704-918-4747. We represent clients in Charlotte, Concord and Kannapolis, as well as throughout Mecklenburg, Gaston, Iredell, Rowan, and Union Counties.