Maison Law can help you if you’ve been injured by a driver that was intoxicated by illegal drugs at the time of your accident. Every year, people across California are injured in car accidents caused by drivers who shouldn’t have been behind the wheel in the first place. Sometimes it’s alcohol. Other times, it’s illegal drugs or even prescription medications being misused. No matter what, our team will be there to support you. Set up a free consultation today.
Why Would I Need a Lawyer?
Any car accident is hard to deal with. But when the other driver is intoxicated at the time, it brings up a lot more questions—why it happened, how impaired the driver was, how hurt you are.
But in the meantime, you’re left dealing with the fallout. That’s where getting a lawyer involved can make a real difference, especially early on. Our team can:
- Help you understand your options before important deadlines pass
- Review the police report, witness statements, and medical records for signs of impairment
- Gather evidence that supports your version of events
- Deal directly with the insurance company so you don’t have to manage those conversations while you’re still recovering
The reality of the situation is a lot to handle—even before you get to the stage where you might want to file a claim. That’s the main reason why our team can help you so much. We’ll give you the space you need to focus on healing while handling the legal side of things.
What Evidence Should I Look For After One of These Accidents?
Anytime there’s an accident where the other driver is on illegal drugs, it makes everything harder. That extends to the information and evidence you’ll need to get at the scene. You probably can’t get it from the driver themselves, whether they stay at the scene or not. But you’re not stuck. Instead, you can approach it like any other accident in terms of your focus:
- The police report. This is often one of the most important pieces. Officers should note signs of impairment like confusion, slow responses, slurred speech, or drug paraphernalia at the scene—even if an arrest wasn’t made.
- Witness statements. Other drivers, passengers, or bystanders sometimes notice things others don’t, like erratic driving, drifting between lanes, or strange behavior before the accident.
- Photos or videos from the scene. These show the damage to the vehicles, skid marks, road conditions, and where the cars ended up. Together, they help explain how the accident likely happened.
- Dash cam or body cam footage. In some cases, footage from a dash cam—or even a police officer’s body camera—captures the driver’s behavior or statements in ways that written reports can’t.
- Medical records. These document the injuries you suffered and the treatment you’ve needed. They’re a key part of connecting the accident to the medical care you’ve received.
- Your own notes. Write down what you remember as soon as you can. How the other driver acted. What they said. How you felt afterward. Those details fade faster than people expect, and having them written down can help later.
You don’t need to gather every piece of evidence yourself. Your main focus should be your health and recovery. But the more information that exists about what happened, the stronger your claim can be.
Where Do Drug-Impaired Driving Accidents Happen in California?
Unfortunately, car accidents where the other driver is impaired by illegal drugs can happen almost anywhere in California. They aren’t limited to one type of road or one time of day. Still, some places tend to come up more often than others.
- City streets. These accidents often happen in busy urban areas, especially at night or on weekends when more impaired drivers are on the road.
- Rural highways and backroads. Long stretches of road with lighter traffic can sometimes make drivers feel like they can take risks they shouldn’t.
- Freeways and interstates. When speeds are higher, even a small mistake from an impaired driver can quickly turn into a serious accident.
- Poorly lit roads. When visibility is lower, reaction time matters more—and impairment can make delayed reactions even worse.
No matter where it happens, impairment affects judgment, reaction time, and decision-making. When another driver gets behind the wheel in that condition, everyone else on the road is put at risk.
How Do I Recover Damages After an Accident Like This?
Even when illegal drugs are involved, the basic claims process works the same way as other car accident cases in California. The goal is to recover damages—meaning financial help for what the accident has taken from you. Usually, that means starting with one of two options:
- Filing an insurance claim outside of court
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit in civil court
Most cases begin with an insurance claim. If the insurance company refuses to accept responsibility or won’t offer a reasonable settlement, filing a lawsuit may be the next step. That doesn’t automatically mean a trial. Often it simply means the facts are examined more closely and the pressure stays on the insurance company. Depending on the situation, damages may include:
- Medical bills you’re dealing with now and those you may face later
- Income you’ve already lost and future lost earning ability
- Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other damaged property
- Physical pain and ongoing limitations
- Emotional stress and mental strain
- Changes to your daily life or routine
- Wrongful death expenses in fatal accidents
- Punitive damages in cases involving extreme recklessness
Every accident is different, so the damages available in your claim will depend on the details of what happened. In California, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing that deadline can mean losing your ability to recover damages entirely.
Is the Intoxicated Driver the Only One Who Pays for My Damages?
In the vast majority of these kinds of accidents, it’s the driver who was impaired by illegal drugs that’s legally responsible for the damages caused by the accident. But it’s not always that simple. Sometimes other people or businesses may share some responsibility depending on the circumstances. For example, liability could also involve:
- Someone who knowingly allowed an impaired person to drive
- A friend or roommate who handed over the keys despite obvious impairment
- A person who provided illegal drugs knowing the driver planned to get behind the wheel
- A business that allowed an impaired employee to drive a company vehicle
- A company that ignored safety rules meant to prevent impaired driving
So yes, the driver that was on drugs at the time of the accident is going to be the primary source of your damages. But others might be involved. That makes things a bit more complicated, but it does give you even more sources. And remember, our team will be with you from the beginning.
Free Consultations After California Car Accidents Caused by Drivers on Illegal Drugs
It’s not hard to see how car accidents happen in California when other drivers are on illegal drugs. But they happen everyday, and they hit differently when you’re the one that gets hurt. At Maison Law, our California DWI car accident lawyers will be there to help you from the start, explaining your options and guiding you through the claims process. Set up a free consultation today to get started.
