Drunk driving is plenty dangerous, and with regard to New York DWI laws, there is a clear definition of drunk. You can get charged with DWI if your blood alcohol content (BAC) was at least 0.08% at the time of the traffic stop or accident. Of course, driving under the influence of drugs is dangerous, too; the difference is that it is harder to measure drug intoxication than alcohol intoxication.
Cannabis breathalyzers are in the works, but they cannot tell how recently someone consumed cannabis; the cannabis can still show up on the test long after the effects that render a person incapable of driving safely have worn off. With prescription drugs, it is a question of which drug rather than how much; some drugs carry a warning label saying that you should not drive after taking them, even if you have a valid prescription for the drugs.
If you cause an accident while cannabis, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs that impair driving ability are detectable in your bloodstream, you can still be charged with drugged driving. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver who was under the influence of cannabis or hard drugs, contact a New York car accident lawyer.
Driver Gets Vehicular Manslaughter Charges for Accident That Killed Grandfather Walking to Mosque
At around 9:00 p.m. one evening in September 2023, Mohammed Rahman was walking from his Castle Hill home to the Parkchester Jame Masjid, where he was going to lead the evening prayers. As he was crossing Castle Hill Avenue at a crosswalk, he was struck by a car traveling about 50 miles per hour despite the speed limit being only 25 mph. Rahman died of injuries sustained in the accident. He was 67 years old. He is survived by his wife, seven children, and 18 grandchildren.
Victor Ramos, the driver of the car that struck Rahman, remained at the scene of the accident. He told police that he had smoked cannabis about an hour before getting behind the wheel. Investigators later determined that Ramos was also under the influence of a prescription painkiller at the time of the accident. Ramos, 27, is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter, DWI, driving with a suspended license, and several traffic violations.
Justice for Drugged Driving Accident Victims
Whether or not Ramos is convicted of the charges related to the accident that claimed Rahman’s life, Rahman’s surviving family members have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court. While the criminal and civil cases operate separately, a conviction for the defendant in a vehicular manslaughter case automatically means a verdict in favor of the plaintiff in the civil case. If the defendant pleads no conquest, is acquitted, or gets the charges dropped, the victim’s family may or may not prevail in the civil case.
Contact Leitner Varughese Warywoda About Car Accident Cases
A truck accident lawyer can help you if you suffered serious injuries in an accident where the at-fault driver was under the influence of drugs. Contact Leitner Varughese Warywoda PLLC in Brooklyn, New York, or call (212)671-1110 to discuss your case.