People across the country take prescription medications every day. They have various uses, including sleep aids. Many people are overworked, and don’t get enough sleep. Anxiety from work might follow them home at the end of the work day, making it difficult for them to fall and stay asleep. Approximately 60 million prescriptions for sleep aids were written in the United States last year according to one report.
With that large number of prescriptions, and some public figures being arrested in recent years for getting into car accidents while using prescription sleep aids, the Food and Drug Administration is pushing for additional regulations. The FDA is recognizing with new evidence just how dangerous using sleep aids and driving the morning after can really be.
While people should exercise caution when using any medication, the side effects of these drugs can harm other people who might be on the road at the same time as a drowsy driver. The FDA is now even focusing attention on over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl because of its drowsy side effects.
When a drowsy driver takes to the road, even if they aren’t under the influence of a prescription medication, they could cause a severe car accident.
People who are the victims of car accidents in Lake Charles or anywhere in Louisiana might be wise to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. They can work with a person or their family to seek compensation for the very expensive medical bills they might incur after the accident.
Source: New York Times, “To Judge Sleep Aids, U.S. looks at Drowsy Driving in the Morning,” Katie Thomas, Aug. 13, 2013.
