Some of the medications prescribed to Ohio residents have side effects that could impair their ability to drive safely. Of course, just because a drug is prescribed by a doctor does not mean that car accidents cannot occur while taking them. It is even possible for drivers to face criminal charges such as OVI and worse if a collision occurs due to a driver taking a prescribed medication.
On a recent Wednesday night, troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol were called to the scene of a crash. The driver believed to have caused it was taking methadone prescribed to treat an addiction to opioids. Troopers report that the driver fell asleep while driving on State Route 79.
The 37-year-old man admitted he fell asleep, which caused his vehicle, also occupied by his 4-year-old son, to veer over the center line and crash into another vehicle occupied by two people. Those two individuals suffered severe injuries in the impact and died at the scene. Fortunately, the young boy survived the crash. He and his father received treatment at a hospital in the area and were released.
As the investigation continues, two families must bury their loved ones. Regardless of whether the driver who fell asleep faces criminal charges in connection with the crash, those families could exercise their right to file wrongful death claims against him. As is the case in other fatal car accidents, pursuing restitution through a civil court case will not bring back their loved ones, but it could help with the financial losses that accompany such tragedies.
