While many drivers are aware of the dangers of driving under the influence of illegal drugs, most do not realize the dangers associated with driving under the influence of prescription medication, especially sleeping pills like Ambien. Many Americans use sleeping pills like Ambien on a daily basis under the direction of a doctor. Those that have taken Ambien can certainly attest to the effects it has on one’s mental faculties. In recent years, police have seen the number of arrests for driving under the influence of Ambien increase dramatically. While taking a prescribed sleeping pill is not illegal, you must be careful not to operate a motor vehicle once you have taken the pill. Doing so can not only lead to you being arrested, but it can certainly cause great harm to yourself or others.
Serious Side Effects of Sleeping Pills
According to the Food and Drug Administration’s Medication Guide for Ambien, users of the drug should be mindful of serious side effects,” including getting out of bed while not being fully awake and doing an activity that you do not know you are doing and will not remember the next morning. How dangerous does that sound? Imagine having no control over your body and performing an activity with absolutely no control or memory of that activity—like driving a car. While most Ambien users could never imagine getting into a situation where they could cause harm to themselves or others, it is apparent that these situations do occur despite any malfeasance on the part of the user.
Contact Schwartzapfel® Lawyers P.C
Over the past few years, thousands of criminal defendants across the country have been prosecuted for driving under the influence of Ambien. If you or someone you know finds yourself in a similar situation, you should absolutely seek legal representation. Please do not hesitate to call us at 1-516-342-2200 or contact us online. We will fight for you!
