If you’re on a certain type of medication, you may still feel that you need to drive to get to work or school. What you may be wondering is if it’s actually safe for you to get behind the wheel, or if you run the risk of causing an accident because you’re impaired in some way.
It all depends on the type of medication that you’re taking. What you should do is check the instructions on the packaging. If it says not to operate heavy machinery, that does not just mean in a workplace. A vehicle counts as heavy machinery and it can be dangerous to drive if you’re under the influence of this medication. You may need to wait until that influence fades or find someone up to drive you.
What type of symptoms could you experience?
The symptoms clearly vary from one medication to the next, but there are certain ones that tend to trigger these warnings about operating heavy machinery. Some of the most problematic symptoms for drivers include the following:
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Blurred vision
- Drowsiness
- Slowed movement
- Nausea
- Fainting
- Inability to focus
- Trouble paying attention
- Excitability
You can see how things like blurred vision or dizziness are so similar to the issues you would face if you’d been drinking alcohol. At the same time, things like excitability or trouble focusing are similar to issues faced by distracted drivers. In either case, driving while using this medication could cause a car accident.
What if someone else hits you?
Even if you decide not to drive when you’re taking medication, someone else may not make the same decision. They could cause an accident that leads to serious injuries, and you need to know how to seek financial compensation.