Many Louisiana residents may a prescription sleeping aid in order to get a good night's rest. In fact, reports show that over 60 million prescriptions for these drugs issued to people across the country this year alone. Despite the benefits provided to many people, these drugs are potent and can affect someone long after they've been ingested. Being under the influence of a prescription drug and getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle can have disastrous consequences, even a deadly car accident.

Sleeping pills can still be present in a person's system for 12 hours after the medication has been taken. While many suffer relatively minor side effects from the pills, others may develop "complex sleep related behaviors." This is a side effect that should be of great concern, because it can causes people to drive while they are asleep.

One of the most common sleeping aids prescribed is Ambien. The pill works quickly, and its instructions tell users to ensure they sleep for a minimum of 7 hours and to not operate a motor vehicle until they feel like the effects have worn off. Driving while still under the influence of these drugs can be compared to driving drunk.

Any Louisiana driver who chooses to drive while still under the influence of sleeping aids risks causing or contributing to a serious car accident. Circumstances like these can be life-altering for both parties and can bring criminal or civil repercussions, possibly even both. Anyone injured by a driver under the influence of prescription sleep aids retains the right to seek a personal injury claim, based upon proof of negligence. Doing so can send a strong message to other drivers, and a successful claim may result in reimbursement for monetary damages sustained.

Source: NBC 33 News, "Study finds even occasional use of popular sleep aid increases risk of car crashes," Jan. 6, 2013