Charged with DWI After Taking Ambien? You are not Alone. by Collin County DWI lawyer Troy Burleson
by Collin, Dallas and Denton County DWI Attorney Troy Burleson
Even non-drinkers could be in danger of being charged with DWI if they are taking the drug Ambien. We have had several new client interviews lately who tell us they had a “blackout” for a period of time on the night of their arrest for DWI. As strange as that may sound, these people are not alone.
Here is a story about a Florida police officer and a Texas mother who had similar blackouts. Apparently, both women took the sleep aid Ambien on the night of their “black out” and subsequent arrest for DWI. In the case of the Florida officer, she took Ambien and later sideswiped three cars with her police cruiser. According to the report the officer could not remember the events leading up to her arrest, which included, opening Christmas presents with her children.
Here in Texas, Lori Morris of Williamson County, had a similar blackout prior to being arrested for DWI. Lori, a non-drinker, took Ambien and does not remember later driving to the grocery store in her pajamas or kicking out a window of a police cruiser after being arrested.
A recent class action suit has been filed against the makers of Ambien. In Texas, a person can be charged and convicted of DWI even if he or she had consumed no alcohol on the day of his or her arrest. Further, a person can be convicted of DWI even if the substance that caused the person to become intoxicated was a legally prescribed drug, such as Ambien. Therefore, if you are a user of Ambien you may wan to pay close attention to the outcome of this class action.
