Every April 20th, commonly known as “420,” marijuana use spikes across the country. For most people, the day passes without incident. But for the families of crash victims, it can mark the beginning of a nightmare they never saw coming. At the Law Offices of Vincent J. Ciecka, we have spent over 45 years representing people who were seriously hurt because someone else made a reckless choice behind the wheel. And in recent years, that choice increasingly involves marijuana.
If you or someone you love was injured by a drug-impaired driver in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, you need to understand your rights. This 420, we want to talk openly about what driving high actually means on the road, in the courtroom, and for the real people left picking up the pieces.
The 420 Surge in Drug-Impaired Crashes Is Real
The data is not ambiguous. Multiple studies, including research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, have found that fatal crashes involving marijuana-impaired drivers increase significantly on April 20th compared to other days of the year. One widely cited study found the risk of a fatal crash was nearly 12% higher on 420 than on comparable weekend evenings.
This is not a coincidence. It reflects a troubling cultural myth that marijuana does not impair driving the way alcohol does. That myth is dangerous, and it costs lives.
The truth is that THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, directly affects the brain systems responsible for reaction time, lane tracking, judgment, and spatial awareness. A driver who is high may feel calm or even focused, but their ability to respond to sudden changes in traffic, like a child stepping into the street or a car braking hard ahead of them, is measurably compromised.
Here in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, we have seen the consequences of that impairment firsthand. We have handled cases involving rear-end collisions, T-bone crashes, and head-on impacts where the at-fault driver had marijuana in their system. If you were injured by a drunk or drug-impaired driver, you know how devastating that experience can be, and we have sat across from clients who lost jobs, underwent multiple surgeries, and watched their families struggle because someone thought they were “fine to drive.”
They were not fine. And in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, they can be held legally responsible.
Is Driving High Illegal in New Jersey and Pennsylvania?
Yes, unambiguously.
Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania have laws that make it illegal to operate a motor vehicle while impaired by any controlled substance, including marijuana, regardless of whether it was obtained legally for medical or recreational purposes. Legalization does not mean it is legal to drive while intoxicated by it. The standard is impairment, not just presence of the substance in your system.
Law enforcement in both states can charge a driver with a DUI or DWI based on observable impairment, field sobriety tests, and chemical testing. Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) are trained officers who can evaluate a driver for signs of drug impairment even when alcohol is not involved. A failed evaluation can lead to arrest, charges, license suspension, and significant civil liability.
That civil liability is exactly where our team comes in.
What Happens When a High Driver Causes a Car Accident in NJ or PA?
When a drug-impaired driver causes a crash, the injured victims have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. This is true whether the impaired driver was under the influence of marijuana, prescription medications, or any other substance that affected their ability to drive safely.
As a New Jersey car accident lawyer and Pennsylvania car accident attorney team with decades of experience, we know exactly how these cases unfold and where the challenges arise.
First, proving drug impairment can be more complicated than proving alcohol impairment. Breathalyzers do not detect THC. Blood tests are the primary tool, but they must be administered within a reasonable window of time, and the science of THC blood concentration and impairment is still debated. This is why having an experienced car accident lawyer in NJ or PA by your side from day one is so important. We know how to build the evidence, work with accident reconstruction experts, and use police reports, witness statements, and dashcam footage to establish what happened.
Secondly, insurance companies will fight hard to minimize what they pay out. We have spent years learning how insurers approach these claims, including how they assign fault, delay decisions, and undervalue damages. Our team includes professionals with backgrounds in insurance claims and adjusting, which means we know exactly what tactics to expect and how to counter them.
Lastly, in cases where the driver was clearly reckless, such as driving under the influence, New Jersey law may allow for punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. This is not a guarantee, but it is a possibility our attorneys assess carefully in every drug-impaired driving case.
What Compensation Can You Recover After Being Injured by a Drug-Impaired Driver?
Victims of drug-impaired driving crashes can pursue compensation for a wide range of losses, including:
Medical expenses. Emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any future treatment costs related to your injuries are all recoverable. We document everything thoroughly so that no expense is overlooked.
Lost income and earning capacity. If your injuries kept you out of work, or if they have permanently limited your ability to earn the income you once did, that lost earning power is part of your claim. This is especially significant in cases involving traumatic brain injury or serious back and spine injuries, areas our firm handles with particular depth and experience.
Pain and suffering. Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, PTSD, and the loss of enjoyment of life are real damages that New Jersey and Pennsylvania law recognizes. These are often the largest part of a serious injury claim.
Property damage. If your vehicle was totaled or significantly damaged, you are entitled to fair compensation for that loss as well.
Wrongful death damages. If you lost a loved one in a crash caused by a drug-impaired driver, our wrongful death attorneys serving Camden County and all of NJ will fight to recover compensation for funeral costs, the loss of financial support, and the profound emotional loss your family has endured.
Real Case Results from Camden County and Beyond
Words only go so far. Here is what we have actually recovered for crash victims across New Jersey and Pennsylvania:
- $2.3 million for a Camden County man struck by a distracted driver
- $1.7 million for a Pennsylvania pedestrian hit in a crosswalk
- $950,000 for a family injured in a multi-vehicle pileup on I-295
See our full list of Camden County car accident settlements and results to get a better sense of what we have been able to recover for clients in situations like yours. Every case is different, but our commitment to fighting for maximum compensation never changes.
What to Do If You Were Hurt in a Drug-Impaired Driving Crash
The steps you take in the immediate aftermath of a crash can significantly affect the outcome of your case.
Call 911 right away. Make sure law enforcement responds to the scene. If the at-fault driver is impaired, it is critical that officers have the opportunity to observe and document that impairment. A police report noting signs of drug use is powerful evidence.
Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel okay. Injuries like traumatic brain injury and spinal damage do not always present symptoms right away. Delaying treatment can both hurt your health and give insurance companies reason to argue that your injuries were not serious.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Their goal is to limit what they pay, not to help you. Speak with a New Jersey car accident lawyer or Pennsylvania car accident attorney before you say anything on the record.
Contact our team as soon as possible. Evidence fades, witnesses move on, and surveillance footage gets overwritten. The sooner we are involved, the stronger your case can be.
We Are Here for You, Not Just on 420
At the Law Offices of Vincent J. Ciecka, we do not just take on drug-impaired driving cases in April. We handle serious injury cases all year long, across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for clients who deserve a legal team that actually fights for them.
We have helped over 10,000 clients recover compensation after car accidents, truck crashes, motorcycle collisions, and more. We work on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. No upfront costs. No surprise bills.
If you were hurt by a driver who was high, impaired, distracted, or reckless, you deserve accountability. This 420, and every other day of the year, we are ready to stand up for you.
Call us today at (856) 665-5709 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
Sources:
- 420 – Traffic Safety Marketing (NHTSA)
- The April 20 Cannabis Celebration and Fatal Traffic Crashes in the United States – JAMA Network (National Library of Medicine)