CONTENTS
- 1. Traffic Accident Law Firm | A Case in Which an Accident Followed an Attempted Suicide
- - The Dangers of Medication- and Alcohol-Related Accidents, as Explained by a Traffic Accident Law Firm
- 2. Traffic Accident Law Firm | Assistance of a Criminal Law Attorney
- - Specific Demonstration of the Circumstances of Medication Use and the History of Mental Illness
- - Submission of a Written Opinion Centered on Post-Accident Remorse and Efforts to Recover Damages
- - Establishment of a Strategy to Block the Dual Risk of License Revocation and Criminal Punishment
- 3. Traffic Accident Law Firm | Result of the Assistance
- - The Order of Response Immediately After an Accident
1. Traffic Accident Law Firm | A Case in Which an Accident Followed an Attempted Suicide
The client who sought a traffic accident law firm took the wheel while having taken sleeping pills in an attempt at suicide brought on by depression and extreme stress, and in the course of doing so collided with a vehicle waiting at a traffic signal, resulting in his being booked on charges of violation of the Act on Special Cases concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents (injury).
The client had attempted an extreme act before the accident, such as taking zolpidem and burning a briquette, but the attempt was unsuccessful, and while attempting to return home in a dazed state of mind, he struck the vehicle ahead of him, causing minor injuries to the other driver and a passenger.
The investigative authorities regarded the client’s condition at the time of the accident as a ‘state of diminished mental capacity due to medication or a situation analogous to drunk driving,’ and were also examining the possibility of license revocation and criminal punishment, so the client, in dismay, promptly turned to Daeryun Law Firm.
The Dangers of Medication- and Alcohol-Related Accidents, as Explained by a Traffic Accident Law Firm
An accident that occurs while under the influence of alcohol or medication is judged by a different standard than an ordinary traffic accident.
Taking the wheel in a state in which one’s mental capacity is not intact may be construed as intentional or as constituting gross negligence under not only the Road Traffic Act but also the Criminal Act, and in such a case the Act on Special Cases concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents does not apply, so the possibility of an actual custodial sentence may increase.
In particular, an accident occurring while under the influence of prescription medication such as zolpidem, antidepressants, or sleeping pills is sometimes assessed as an accident ‘equivalent to drunk driving,’ and the investigative authorities determine the propriety of the driving on the basis of the dosage of medication, the time of intake, and the conduct immediately preceding the accident.
2. Traffic Accident Law Firm | Assistance of a Criminal Law Attorney
The criminal law attorney at the traffic accident law firm recognized that this matter was not a simple traffic accident but a complex case reflecting the client’s psychological crisis and treatment history, and designed a multifaceted defense strategy from the early-response stage.
Specific Demonstration of the Circumstances of Medication Use and the History of Mental Illness
The criminal law attorney emphasized that the use of zolpidem was on account of depressive symptoms and that the driving was not intentional, and supported this by submitting treatment history and counseling records.
Submission of a Written Opinion Centered on Post-Accident Remorse and Efforts to Recover Damages
The criminal law attorney highlighted that the client had been suffering deep feelings of guilt since the accident, and that he had personally apologized to the victims and completed a settlement.
In fact, the attorney attached and submitted a settlement agreement amicably reached with all of the victims, a letter of apology, and receipts for the payment of medical expenses, and also secured a statement of no desire for punishment, thereby increasing the likelihood of a suspension of indictment.
Establishment of a Strategy to Block the Dual Risk of License Revocation and Criminal Punishment
The criminal law attorney persuaded the investigative authorities that this case was not a simple drunk-driving or drugged-driving case but an accident that originated from a psychological crisis.
By clearly analyzing the causal relationship between the suicide attempt and the traffic accident, the attorney responded in a direction that mitigated the client’s criminal liability for the act of driving.
3. Traffic Accident Law Firm | Result of the Assistance
As a result of the assistance of the criminal law attorney at the traffic accident law firm, the investigative authorities acknowledged that this case was not an instance of intentional drugged driving or repeated drunk driving, and, taking comprehensive account of the client’s mental state and the circumstances of the settlement, decided on a disposition of suspension of indictment.
As a result, the client was not only able to keep his driver’s license but was also able to conclude the case without criminal punishment.
The Order of Response Immediately After an Accident
When an unexpected traffic accident occurs, it is advisable to respond in the following order:
| Step | Response Point |
|---|---|
| ① Securing the Scene | Stop the vehicle immediately, check for casualties, and report to 119 and 112 |
| ② Reporting to the Police | Because a formal investigation begins, refrain from making careless statements |
| ③ Notifying the Insurer | Promptly report the accident and secure photographs of the scene |
| ④ Consulting a Traffic Accident Law Firm | Assess the possibility of criminal punishment and establish an early-response strategy |
In particular, as of January 2026, the punishment for drugged driving has been strengthened to imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 20 million won, and refusal of a request for drug testing is punished in the same manner.
Because an accident thought to be a matter of negligence can expand into a serious criminal case, the early response is more important than anything else.
Because a mistake in the early response can cause even a negligent accident to lead to criminal punishment or license revocation, it is important to receive the assistance of a traffic accident law firm at an early stage.
If you need assistance, please seek a consultation through the 🔗Legal Consultation Reservation.
This content is based on actual case studies of Daeryun Law LLC with some adaptations, and the copyright belongs to our firm.
Unauthorized reproduction, duplication, or distribution and other copyright infringements may result in legal action under applicable laws.
