Truck Accidents Due to Driver Impairment

Truck driver alcohol and drug use is a serious problem that can lead to devastating accidents. Even when driven safely, the size and weight of semi-trucks make them difficult to maneuver, and an intoxicated truck driver almost certainly lacks the ability to swerve, brake, or take evasive action when necessary to avoid a collision. Impaired truck drivers may also have difficulty judging distance, speed, and braking ability, all of which create a significant danger to other motorists and pedestrians. .

Alcohol & Drug Testing for Truck Drivers

The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires truck drivers to undergo periodic alcohol and drug testing. Unfortunately, however, many drivers are not tested or tested regularly. This means that a lack of enforcement could be contributing to many accidents caused by intoxicated truckers. The intoxicants truck drivers should be tested for include:

• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Amphetamines
• Cocaine

Another way authorities have tried to enforce sober driving is by lowering the blood alcohol content (BAC) legal limit for commercial truck drivers to .04 percent. But in fact, even BAC levels lower than this amount can impair a trucker's driving ability. Considering these factors, all truck drivers involved in accidents should be tested for drugs and alcohol.

Truck Drivers Using Stimulants to Stay Awake

In the trucking industry, both the trucking companies and the drivers benefit financially from working long hours. Because of this industry-wide pressure, some truckers resort to using stimulants, such as amphetamines (speed) and cocaine to combat fatigue. The use of stimulants prompts drivers to take more risks on the road, and they are actually linked to an increased risk of falling asleep at the wheel. With methamphetamine, for example, a driver may suffer from immediate and sudden fatigue as the effects of the drug begin to wear off.

Attorneys for Accidents Caused by Impaired Truck Drivers

At Henry Spiegel Milling LLP, our personal injury lawyers work tirelessly to protect the rights of people who have been injured because of a truck driver's substance use and reckless driving practices. We hold drivers and trucking companies accountable for their actions by pursuing maximum financial compensation for victims to ease their physical, emotional, and financial burdens. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact our Atlanta-based law firm today at (866) 959-3877 or via email at info@hsm-law.com.