Drunk Driving Truck Crash
Commercial truck drivers under the influence create catastrophic risks through impaired decision-making, reduced coordination, and violation of federal safety standards. We relentlessly investigate these inexcusable crashes to secure maximum compensation for victims and their families.
Ending drunk driving has been a law enforcement and public health priority for decades. Sadly, some people still drink and drive, and this group includes truck drivers. Drunk driving truck accidents happen more often than you would think and can be devastating for those who are injured in the wreck.
At the Law Firm for Truck Safety, our attorneys work exclusively on truck crash cases. We possess the skills, resources, and experience to help you pursue fair compensation and hold the drunk truck driver -- and parties responsible for putting them on the road --accountable.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Truckers under the influence, like other drivers, have their decision-making skills impaired. Their reaction time is slowed, vision is blurred, and focus dampened, which is particularly dangerous because trucks are already slow-to-respond vehicles. For these reasons, an inebriated truck driver is an incredible hazard to everyone else on the roadway.
Survivors of a collision with a truck often suffer injuries that will never fully heal. They may permanently lose function in a limb or lose the limb entirely. Many survivors of serious truck accidents suffer damage to their internal organs, brain, and spinal cord.
Depending on the extent of their permanent disability, a survivor may never again be able to return to their job, care for their children, drive, or fully participate in activities they used to enjoy. We will advocate aggressively for you to recover the damages you need.
Legal Limits for Truckers
Whenever you claim damages from a driver who injured you in an accident, you must prove that the driver was negligent and that their negligence resulted in your injuries. When a truck driver violates a federal safe driving law, this violation is used as evidence of negligence in truck crash lawsuits.
Truckers are held to higher standards than other drivers. Although the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08% for most drivers, it is .04% for commercial license holders. Regardless of BAC, it is illegal for a truck driver to drink any alcohol while on duty or in the four hours prior to driving. These limits are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and most states have adopted them for cases that occur within their borders.
In addition, most drivers must use reasonable care to avoid negligence, but a commercial driver must exercise the utmost care. If a commercial driver is found to have a detectable amount of alcohol in their system, our truck accident attorneys can use this information as evidence that the driver was negligent.
Types of Damages Available in Drunk Driving Truck Wrecks
When liability is established in a personal injury case, the responsible party must pay damages to compensate the injured person. These damages fall into two main categories: economic damages cover actual financial losses like medical bills and lost wages, while non-economic damages compensate for pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life.
Most states also allow you to claim exemplary or punitive damages. The court imposes exemplary damages as a punishment for particularly egregious conduct and to deter others from engaging in similar behavior. Punitive damages are reserved for cases where the responsible party’s behavior was heinous and intentional. Some states limit the amount you can collect in punitive damages, and all states have specific legal requirements you must meet to claim them. Our skilled truck crash attorneys will help you claim these extra damages if they are available in your case.
Talk to an Attorney About a Drunk Driving Truck Crash
Drunk driving truck accidents can result in both criminal and civil proceedings. While criminal penalties like license suspension punish the driver, they don't compensate victims for their losses. Civil lawsuits provide a separate legal avenue for families to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and other injury-related costs.
The skilled attorneys at the Law Firm for Truck Safety often represent survivors of drunk driving truck accidents as well as the families of people who suffered fatal injuries in these accidents. If you were hurt in a crash or lost a loved one to a drunk truck driver's truck driver negligence, contact us to schedule your free case consultation to discuss your legal options.
