Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol
Even though there’s a zero-tolerance policy for driving a truck under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, drug and alcohol use are leading causes of truck accidents across the United States.
Most truck accidents involving drunk or impaired truck drivers are catastrophic, for the driver of the rig as well as other affected motorists. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), roughly 33 percent of truck drivers killed in trucking accidents test positive for drugs or alcohol.
Marijuana and alcohol are the most commonly identified drugs and alcohol in fatally-injured truck drivers, followed closely by amphetamines, cocaine, and other stimulants. Collectively, these account for half of all the drugs in truck drivers’ systems at the time of fatal tractor-trailer accidents in the United States.
Why is it So Common For Truckers to Drive Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol?
Driving a large truck isn’t a glamorous job, but it’s undoubtedly hard work. Truck drivers are under incredible pressure from their employers to complete trips on time without incident. Many are even incentivized to push the boundaries of safe trucking practices to meet quotas or complete their trips early.
Not surprisingly, truck driver fatigue is a common problem across the trucking industry. In fact, federal research suggests that between 30 and 40 percent of truck accidents can be attributed to truck driver fatigue. Many times, the same drivers who are fatigued are also under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Why? Many truck drivers turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the considerable stresses of the job.
One study found that 21.3 percent of truck drivers surveyed admitted to using amphetamines, likely to combat fatigue and stay awake at the wheel.
Other truck drivers – particularly long-haul drivers – develop drug and drinking habits to cope with isolation, loneliness, and depression that often come with the job.
The FMCSA and Illinois Have Zero Tolerance Policies For Driving a Commercial Vehicle Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol
Under state and federal safety regulations, a driver of a commercial truck is prohibited from:
- Operating a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .04 percent or greater, and
- Driving a truck or performing safety-sensitive actions within 4 hours of consuming alcohol.
Truck drivers must submit to regular, random drug tests, as well as provide samples for drug tests if they’re involved in a traffic accident.
A truck driver who violates Illinois state trucking laws or FMCSA zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policies risks not only losing their Commercial Driver’s License, but also liability should their poor decision cause an accident.
When a truck driver causes an accident while they’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they can be considered negligent and, in turn, financially responsible for resulting property damage, personal injury, or wrongful death.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident because the truck driver was drunk or impaired by drugs, don’t hesitate to call Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC.
Our Chicago truck accident lawyers can:
- Gather evidence to prove the truck driver was drunk or impaired, such as breathalyzer test results, field sobriety results, dash cam footage, and witness statements
- Build a compelling legal claim against the truck driver, the trucking service, and other potentially liable parties
- Actively pursue financial justice for the life-changing injuries you suffered in the truck accident
We’ve helped our clients win hundreds of millions of dollars after catastrophic accidents across the state of Illinois. Now, we’re here to fight for you. Call our Chicago, Illinois, law office to set a time for your free consultation today.