Truck drivers operating a massive vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs cause truck accidents in the Clarksburg, West Virginia region every year. These accidents can be severe given the size difference between large trucks and passenger vehicles, and the recklessness with which impaired truckers often drive. Survivors of accidents related to truck driver impairment can recover damages for losses sustained in the accident.
A truck driver is impaired when one is unable to use one’s mental faculties, sense of reasoning, and judgment to safely operate a tractor-trailer or a semi-rig. That impairment is often the result of the use of alcohol or prescription or narcotic drugs while behind the wheel or prior to getting behind the wheel.
Most drivers don’t want to consider the possibility that the trucker beside them on the highway is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Unfortunately, drug use and alcohol abuse by truck drivers is a reality in some cases. The serious danger posed by truck drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs is the reason why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMC
SA) has strict drug and alcohol testing guidelines in place.
Trucking companies are required to subject new hires to alcohol and drug tests before the person becomes employed. Companies must also conduct random alcohol and drug screenings. Drug and alcohol testing is also a requirement after accidents that cause serious accidents or result in truck driver citation.
Effects of Alcohol and Drug Use on Truck Drivers
Alcohol can slow a driver’s responses, delay reflexes, and impair judgment. That means a significantly lowered ability to drive safely and responsibly or use emergency maneuvers to avoid an accident. A person driving while alcohol- or drug-impaired may also be more likely to fall asleep at the wheel or miss important accident cues. Wrong-way driving may also be linked to truck driver impairment.
A truck driver’s driving skills are also impaired by the use of prescription medication. Some truck drivers might use certain drugs to stay awake for long periods of time while driving. However, when the effects of the drug begin to wear off, the person suddenly slips into a state of extreme fatigue and could actually fall asleep at the wheel.
Truck Drivers and Sleep Deprivation
Truck driver impairment is also the result of sleep deprivation. Truck drivers who are driving for long periods of time without any rest may begin to suffer from extreme sleep deprivation, causing impaired driving skills that seriously increase their risk of an accident. The FMCSA enforces hours-of-service rules that require drivers not drive beyond a certain amount of time and requires rest periods in an attempt to keep drowsy drivers off of the roads.
Filing a Truck Accident Claim
A trucking accident lawsuit can help victims of truck accidents in Clarksburg and their families recover compensation for injuries if driver impairment caused or contributed to the accident. However, certain types of impairment may be easier to prove than others.
Impairment as a result of alcohol or drug use might be easier to prove than drowsiness, for example.
For instance, alcohol and drug tests after a truck accident can determine whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol and certain drugs, including the following.
• cocaine
• amphetamines
• methamphetamines
There may not be readily available evidence of fatigued driving. In such cases, hours-of-service records or eyewitness statements might indicate fatigue.
A trucking accident attorney will conduct investigations to determine impairment. This includes requesting alcohol and drug testing records, as well as the driver’s logbooks to determine whether the driver was operating the vehicle beyond the maximum hours permitted. The attorney may send a spoliation letter to the trucking company to prevent destruction of this evidence.
A successful trucking accident claim can help recover damages for many things.
• lost wages
• medical expenses
• lost potential future income
• disability
To understand how you can recover compensation for damages in an accident caused by truck driver impairment, speak with a trucking accident lawyer.
