Drinking and Driving Truck Drivers

Posted on December 12, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Did you suffer injuries in a truck accident? Do you know or suspect the truck driver was under the influence of alcohol? If so, you could seek compensation for your injuries. However, you must consider several unique factors while pursuing your injury claim. Contact a Phoenix truck accident attorney for legal help in your case.

Drinking and Driving Truck Accident Statistics

The following statistics illustrate the prevalence of dangerous alcohol consumption among U.S. truck drivers and how drunk driving contributes to truck accidents:

• The U.S. has roughly 1.7 million long-haul truck drivers. A recent study indicated that 19 percent of U.S. truck drivers regularly engage in binge drinking, and 9.4 percent drink alcohol daily.
• A national survey found that 10 percent of truck drivers admitted to driving under the influence within the past year. Alcohol was the most common substance (7.2 percent), followed by cannabis (4.5 percent).
• Another survey from 2020 revealed that 5.9 percent of truck drivers admitted to driving while over the legal limit within the past month.
• Another study counted 4,778 commercial truck drivers in fatal traffic accidents throughout the U.S. in just one year. Of these drivers, 3.9 percent reportedly had BACs of 0.01 or greater, and 2.8 percent had BACs exceeding 0.08.
• Impairment was the second-most common driver-related factor for truck drivers in fatal truck accidents in one recent year. The only other driver-related factor that appeared more frequently was speeding.
• Over 5 percent of truck drivers who were in fatal truck accidents in one recent year drove while impaired. Slightly less than half of these drivers were in fatal multi-vehicle crashes.

Why Do Some Truckers Drink and Drive?

Truckers may drink too much and then drive for various reasons, such as:

• Stressful Work Environment: Truck driving is a high-stress occupation due to long hours, tight schedules, and unfamiliar locations. This stress prompts some to resort to coping mechanisms like alcohol consumption.
• Isolation and Loneliness: Truck drivers often spend extended periods on the road, away from family and social support systems. This isolation can increase the likelihood of turning to alcohol as a form of comfort or escape.
• Irregular Hours and Lack of Routine: The irregular hours and lack of a standard daily routine in truck driving can disrupt normal eating and sleeping patterns, so some drivers use alcohol to relax or fall asleep.
• Workplace Culture: In some segments of the truck driving industry, there is a culture that normalizes or even encourages alcohol consumption to socialize or unwind after long hauls.
• Easy Access: The prevalence of alcohol at truck stops and along routes means it is often readily available and tempting for drivers.
• Lack of Alternative Recreation: Limited options for relaxation and recreation on the road make drinking one of the few available leisure activities for truckers during their downtime.

Alcohol Testing Requirements for Commercial Truck Drivers

Federal trucking regulations require trucking companies to test drivers for alcohol consumption under certain circumstances.

Truck drivers must submit to alcohol testing in the following situations:

• After Certain Truck Accidents: If a truck driver is in an accident, they might need to undergo alcohol testing. Testing is mandatory if the accident results in a fatality. Drivers must also submit to alcohol tests if they receive citations for moving violations in accidents where someone suffers injuries or a vehicle requires towing.
• When Employers Have Reasonable Suspicions: If a supervisor has a reasonable suspicion that a driver is under the influence of alcohol, they can order an immediate alcohol test. They must base this suspicion on specific, observable signs like alcohol smell, slurred speech, or erratic behavior.
• When Drivers Return to Duty: If drivers have violated alcohol regulations, they cannot return to driving duties until they pass an alcohol test. This test proves that the driver is free from the influence of alcohol and is safe to resume driving in public spaces.
• After Returning to Duty: After returning to duty, a driver who violated alcohol rules must undergo follow-up testing. This consists of at least six tests in the first 12 months following the driver’s return to duty. Some drivers must submit to four years of follow-up tests.

Employers can also randomly select truck drivers for alcohol testing at any time. These tests are unpredictable and can happen while drivers are working. The goal of random testing is to discourage alcohol use, as drivers never know when monitoring will take place.

What Happens When Truckers Drink and Drive?

Driving a commercial truck while under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous. It puts the driver at risk and endangers everyone else on the road.

Here are some specific dangers of driving a truck while drunk:

• Reduced Reaction Time: Alcohol slows down a driver’s reaction time. In emergency traffic scenarios, every second counts. A delayed reaction could lead to accidents, especially at high speeds.
• Impaired Judgment and Decision Making: Alcohol affects a driver’s ability to make good decisions. A drunk truck driver might take unnecessary risks, like speeding or making unsafe lane changes.
• Decreased Coordination: Operating a truck requires coordination. Alcohol impairs motor skills, making it harder to maintain control. This can lead to swerving, incorrect gear shifting, and failing to maintain a steady driving speed or lane position.
• Poor Vision: Alcohol can blur vision and alter depth perception. This makes it harder for drivers to judge distances and react to hazards on the road.
• Higher Likelihood of Risky Behaviors: Under the influence of alcohol, drivers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like speeding, aggressive driving, or turning without signaling.

How Much Is a Drunk Driving Truck Accident Case Worth?

The amount of compensation you can recover after a drunk driving truck accident depends on the specifics of the collision and how it affects you.

Many truck accident victims file claims seeking compensation for:

• Medical expenses from treating truck accident injuries
• Estimated costs for future medical needs
• Out-of-pocket costs resulting from the accident
• Lost income from hours or days away from work
• Projected losses in lifetime earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Lost quality or enjoyment of life

The amount of compensation you can claim for each of these categories will vary based on the unique characteristics of your case.

For instance, any of these factors could influence the value of your payout:

• The severity of your injuries
• The types of injuries you suffer
• The duration of any medical treatment you need
• The cost of your medical bills
• The need for ongoing medical care
• How your injuries affect your quality of life
• Your age and health before the accident
• The extent of any loss of income due to the accident
• The potential for future loss of earnings
• The presence of any permanent disabilities
• The mental and emotional trauma you suffered
• Whether the trucking company violated any regulations
• The availability of eyewitness testimony
• The presence of video or photographic evidence
• The limits of the truck insurance policy
• The willingness of the other party to settle or go to trial

How Do You Prove a DUI Truck Accident Case?

When you work with a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer, they can prove your case by identifying, preserving, and presenting the following types of evidence.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Test Results

BAC test results are critical in DUI cases as they provide scientific evidence of alcohol consumption.

A BAC level at or above the legal limit is strong evidence of impairment. These results are hard to dispute and are often decisive factors in proving DUI truck accident claims.

Eyewitness Testimonies

Eyewitness accounts offer valuable perspectives on the accident. Witnesses can describe the truck driver’s behavior before the crash, such as swerving, speeding, or signs of intoxication.

They can also provide details about the accident itself, like the point of impact, the speed of the vehicles, and the road conditions.

Expert Testimonies

Experts in fields like accident reconstruction or toxicology can provide professional insights about how the accident occurred and the role alcohol played. Their testimonies allow investigators to establish the cause of the accident and the extent of the driver’s impairment, lending scientific credibility to the claim.

Dashcam or Surveillance Footage

Video footage from dashcams, traffic cameras, or security cameras provides a visual record of the accident. It can capture the moments leading up to the crash, the impact, and the immediate aftermath.

This compelling evidence offers an unaltered and objective view of the events, which can confirm or contradict other evidence and testimonies.

Toxicology Reports

Beyond BAC levels, toxicology reports can provide a broader picture of the substances present in the truck driver’s system at the time of the accident. These reports might reveal the presence of other drugs, legal or illegal, that could have contributed to impairment.

They are particularly important if the driver was under the influence, but their BAC was below the legal limit.

The Truck’s Electronic Control Module (ECM) Data

The truck’s ECM, or black box, records operational data like speed, braking patterns, and engine performance. This data can show whether the truck driver was speeding, made sudden stops, or took other actions that suggest loss of control or erratic driving.

Photographs of the Accident Scene

Photographs from immediately after the accident can show the position and condition of the vehicles, skid marks, debris, and other physical evidence. Photos can also capture environmental conditions like weather, lighting, and road quality, which might have played a role in the accident. These images can establish the severity of the crash and support claims about the resulting injuries.

Receipts or Credit Card Statements

These can indicate where and when the truck driver purchased alcohol before the accident. They can establish a timeline leading up to the accident and support claims that the driver was drinking shortly before driving.

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