Lawyers For People Injured Due To Truck Driver Substance Abuse

Truck drivers are on tight schedules and the stress can lead some of them to consume alcohol or recreational drugs. Other truck drivers use legal or illegal stimulants to keep them awake on long truck routes. But these substances can affect driving abilities, visual perception and judgment. The result can be a serious or deadly accident.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in an accident caused by an impaired truck driver, you have the right to claim compensation for your losses and suffering. You should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Truck Accident Injury Law Firm In Nashville

The attorneys of Bart Durham Injury Law represent truck accident victims throughout Tennessee. Our legal team works diligently to investigate accident cases and obtain full compensation for accident victims, including medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. For strong advocacy when you need it most, turn to the lawyers of Bart Durham Injury Law.

Substance Abuse By Truck Drivers

Though drivers must pass a drug test before they are hired and randomly during their period of employment, the use of legal and illegal substances is endemic in the trucking industry. Some trucking companies have been known to look the other way when testing reveals the presence of alcohol or illegal drugs in the bloodstreams of their drivers.

Some of the substances that can adversely affect a person’s driving abilities include:

Alcohol — Truck drivers are prohibited by federal motor carrier safety regulations to have blood alcohol content of .04 or higher. This is half the legal limit for other drivers. In addition, truck drivers cannot consume alcohol within four hours of reporting for work.

Marijuana and other illegal drugs — These can slow a driver’s reaction time and impair his or her judgment. The presence of marijuana and many other controlled substances in the blood stream can be detected by tests performed after an accident.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications — These can slow reaction time, particularly when used in combination with alcohol or other drugs.

When representing you, Bart Durham Injury Law will undertake a comprehensive investigation of the accident to determine how it happened and to establish liability. We work hard to hold negligent drivers responsible, and we will fight for your rights every step of the way.