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Being involved in any type of motor vehicle collision is stressful, though being involved in a crash caused by an intoxicated truck driver can be a uniquely frustrating experience.
If you were hurt in a wreck with a heavy commercial vehicle because the trucker was under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances, you should reach out to a seasoned tractor-trailer crash attorney as soon as possible. The dedicated lawyers at our firm have experience representing injured people who suffered losses in intoxicated truck driver accidents in Frisco, and they are prepared to fight for your best interests through a civil litigation.
According to Texas Penal Code §49.01(2) an intoxicated driver is a driver who no longer has the full use of his or her mental or physical faculties as a result of using alcohol, drugs, or some other controlled substance or a driver who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more. Whether a person drives after taking a legal prescription drug, or illegal drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, or marijuana, they are still considered an intoxicated driver if they are unable to properly function. If a truck driver is arrested and charged with a DUI in Frisco, a proactive attorney could obtain that information from police records to be used as proof of negligence in a civil claim.
It is, unfortunately, a common occurrence for commercial truck drivers who cause wrecks in Frisco to have intoxicants in their system or to show signs or symptoms of being intoxicated. There is often an enormous amount of pressure on these drivers by their employers to drive too many hours, and some even turn to drugs to help stimulate their bodies and keep them awake.
In our current economy, there is such a high demand for truck drivers that trucking companies are often scratching the bottom of the barrel—recruiting anyone they can to drive for them. As a result, many individuals that have a questionable background when it comes to their drug or alcohol use are hired for these positions. In some cases, major carriers will choose not to drug test a truck driver who they know will fail because they will lose money. A diligent lawyer could investigate to determine whether a trucking company participated in negligent practices, and if so, hold them liable for an injured person’s damages.
Alcohol is still the most commonly abused substance in 18-wheeler wrecks in Frisco; though, more and more truckers are turning to various drugs. Marijuana has grown substantially in popularity among truck drivers, especially as it has become legalized in many states across the country. Some other frequently used drugs among truckers include cocaine and Benzodiazepine. All of these drugs slow a person’s body down causing slower reactions to traffic conditions as well as their decision-making abilities to be stunted.
However, the most popular drug used in the trucking community is methamphetamines. The use of meth has skyrocketed among truckers because it enables them to stay awake for hours and hours at a time. Though, over time, it will also cause them to make poor driving decisions and result in possibly fatal accidents.
The common signs of substance abuse are the same kind of signs that are seen with driver fatigue. Drivers that before the incident—whether immediately before or for several miles before—were driving in an erratic manner or disregarding traffic or stop signs are prime suspects. Thus, a trucker’s behavior leading up to a collision can be a strong indicator of whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
No one should ever get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, truck drivers especially should stay away from such reckless behavior, as a collision with a large commercial vehicle could result in catastrophic and deadly injuries for anyone involved. Sadly, whether due to pressure from their employers or out of their own carelessness, they do not always make the right choice.
The experienced lawyers at our firm could discuss the process for filing a lawsuit for intoxicated truck driver accidents in Frisco. Contact us today to get started.
McCraw Law Group
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