The Dangers of Intoxicated Truck Drivers in Texas
Drunk driving is a serious problem in Texas. Not only does Texas have the largest number of fatal accidents involving alcohol intoxication, but alcohol also accounts for an outsized percentage of fatal accidents in Texas compared to most other states. All drunk drivers can be a severe danger to themselves and others on the road, but intoxicated truck drivers are capable of causing especially dangerous accidents and severe injuries.
Deterrents Against Truck Driver Intoxication
Commercial truck drivers are subject to strict laws and regulations regarding alcohol and drug use, both at a federal level and within the state of Texas. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires trucking companies to administer drug and alcohol tests for their drivers under a variety of circumstances, including before hiring, after an accident, and when there is reasonable suspicion of intoxication.
Additionally, under Texas state law, the driver of a commercial truck can be charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and lose their commercial driver’s license for at least a year if they are found to have a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.04 or any amount of controlled substance in their body while operating a commercial vehicle. However, despite these deterrents, intoxicated drivers are still the source of many truck accidents in Texas.
Alcohol Severely Impairs a Truck Driver’s Abilities
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol and drugs affect a driver’s abilities in a number of ways, including:
- Reduced coordination and muscle control
- Impaired visual abilities and awareness
- Loss of judgment, reasoning, and self-control
- Slowed reaction time
All of these effects can be extremely dangerous for drivers of large commercial trucks, who require high levels of skill, focus, and control in order to safely operate their vehicles. Even a minor error or lapse in judgment could cause a serious accident, especially if the truck is traveling at high speeds or in an area with heavy traffic.
Recovering Compensation From a Drunk Truck Driver
If you are in an accident with an intoxicated truck driver, you could be facing life-altering injuries, expensive medical treatment, and permanent effects on your work abilities. As such, it is important to work with an attorney to pursue fair compensation for your damages. Police reports, blood alcohol test results, and trucking company records can help you make the case for the negligence of the driver, and in some cases involving violations of regulations, the trucking company as well.
Contact a New Braunfels Truck Accident Lawyer
At The Bettersworth Law Firm, we believe that drunk and impaired truck drivers should be held responsible for the damages they cause, and we can help you recover full compensation for your injuries. For a free consultation on your case, contact a New Braunfels, TX personal injury attorney today at 830-443-9193.
Sources:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812864
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.522.htm
