Because of the harsh federal regulations that have been established to prevent truck accidents caused by DUI, it is rare for a commercial driver to get behind the wheel of a truck while under the influence of alcohol. They know that their commercial licenses can be suspended after a single infraction, costing them their income and livelihood.
Unfortunately, truck accidents caused by drunk driving still happen, and they are usually deadly. When you compare the average weight of a tractor-trailer (80,000 pounds) with the average weight of a passenger vehicle (3,000 pounds), it’s no surprise that 98% of deaths in truck accidents happen to the people in the passenger vehicles.
However, a DUI truck accident does not have to involve alcohol – much more often, a trucker will be under the influence of marijuana or methamphetamines. The latter is frequently sold at truck stops as a stimulant to help tired truckers stay awake on long drives. Although the drug may succeed in keeping drivers alert for a time, the side effects – including paranoia, poor judgment, and bad reaction time – can negate any benefits the drug offers, putting other motorists in danger.
If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident, we will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine if DUI was a factor in the crash. Please contact The Law Offices of Mickey Fine today or call (661) 333-3333 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced Bakersfield truck accident lawyers.