It is estimated that an average of thirty people die every day, or one every 51 minutes, as the result of an accident involving drinking and driving, nationwide. This value, reported by the Centers for Disease Control, [1] accounts for approximately one third of vehicle-related deaths and a financial cost of 59 billion dollars, in the United States alone.
Accidents which are the result of a large truck operator driving a tractor-trailer under the influence (DUI), or driving while intoxicated (DWI), are much more likely to result in one or more fatalities than those involving smaller vehicles. For this reason, truck drivers are required to meet a higher standard when it comes to their driving habits.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck driver DUI accident, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable and experienced truck accident attorney to understand all your rights.
In the state of Michigan, commercial truck drivers may not drive with a blood-alcohol concentration of more than 0.04 percent, half the limit of non-commercial drivers, as established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration[2] regulations. Furthermore, truck drivers are prohibited from driving their truck less than four hours from the time that they consumed alcohol.
When a truck driver is involved in an accident in which he or she is found to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, they are not always solely liable. In fact, in some circumstances, the driver’s employer, and even a company who has hired them on contract, can be held responsible, as well.
If a truck driver is found to have violated the conditions of drinking-and-driving rules, they will likely be required to complete drug and alcohol testing. This is the case whether they are under suspicion, have been found to be intoxicated after being involved in an accident, or as a condition for returning to work. Drug testing often checks for amphetamines, cocaine, phencyclidine (PCP), opiates, and marijuana.
Penalties are worse for a truck driver refusing to submit to a blood alcohol test after being pulled over under suspicion of DWI. Doing so is an automatic DUI guilty plea, as stated in the regulations put out by the FMCSA.
Call an Experienced Michigan Truck Accident Attorney
Trucking accidents caused by driving while drunk or on drugs are senseless and preventable. If you have been involved in an accident with a truck driver who has consumed alcohol, it is necessary to speak to a skilled Michigan truck accident attorney to hold those responsible for such accidents fully accountable, so they do not continue their reckless behavior. Please do not hesitate to call Michigan Injury Lawyers at 313-GET-HELP for a free consultation today.
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Thomas L. Stroble
FOUNDER
Mr. Stroble is a highly accomplished graduate of Michigan State University, with degrees in both science and law. He specializes in commercial lawsuits and personal injury cases. Licensed to practice law in Michigan and even the U.S. Supreme Court, he’s a well-qualified legal expert. Besides his career in law, he loves outdoor activities and volunteers as a part-time police officer in Birmingham.
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