How Truck Driver Drug And Alcohol Use Causes Devastating Atlanta Crashes
With heavy traffic throughout the city, truck accidents in Atlanta already pose high risks to motorists. Add drugs or alcohol to the equation, and the consequences can be deadly.
Alcohol and drug use are unfortunately common factors in commercial vehicle crashes and can leave drivers, passengers, and pedestrians nearby suffering potentially fatal harm. Our experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyers explain more about the risks and common challenges victims and their families face when filing a claim.
How Driver Impairment Increases Atlanta Truck Crash Risks
Driving under the influence is illegal under the Georgia Code. You can face serious charges if your blood alcohol content percentage is .08 or more. Federal regulations hold commercial truck drivers to an even stricter standard.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets a legal blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.04 percent for commercial drivers. Federal laws are strict, as impaired driving is common in the trucking industry and a leading cause of crashes. Common ways alcohol or drug use increases the risks:
- Reduced reaction times may prevent truckers from braking or steering in time to avoid a crash.
- Impaired judgment often leads to excessive speed, unsafe lane changes, or failure to yield.
- Reduced coordination impacts a trucker’s ability to control an 80,000-pound vehicle.
- Due to their schedules, truckers are particularly susceptible to drowsy driving, which is aggravated by drugs or alcohol.
- Overconfidence causes impaired drivers to take risks they would otherwise avoid.
Trucking companies that fail to conduct required testing or ignore prior violations share responsibility when Atlanta truck crashes happen due to drunk or impaired driving.
Common Challenges in Atlanta Truck Accident Claims Involving Impaired Drivers
When an Atlanta truck accident happens, trucking companies have teams of insurers working to protect them. It doesn’t matter if their driver was at fault. Common challenges victims face in impaired truck driver claims include:
- Trucking companies frequently argue the driver acted independently, attempting to distance themselves from liability.
- Insurers may try to argue you were partly to blame or dispute the severity of harm suffered.
- Toxicology results take time, giving insurance companies time to dispute impairment before results are confirmed.
- Electronic logging and black box data must be preserved immediately, or it can be lost.
- Without legal representation, victims and their families often face pressure to accept quick settlements for far less than they are entitled to or need to recover.
You did nothing wrong. A driver who got behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound truck while impaired made that choice, and the company that put them there shares responsibility. To get the compensation you are entitled to, get professional legal help today.
Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers
At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, we hold truckers and trucking companies accountable when impaired driving leads to truck accidents in Atlanta. We fight to get victims and their families the total compensation they deserve.
To request a consultation, contact our experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyers today. We represent clients in Alpharetta, Marietta, Roswell, Johns Creek, and throughout Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett Counties.
Source:
csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/safetyplanner/MyFiles/SubSections.aspx?ch=23&sec=68&sub=164
