Truck Driver Drug and Alcohol Use in Houston, TX
Strict regulations govern the trucking industry, including tough standards for truck drivers’ drug and alcohol use. Even with mandatory testing and monitoring, drug and alcohol use continues to be a problem in Houston, TX, and surrounding areas. Impaired truckers cause catastrophic truck accidents that result in devastating injuries and deaths.
If you were injured in an 18-wheeler crash involving drugs or alcohol, you deserve to be compensated fully for all damages. We can help make that a reality.
Our Houston personal injury lawyers are undefeated. We’ve recovered billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, earning our law firm membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Contact Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a record-setting Houston truck accident lawyer. You can call us at (888) 603-3636.
Table of Contents
- How Our Houston Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help With an Accident Claim Involving Truck Driver Alcohol or Drug Use
- How Do Drugs and Alcohol Increase the Risk of Truck Accidents?
- Who Is Responsible for a Drunk or Drugged Truck Accident in Houston, TX?
- What Damages Can I Receive After a Houston Truck Accident Involving Alcohol or Drug Use?
- Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Undefeated Houston Truck Accident Lawyers To Discuss Your Claim
How Our Houston Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help With an Accident Claim Involving Truck Driver Alcohol or Drug Use
The federal government has a specific drug and alcohol testing program for truck drivers. Employers are responsible for testing drivers and removing them from service if they test positive for drug use. Texas also has stiff penalties for those who are arrested for DUI while driving a commercial truck.
Yet, truck accidents involving drugs and alcohol continue to occur, and proving liability for your claim can be challenging. You need an exceptional legal team to take on the trucking company and its insurance provider.
The attorneys at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers have substantial experience handling truck accident cases. We’re recognized by numerous organizations for our winning track record. Our lawyers are top-rated by The National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and many other organizations. Our success has been covered by major news outlets, including CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.
When you hire our undefeated truck accident lawyers in Houston, we’ll handle all aspects of your case, including:
- Completing a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the truck accident and the responsible parties
- Filing insurance claims and handling all matters with the insurance provider and trucking company
- Gathering evidence proving your claim, including working with leading expert witnesses
- Monitoring federal and state investigations of the truck accident and criminal charges against the truck driver
- Documenting your damages to determine how much your case is worth
- Aggressively negotiating settlements based on the value of your damages
- Filing a lawsuit and taking your case to court, if necessary
A truck accident claim could be worth millions of dollars. At Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers, we understand what is at stake and what we need to do to protect your rights. Call now for a free case evaluation with a truck accident attorney in Houston, Texas.
How Do Drugs and Alcohol Increase the Risk of Truck Accidents?
Commercial truck drivers use drugs and alcohol for many reasons. Some use drugs to stay awake while driving long hours or to exceed FMCSA hours of service rules. Poor working conditions, stress, and the availability of drugs and alcohol are also factors.
When truck drivers use drugs or consume alcohol, it significantly impacts their ability to operate a vehicle safely.
Numerous studies indicate that drug and alcohol use can impair driving by:
- Negatively impacting critical thinking
- Causing drowsiness
- Impairing cognitive function
- Reducing coordination and the ability to track moving objects
- Slowing response time to emergency driving situations
- Impairing distance perception
The risk of a trucking accident increases when a truck driver is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol because of the adverse effects of the substances. The driver may not be aware that they are impaired because alcohol and drugs can also impact judgment.
Who Is Responsible for a Drunk or Drugged Truck Accident in Houston, TX?
A truck driver who causes an accident because of alcohol or drug use can be personally liable for the damages caused by the crash. However, the trucking company may also be responsible under vicarious liability principles. An employer can be held liable for the negligent acts of its employee if the employee caused an accident during the ordinary course of employment.
Additionally, trucking companies and employers could be negligent if they:
- Failed to perform required drug and alcohol screenings
- Allowed a driver to operate a truck after testing positive for drugs
- Failed to ensure that the truck driver had the required commercial driver’s license (CDL)
- Didn’t use an effective method for testing for alcohol and drugs
- Failed to implement the required drug and alcohol screening programs
Many trucking companies require drivers to meet unreasonable deadlines, knowing they will violate hours of service rules. Excessive demands on drivers can increase the risk of drug and alcohol use.
What Damages Can I Receive After a Houston Truck Accident Involving Alcohol or Drug Use?
If you are injured in a Texas truck accident, you may receive compensation for your economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Lost wages
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Emotional distress
- Reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Impairments and disabilities
- Diminished quality of life
Our Houston truck accident attorneys will thoroughly investigate the cause of the collision and document your damages to increase the value of your case. We’ll work with your physicians and experts to ascertain the severity and extent of the damages caused by a drunk or drugged truck driver.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Undefeated Houston Truck Accident Lawyers To Discuss Your Claim
Drug and alcohol use by truck drivers poses a danger to everyone on the road. These drivers and their employers should be held accountable for the damage they cause.
Call Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for a free case review with a Houston truck accident attorney. We are here to help you when you need aggressive legal representation after a tractor-trailer crash involving drug or alcohol use.