Truck Driver Drug and Alcohol Use in Midland
Were you injured in a truck accident involving a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol? At Zehl & Associates, our award-winning Midland truck accident lawyers have a proven track record of holding negligent truckers and trucking companies accountable. We’re ready to help when you call (432) 220-0000.
Commercial truck drivers have a legal obligation to avoid intoxicated driving and operate their vehicles safely. When they violate that duty, the consequences can be catastrophic. If you suspect that drugs or alcohol played a role in your crash, we’ll hold the truck driver and trucking company accountable and get justice for you and your family.
Contact our Midland, TX law office today for a free consultation.
Table of Contents
- Why Hire Zehl & Associates After a Truck Accident Involving Drugs or Alcohol?
- The Dangers of Drug and Alcohol Use in Commercial Trucking
- Are Trucking Companies Required to Drug Test Their Drivers?
- Who Is Liable in Drug or Alcohol-Related Truck Accidents?
- What Compensation Is Available to Midland Truck Accident Victims?
- Contact Our Midland Truck Accident Lawyers Today for Help
Why Hire Zehl & Associates After a Truck Accident Involving Drugs or Alcohol?
Truck accidents are some of the most complex and high-stakes cases in personal injury law — especially when the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These cases often involve multiple at-fault parties, violations of federal safety regulations, and corporate legal teams whose sole focus is protecting their company’s bottom line.
A “good enough” law firm won’t cut it. You need the best: a team with the resources, experience, and undefeated track record of standing up to the largest trucking companies in the world and not only winning, but recovering record-breaking verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.
With Billions won, our Midland truck accident attorneys know exactly how to hold impaired drivers — and the negligent companies that put them behind the wheel — fully accountable.
From day one, we fight to recover the maximum compensation you deserve by:
- Using the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to uncover and prove company violations, such as failing to test drivers or ignoring prior drug and alcohol use
- Working with leading toxicologists, accident reconstructionists, and medical experts to prove the truck driver was impaired and that their employer knew — or should have known — they were unfit to drive
- Investigating the trucking company’s hiring, training, and supervision practices to expose patterns of negligence
- Preserving and analyzing critical evidence — like logbooks, drug test results, driver qualification files, and onboard electronic data — before it’s lost or destroyed
- Refusing to settle for anything less than full compensation for all your injuries and losses
- Taking your case to trial, if necessary, where we have never lost a case
- Standing by you and your family at every step, ensuring you have the best medical care, support, and resources you need to move forward
Call us today for a free consultation with an experienced Midland truck accident lawyer. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and start building the strongest possible case for you.
The Dangers of Drug and Alcohol Use in Commercial Trucking
Operating a semi-truck under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal. Federal law sets a much stricter legal limit for commercial drivers than for the average motorist. A BAC of 0.04% or higher constitutes driving under the influence under FMCSA regulations.
Still, some truck drivers get behind the wheel impaired. The sheer size and weight of an 18-wheeler can cause massive destruction in a crash. Add alcohol or drugs, and the results can be even more deadly.
Injuries in these crashes often include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord damage or paralysis
- Severe burns
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Disfigurement
- Amputations
- Wrongful death
Victims are frequently left with long-term medical needs, permanent disabilities, and extensive pain and suffering.
Are Trucking Companies Required to Drug Test Their Drivers?
Under federal law, trucking companies must screen drivers for drug and alcohol use during the hiring process and after certain types of accidents. Post-accident testing is mandatory when a crash results in a fatality or when a citation is issued for a crash involving injury or disabling damage to a vehicle.
Despite these regulations, some companies:
- Fail to perform required random testing
- Ignore red flags in a driver’s history
- Allow unfit or impaired drivers to remain on the road
If this happened in your truck accident case, you deserve justice. At Zehl & Associates, we hold trucking companies accountable for cutting corners on safety.
Who Is Liable in Drug or Alcohol-Related Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents involving drug or alcohol impairment often involve multiple possible at-fault parties, including:
- The truck driver: A truck driver operating their vehicle under the influence is in direct violation of both state and federal laws. If toxicology tests confirm drug or alcohol use, the driver may be negligent per se, meaning the violation itself establishes liability.
- The trucking company: Trucking companies have a legal responsibility to screen, train, and supervise their drivers. If they fail to enforce safety standards or hire drivers with known substance abuse histories, they can be held liable for negligent hiring or retention.
- Other third parties: Depending on the facts of your case, others may share responsibility. For example, another motorist may have contributed to the crash, or a defective truck part may have worsened the impact. Alternatively, a bar or restaurant may have overserved the truck driver before your crash.
Our undefeated truck accident attorneys will identify every party that contributed to your accident and hold them accountable for every cent of your damages.
What Compensation Is Available to Midland Truck Accident Victims?
Under Texas law, truck accident victims are entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. These damages are designed to cover all your financial and nonfinancial losses related to the collision.
A personal injury lawsuit may provide money for your:
- Medical care
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and loss of future earnings
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
In cases involving drunk or drugged driving, punitive damages may also be available to punish the driver or trucking company and deter future misconduct.
Contact Our Midland Truck Accident Lawyers Today for Help
Drunk and drugged truck drivers should not get behind the wheel. If such a driver caused your accident, you deserve justice. At Zehl & Associates, our legal team has the resources and courtroom experience to win big and set records. We will hold the truck driver and their employer responsible for your injuries and suffering.
Call our Midland, Texas, office today or contact us online to schedule your free case review. Our Midland truck accident lawyers are standing by to assist you.