A truck driver who gets behind the wheel while being impaired by alcohol or drugs is putting every person on the road in danger. Commercial trucks are massive vehicles that demand full attention and quick reflexes to operate safely. Any meaningful level of impairment can make it significantly harder to control 80,000 pounds of metal moving at highway speeds.
Federal law holds truck drivers to a higher standard than regular motorists because of this increased danger. While the legal blood alcohol limit for most drivers is 0.08%, the limit for someone operating a commercial vehicle is just 0.04%. Learn more about impaired driving truck accidents in Tennessee below, including what your legal options are for recovering compensation.
What Counts as Impairment for a Truck Driver?
Impairment goes beyond just alcohol. The FMCSA prohibits commercial drivers from operating their vehicles while under the influence of any substance that could affect their ability to drive safely. This includes:
- Alcohol, even at levels below the standard legal limit
- Illegal drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine
- Prescription medications that cause drowsiness
- Over-the-counter drugs with side effects that interfere with safe driving
The FMCSA also requires trucking companies to conduct drug and alcohol testing at several points, including before hiring a driver and after any accident. Companies that ignore these requirements are putting profit ahead of public safety.
How Do Impaired Driving Accidents Happen in the Trucking Industry?
There are a few reasons why impaired truck drivers end up on Tennessee roads despite the rules in place to prevent it. Some drivers use stimulants to stay awake during long hauls, then crash hard when the effects wear off. Others drink during off-duty hours and get back on the road before the alcohol has fully left their system.
On the company side, some trucking operations fail to run the required drug and alcohol tests. Others look the other way when drivers show signs of a problem because they can’t afford to lose a driver during a busy stretch. In the worst cases, companies knowingly keep impaired drivers on the road to avoid disrupting their delivery schedules.
Who Can I Hold Liable After a Crash With an Impaired Truck Driver?
The driver is an obvious target to pursue compensation from, but they may not be the only one. In some cases, you can also hold the trucking company liable via one or more legal theories, such as negligent hiring and negligent supervision.
Tennessee law also allows employers to be held responsible for their employees’ actions on the job through a type of claim referred to as vicarious liability. This option may be available to you in cases where the trucking company was not aware that its driver was impaired.
It’s worth looking into every potential avenue you have for securing money damages, as doing so could raise the value of your case dramatically.
Contact Woodard Injury Law for Help After a Truck Accident in Tennessee
Crashes caused by impaired truck drivers often result in devastating injuries for victims. If this has happened to you, setting up a free consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney is the best way to understand your legal rights and options. Call Woodard Injury Law today to get started at (615) 314-4626.