Drug or Alcohol Abuse in Truck Accidents
A 2006 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) report states that prescription drug use, illegal drug use, and over the counter drug use are primary causes of trucking accidents. When a serious semi truck crash occurs, the owner and the insurance carrier get an investigator to the scene of the accident as quickly as possible. This allows them to remove incriminating evidence, such as indications of substance abuse by the driver. They are hoping to reduce their liability for the accident and the amount they will ultimately have to pay to the victims.
Contact a law firm with the ability to uncover drug and alcohol abuse after a trucking accident.
At the Carmel, Indiana, law firm of Wagner Reese & Crossen, our legal team includes a former risk manager for a large trucking concern, Chuck Stratis Link. He knows from personal experience how important it is to have someone at the site of the accident promptly to determine whether substance abuse was a factor in the accident. If you’ve been injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer, contact a knowledgeable lawyer right away. Call us at 800-792-0332 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Federal rules are strict about substance use and abuse by truck drivers
The FMCSA rules strictly prohibit drug and alcohol use by drivers. Operators and trucking companies in violation of the rules can be held liable for the injuries and damages suffered by crash victims. At our law firm, we know the indicators of drug or alcohol abuse in truck drivers. We look for evidence of:
How we investigate
Our firm’s on-staff truck expert, Chuck Stratis, also reviews the results of drug testing — required in any fatal accident and periodically for anyone who holds a commercial driver’s license (CDL). He knows where drivers might stop to purchase illegal substances; he can determine whether this happened from logbook alterations and receipts for food or fuel from well-known truck stops. In addition to using prescription and non-prescription “uppers” to stay awake and barbiturates to fall asleep, drivers purchase marijuana and cocaine, sometimes thinking these are safer than using alcohol and being charged with driving under the influence (DUI).
If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, contact the law firm with the ability to uncover drug and alcohol abuse by a driver. Call the Indiana law firm of Wagner Reese & Crossen for a free initial consultation.
An Indiana law firm with a national trucking accident practice
