Truck accidents caused by impaired drivers are among the most common causes of truck accidents in San Diego and throughout California. To make matters worse, it’s not just drinking and driving that’s the problem. It’s possible that truck drivers will even take different drugs in order to stay awake and more alert when driving across the country. A truck driver might abuse drugs that were legally prescribed. Or the driver might take an illegal drug.
It’s only a matter of time before impaired truck drivers run out of luck and cause a serious crash. When they do, the consequences are often catastrophic to accident victims. When a fully-loaded trailer crashes into a smaller car or truck, the injuries are often serious or fatal. Signs of truck driver impairment include the following:
- Swerving between traffic lanes
- Slowing down and speeding up at random
- Braking erratically
- Disobeying the speed limit
- Following too closely
- Ignoring traffic signals
Truck drivers are held to higher safety standards than other drivers for a reason. The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) level for commercial vehicle operators is .04%, or approximately one-half the legal limit for all other drivers. But even when a driver is clearly impaired at the time of a crash, you may find that both driver and trucking company deny any wrongdoing. They might even try to say you did something to cause the accident.
An attorney can help. Contact Ronald B. Laba today. Our legal team is skilled at handling some of the state’s most complex truck accident cases. Assisted by professional accident investigators, attorney Ronald B. Laba can examine all records and evidence to determine if any possible negligence by the trucking company (for example, if the employer failed to perform required background checks and random drug testing).
The Law Offices of Ronald B. Laba can find out if the driver or trucking company has a history of violating federal law. We can examine whether the driver had previous driving citations. Don’t be caught off-guard by a driver or company looking to escape responsibility for your accident. Discover what we can do for you today.
