Florida DUI Truck Accident Attorneys

Truck Driver DUI Accident

Any intoxicated motorist is extremely dangerous, on the road. Truck driver DUI accidents have the potential to be even more dangerous, considering the sheer weight and power of the vehicle they are driving. In the state of Florida, most motorists are considered legally intoxicated if they have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater. For truck drivers in Florida, DUI rules are stricter. According to a 1986 piece of legislation called the Commercial Motor Vehicle Act, a truck driver who gets behind the wheel with a BAC of greater than just 0.04% is considered intoxicated and can be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

It makes sense that the law holds truckers to such a strict DUI standard. After all, truckers are generally less vulnerable in accidents than are the motorists they hit. According to a 2002 study, for instance, truckers account for only 15% of injuries and fatalities in truck-car collisions; whereas motorists and their passengers account for 78% injuries and fatalities. Moreover, trucks are generally more difficult and more complicated to maneuver and require more attention to operate safely.

These factors notwithstanding, an uncomfortably large number of truckers do not adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Act of 1986 and other regulations. The Insurance Institute for Traffic Safety (IITS) recently conducted a study and discovered that a sizeable percentage of truckers on the road today have alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, or other stimulants in their systems. Stimulant abuse may be even a greater problem than alcohol abuse in the trucking industry. (Truckers often travel incredibly long distances across monotonous stretches of roads to complete their routes. They use stimulants to stay awake and log more hours and more miles faster.)

Proving that a DUI truck accident was, in fact, a DUI accident can be a difficult task, particularly if the police did not conduct a breathalyzer or blood test on the truck driver subsequent to the crash. That said, with an effective forensic investigation, it may be possible to build a case that the trucker who was in fact DUI or under the influence of narcotics, stimulants, marijuana, or other illegal substances.

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To seek justice in your injury case, rely on the time tested Jacksonville DUI truck accident lawyers of Farah and Farah. For more than 25 years, Eddie Farah and his team of Florida trial lawyers have fought and won truck accident injury cases. For references and testimonials, or to schedule a confidential consultation with a Farah & Farah lawyer now, dial 1.800.642.8275.

For a free evaluation of your case, call our Jacksonville office today at 1.800.642.8275