Arizona Drug and Alcohol Abuse Truck Accident Lawyers
Attorney Representation in Phoenix, Arizona Since 1996
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Related Accidents
With more than two million trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds on our nation's highways, the thought that a truck driver might be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a very scary prospect indeed. While truck accidents caused by negligent truck drivers operating their big rigs while intoxicated are rare, they do happen, and the results are usually disastrous for the occupants of nearby passenger vehicles. In 2008, two percent of all fatal trucking accidents involved drivers who were legally drunk with blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 percent or more. It goes without saying that driving a vehicle weighing tens of thousands of pounds while under the influence is the very definition of reckless, negligent behavior. If an intoxicated truck driver has injured you or a close family member, you need aggressive, experienced Arizona truck accident lawyers by your side.
Despite Drug and Alcohol Testing, Impaired Truck Drivers Remain a Serious Threat
Responding to sharp outcries from grieving family members and concerned safety advocates, Congress passed legislation in 1988 that made drug and alcohol testing mandatory for truck drivers as a condition of employment and anytime they have been involved in a trucking accident. Truck drivers must also undergo random substance abuse tests every year, and employers are required by law to test drivers anytime they have reason to believe they are abusing alcohol or drugs. Why are drivers tested so rigorously? It's because drivers are two to six times more likely to be involved in an accident if they are driving under the influence. However, some trucking companies fail to discipline intoxicated drivers. They keep them on the road to maximize profits, and when these drivers cause a Phoenix trucking accident, they can and should be held liable for the damages their lax safety compliance creates.
Aggressive Arizona Truck Accident Lawyers Helping Injured People
Despite increased drug and alcohol testing and steep fines for drivers and companies that break the law, intoxicated truck drivers remain a significant threat on Arizona's streets and highways. If a driver's reflexes are slowed by only a second by drugs or alcohol, the results can be catastrophic for other drivers. Have you been injured in a truck accident caused by an impaired driver and have questions about your legal options? Call the Arizona trucking accident attorneys at Breyer Law Offices today at (602) 267-1280 to schedule your free consultation.
