Injured in a truck accident with an impaired truck driver?

It is not uncommon to see drunk drivers on New York roads, even truck drivers who are drunk or otherwise impaired. While there are laws in place to stop truck drivers from getting behind the wheel of their massive vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it still happens and individuals have been hurt or killed as a result. Victims of such a truck accident, or — in the event of fatality — their surviving family members, may have legal recourse according to state and federal laws.

According to the Federal Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers and other transportation employees are prohibited from operating vehicles while impaired. In 1991, Congress passed the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act which requires all transportation employees to submit to periodic drug and alcohol testing. This was passed to protect transportation agencies, their employees and the general public.

When testing occurs, which tests are performed and how often varies per transportation agency. Sometimes these tests are planned and other times they may be done unexpectedly. In either case, truck drivers who fail these test may lose their professional licenses — and for good reason.

Anyone who has witnessed, survived or lost a loved one in a truck accident knows just how devastating it can be. The losses victims and/or their loved ones experience can last a lifetime. Insurance providers are not sympathetic to these losses, as they typically hope to pay out as little as possible. With the help of an experienced attorney, those who have suffered injuries or lost loved ones in accidents with impaired truck drivers in the state of New York can seek maximum compensation for their losses.

Source: fmcsa.dot.gov, “Overview of Drug and Alcohol Rules“, Accessed on Jan. 22, 2018