Truck accident claims are inherently complex. Beyond determining the immediate cause of the crash, your attorney must often investigate additional factors such as the trucking company’s policies, driver training records, and the vehicle’s maintenance history. When an intoxicated truck driver is involved, the situation becomes even more complicated. Drunk driving truck accidents in Piscataway can lead to severe injuries and intricate legal challenges. If you’ve been affected by such an incident, it’s crucial to consult with a qualified truck accident attorney to understand your rights and pursue a claim.
The Challenges Caused by Truck Driver Intoxication
When any driver gets behind the wheel intoxicated, it can cause a host of problems: tunnel vision, slowed reflexes, poor attention to the road, and altered mental status that may interfere with decision-making. A truck driver, on the other hand, operates a much larger vehicle that requires more care and attention to operate. To acknowledge this difference, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires truck drivers to avoid getting behind the wheel with a blood alcohol content of .04% or higher, rather than the .08% allowed when operating a passenger vehicle.
Liability for a Drunk Driving Truck Accident
Drunk driving truck accidents in Piscataway can cause substantial injuries, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crushing injuries, amputation, and even death. Identifying the party that bears liability for the truck accident can prove essential in filing a claim that will allow the injured person to recover compensation for their damages.
The Truck Driver
The truck driver ultimately bears liability for the decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Even if the truck driver is not convicted of driving while intoxicated, their dangerous actions behind the wheel, such as swerving around the road, speeding, failure to yield, or driving erratically, can serve as important evidence that establishes their negligent behavior.
The Trucking Company
Trucking companies should carefully screen their drivers and avoid hiring someone with a known history of driving while intoxicated. If they hire in error, they may end up liable for the dangerous actions of the truck driver. The trucking company may also share liability for pressuring or requiring a drunk truck driver to get behind the wheel despite intoxication.
Alcohol Vendors
New Jersey Statute § 2A:22A-4 holds alcohol vendors, including bars and restaurants, liable when they negligently over-serve someone they know intends to get behind the wheel. In order to establish that an alcohol vendor bears liability after drunk driving truck accidents in Piscataway, a lawyer will work to establish that the vendor knew the truck driver was already intoxicated and served them anyway.
Compensation for Drunk Driving Truck Accidents
In Piscataway and across the nation, drunk driving truck accidents often mean substantial damages. Injured individuals can include compensation for all the losses they faced as part of their claim, including:
- The cost of current medical care
- Lost income or lost earning potential
- The cost of future medical needs directly related to the injuries sustained in the accident
Truck accident claims also include compensation in a category known as general damages, which covers the suffering faced by the injured person.
Speak With an Attorney If You Were In An Accident Caused by a Drunk Driving Trucker in Piscataway
Drunk driving truck accidents in Piscataway can involve a complicated claim process and a long road to the compensation you deserve. If you suffered injuries in an accident with a drunk truck driver, contact Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC, for a free consultation about your injuries and your right to compensation.
