Trucks travel along nearly every stretch of American highway. They weigh up to 40 tons and take up 80 feet of roadway, propelled at over a mile a minute by powerful diesel engines. They haul packages, raw materials, and foodstuffs by the ton and form a vital part of the American economy. However, when a trucker is not sober, they threaten the safety of everyone on the road.

Trucking Related Fatalities are Rising.

A study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that trucking accidents increased in both frequency and severity from 2009 to 2013. Fatal truck accidents increased during this period by an alarming 17.3 percent. In 2013 alone, 3,541 truck accidents resulted in the 3,954 deaths!

Often trucking companies encourage truck drivers to falsify log books, drive longer hours, and operate at higher speeds. This places everyone on the road with at risk. Fatigued drivers often turn to drugs to remain awake.

Substance Abuse & Truck Drivers

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is encouraged by unscrupulous trucking companies forcing work their employees longer hours and under tighter deadlines. As a result, substance abuse has increased among truckers as a way to remain awake to meet the increasing demands of their employers. Some desperate truck drivers turn to amphetamines, traditionally used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, to remain awake.

Amphetamines stimulate the nervous system, and while they can keep one awake for extended periods of time, abusers experience dangerous levels of fatigue by forcing their bodies to forgo rest. There are also dangerous side effects associated with amphetamines, including irritability, hallucinations, and delusions. A 2016 study by the U.S. Department of Health found 35,421 drivers that tested positive for amphetamines and showed that the nation’s truck drivers are abusing substances at record rates.

If you or a loved one has been injured by an impaired trucker, call the Law Offices of Sanford Rosenblum, P.C.
at (855) 525-7575

These kinds of accidents will continue until and unless trucking companies are held accountable for the unreasonable demands they force on employees. Profits are never worth the cost of a human life.

At the Law Offices of Sanford Rosenblum, P.C., we fight for people injured by impaired truckers. Contact our experienced attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.

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