Violations on the part of truck drivers are not new in the commercial trucking industry.  Some drivers keep illegal driving logs, drive without the proper qualifications, use drugs to combat fatigue and commit other infractions like speeding.  All these types of violations put other drivers at risk.  Commercial truck drivers have a responsibility to operate their vehicles safely within state and federal regulations.

If you are involved in an accident involving a tractor-trailer truck, you should contact an experienced trucking accident attorney.  An experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney will reconstruct the accident using skilled investigators and accident reconstruction experts.  A trucking accident law firm will carefully examine things like the driver’s logs and the records of the trucking company.  Even though driver fatigue is a common cause of large truck accidents, the use of drugs to combat this fatigue greatly compounds the dangers.

The Role of Drugs in the Trucking Industry

The cause of large truck accidents was under investigation and the National Transportation Safety Board did a series of safety studies.  The safety studies targeted different subjects including the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs as a factor in tractor-trailer accidents.  The study concluded that a third of truck drivers that end up fatally injured in trucking accidents tested positive for drugs or alcohol.

The most common factor that was involved in the death of truck drivers in accidents was the combination of drug use with fatigue.  Research shows that truck drivers are more likely to use amphetamines than the average worker in the U.S. These drugs help commercial truck drivers stay awake so that they can push themselves and drive longer hours.  By driving more hours, they can deliver more goods, which means they increase their income and get more work.

In the early 1990’s, the NTSB strengthened the regulations in terms of alcohol and drug use by truck drivers.  These regulations prohibited drivers from using alcohol or drugs while driving.  They also included requirements for pre-employment, post-accident and random drug and alcohol testing of drivers.

Truckers continue to violate laws everyday even with these regulations in place.  If you or someone you love have been seriously injured in a trucking accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Our Mississippi trucking accident attorneys have been representing commercial trucking accident victims in Mississippi for over 27 years.  We have helped hundreds of clients throughout Mississippi to obtain damages that they deserve.  We offer a free initial case evaluation so that we can evaluate whether you have the basis for a personal injury lawsuit so call us today at 662) 834-2376.