Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one of the most reckless choices a truck driver can make. The limitations on a person’s reaction times and decision-making ability become especially dangerous when driving a massive commercial vehicle.
You have the right to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your damages when you are injured in a drunk driving truck accident in Olive Branch. The hard-working truck accident attorneys at the Law Office of David E. Gordon represent injured people in their cases against negligent truck drivers, employers, and any other party with potential liability.
Drunk Driving Laws
State law strictly prohibits truck drivers and others from operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. One method for determining whether a driver is under the influence is measuring their blood alcohol concentration. The legal limit is .08 percent concentration for those of the legal drinking age, but the limit is much lower for those operating a commercial motor vehicle, at .04 percent.
Liability for a Drunk Driving Truck Accident
Truck drivers who violate the drunk driving laws can be liable for the damages from any injuries they cause to others in a drunk driving truck accident in Olive Branch. Liability for compensation may also extend to a commercial truck driver’s employer for their negligent hiring of the truck driver or if the truck driver caused the accident while performing the duties under their scope of employment. For example, an employer’s willingness to hire a truck driver despite their history of driving under the influence or failing to conduct a background check could establish their liability for any related injuries to others.
Another party that can be liable in a drunk driving truck accident case in Olive Branch is the business that served the driver alcohol. Dram shop law provides general immunity to businesses and social hosts that furnish alcohol to others. However, this immunity does not apply in cases where they provide alcohol to someone visibly intoxicated.
The attorneys at The Law Office of David E. Gordon can review the facts and events leading up to a drunk driving truck accident to determine all parties with possible liability. We can gather evidence from a truck driver’s employer or obtain available footage from a bar or restaurant where the truck driver was prior to an accident. Using this information, we can file a lawsuit that names the potentially liable parties.
The amount of compensation an injured person can receive in a drunk driving accident case will depend on the nature of their injury and how it affects their ability to work or maintain their quality of life. When another party is at fault, compensation is generally given for medical care expenses, lost earnings, and other losses, such as pain and suffering. The deadline to file a lawsuit against a drunk truck driver is usually three years from the date of the truck accident under the state’s statute of limitations.
Schedule a Free Consultation After a Drunk Driving Truck Accident in Olive Branch
Driving drunk shows a blatant disregard for the safety of others. Operators of commercial vehicles have a strict duty to prevent this type of activity because of the strong potential for drunk driving truck accidents in Olive Branch. Get the justice and compensation you or your family deserve by filing a claim against those whose recklessness caused you injury. Schedule a free consultation with The Law Office of David E. Gordon today.
