Commercial Truckers May be Tested for Alcohol and Drugs After a Crash
The federal Department of Transportation regulations require truckers with commercial drivers licenses to be tested for drugs and alcohol almost immediately after a crash that: (1) results in a fatality; or (2) after a crash where the truck driver receives a citation, and an injury or disabled vehicle results from the accident. The alcohol test must occur within eight hours of the accident and the drug test must occur within 32 hours of the accident.
It Only Takes a Little Alcohol to Make a Trucker Drunk
In Georgia, it is against the law for a trucker to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04% or higher. That is half of the 0.08% BAC limit set for noncommercial drivers. The reason for the lower BAC standard is that the size and weight of a truck make it harder to control and more likely to cause a serious crash than a passenger car.
Why You Need an Atlanta Truck Crash Lawyer Immediately After an Accident
If you have been hurt or a loved one has been injured in a Georgia truck crash, then it is important to contact an Atlanta tractor trailer injury attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer will work to make sure that the appropriate drug and alcohol testing is done, and that a trucker who was driving under the influence at the time of your crash is held accountable for his or her actions.
For more information about your rights after a Georgia tractor trailer crash, please contact an Atlanta truck wreck attorney at 770.518.1133 or via our website.