One of the most common causes of truck accidents in Georgia and across the U.S. is a driver who is under the influence. While this is commonly categorized as drivers who have been drinking, drugged driving is also a problem. Since these vehicles are large, fast and the drivers travel significant distances, there is an inherent risk to passenger vehicles that share the road with them. A truck crash can lead to severe injuries and death with the problems that accompany these outcomes. Keeping track of information about the dangers is important when people are considering a legal filing for compensation.
The Alliance for Driver Safety & Security – commonly referred to as the Trucking Alliance – conducted a study to determine how effective urinalysis is to determine whether a trucker had been using drugs when compared to other testing procedures. The study found that although 94% of those who were tested with urinalysis and hair analysis were found to be drug free, there were thousands of applicants who tested positive on one or both tests.
The U.S. Department of Transportation was provided with this information as were congressional committees. The only method of testing currently accepted by the DOT is urinalysis. This gives companies the freedom to hire truckers without requiring other, more accurate tests to see if they have used drugs before giving them the job. Carriers that are members of the Trucking Alliance require hair analysis in addition to urinalysis. Urinalysis by itself failed to catch nine out of 10 drivers who had used drugs.
Drivers of passenger vehicles are understandably wary of large trucks. Sharing the road with these vehicles can be intimidating for a variety of reasons, but if the driver is potentially on drugs and testing procedures failed to discover this before they were hired, it can be a key factor in a possible lawsuit. Recovering compensation for medical expenses, lost income, extended care and funeral costs requires legal assistance. A law firm that helps people who have been injured or lost a loved one in truck accidents is crucial.
