Drug and alcohol use by bus and semi truck drivers causes serious personal injury and wrongful death. To prevent these accidents, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has enacted regulations governing both drivers and companies, but too many bus and semi drivers are still driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Today, FMCSA announced that 287 commercial bus and truck drivers were removed from the roads and more than 128 companies face enforcement actions as a result of the agency’s annual drug and alcohol strike force sweep that occurred from April 30 through May 11, 2012.
During the two-week sweep, nearly 200 FMCSA investigators examined the drug and alcohol safety records of commercial drivers employed by bus and truck companies, including school bus drivers, charter and tour bus drivers, semi truck drivers, and other commercial truck drivers. FMCSA focused on bus companies and general freight long-haul trucking companies. The goals were:
- to identify motor carriers in violation of federal drug and alcohol testing requirements; and
- to remove from the road commercial truck and bus drivers who jump from carrier to carrier to evade federal drug and alcohol testing and reporting requirements.
The 287 bus and commercial truck drivers identified in the sweep face the prospect of a monetary fine and being barred from operating a commercial motor vehicle for failing to adhere to federal drug and alcohol regulations. Additionally, 128 truck and bus companies face pending enforcement actions for violations, such as using a driver who has tested positive for illegal drugs and for not instituting a drug and alcohol testing program.
For victims of accidents caused by drivers who disregard the safety of others and drink or take drugs before getting behind the wheel, these fines and other enforcement actions, although a good step toward traffic safety, are not enough. Victims and their families deserve compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income and other damages. In addition, regulatory fines are insignificant compared to the losses suffered from an accident. My experience is that victims and families want justice by holding drivers and trucking companies accountable for all of the injuries suffered and, in the case of fatal accidents, for the tragic loss of life.
Victims and families can contact me for a free consultation by submitting our free consultation or by calling 888-377-8900 (toll free). Ask me about my experience with accident cases like yours and my record of success. It is important that you find an attorney with the skills, experience and resources needed to win your case.
Attorney Eric Hageman is a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Interstate Trucking Litigation Group. He has won millions for accident victims and their families in personal injury and semi truck accident wrongful death lawsuits against truck drivers, trucking companies, freight companies and others.
