If you were injured in a truck accident in Tampa, FL, and suspect the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, our seasoned Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers are prepared to help you hold negligent parties accountable. With 119 years of combined legal experience, our team has recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured Floridians.
Contact us today or call (813) 223-6200 to schedule a free consultation.
How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Accident Involving Truck Driver Drug or Alcohol Use in Tampa, FL
Truck accidents in Tampa, Florida, involving impaired drivers often result in severe and life-altering injuries. The trauma can be physical, emotional, and financial all at once.
Our Tampa personal injury attorneys are ready to step in and manage every aspect of your claim so you can focus on healing.
Here’s what we will do for you:
- Conduct an in-depth investigation to identify all contributing factors
- Secure crucial evidence, including toxicology reports, driver logs, dashcam or surveillance footage, and eyewitness statements
- Work with medical and trucking industry experts to strengthen your claim
- Evaluate your economic and non-economic damages
- Negotiate assertively for the maximum compensation available under Florida law
Our Tampa truck accident attorneys understand what you’re going through. We’ve handled many truck accident claims involving impaired drivers and approach each case with skill, urgency, and compassion.
Contact Winters & Yonker today to schedule a free consultation.
Drug and Alcohol Use Among Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) prohibits any use of alcohol or controlled substances while operating a commercial motor vehicle. Drivers must undergo regular drug and alcohol screenings, including pre-employment, post-accident, random, and reasonable suspicion testing.
Despite these regulations, some truck drivers still use illegal drugs or consume alcohol before getting behind the wheel. The risks are magnified in commercial vehicles, weighing up to 80,000 pounds.
Common substances involved in impaired truck driving incidents include:
- Prescription medications that impair reaction time or cause drowsiness
- Marijuana and other recreational drugs
- Amphetamines or stimulants taken to stay awake on long hauls
- Alcohol consumed before or during driving
An impaired driver operating a multi-ton truck on Tampa’s roads puts everyone in danger. When that risk becomes a reality, victims often suffer injuries, including:
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severe burns
- Amputations
- Organ damage and internal bleeding
- Multiple broken bones
- Chronic neck and back injuries
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
We take these cases seriously because the consequences are irreversible. If you’ve experienced one of these injuries due to a truck driver’s substance use, you deserve justice and compensation.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident Involving Drug or Alcohol Use in Tampa, Florida?
Determining liability in truck accidents involving substance abuse is complex. While the impaired truck driver is clearly at fault, the trucking company that employed them may also be responsible.
Employers can be held liable if:
- They failed to conduct mandatory drug and alcohol tests.
- They knew or should have known the driver had a substance abuse issue.
- The driver was acting within the scope of employment during the crash.
Florida law also allows victims to pursue claims under theories of negligent hiring, training, or supervision.
In rare cases, other parties may share liability. For example, a bar or restaurant may bear partial responsibility under Florida’s dram shop law if it knowingly served alcohol to a habitual addict or underage person who later caused the crash.
What Damages Are Available After a Truck Accident?
A successful injury claim can help offset the overwhelming costs of recovery. You may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
We will assess the full value of your claim, consult with experts, and push back against insurers who try to minimize your payout. Your financial recovery should reflect the severity of what you’ve endured.
Contact a Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Accidents involving impaired truck drivers are especially painful because they’re so avoidable. These crashes don’t happen because of bad luck, but because of bad choices. If you or a loved one was harmed due to a truck driver’s drug or alcohol use in Tampa, FL, our team is ready to help.
At Winters & Yonker, we’ve built a reputation as strong advocates for injury victims across Florida. Let us use our experience and resources to work for you.
Call us now to set up your free consultation. Our Tampa truck accident attorneys will review your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options.