18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer Discusses Idaho Trucker Deemed an “Imminent Hazard to Public Safety”
Dallas, 12/22/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/
Just when you think it doesn’t get much more dangerous than a trucker texting and driving behind the wheel, an Idaho truck driver has been ordered off the road after an investigation revealed he was high on meth, driving distracted, and in violation of the federal hours-of-service rules at the time of a fatal accident.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Idaho truck driver has been declared an “imminent hazard to public safety.”
In January 2015, the truck driver was fired after he failed a mandatory drug screening when he tested positive for methamphetamine. Under FMCSA rules, a truck driver can return to the road after a failed drug test, however, the driver must first undergo additional testing and complete other steps before qualifying to drive commercially again. The FMCSA reports that the Idaho trucker did not follow proper procedures.
Instead, he operated a truck while still officially disqualified from driving. Tragically, on November 9, 2016, he caused a fatal accident when he struck and killed a motorist who was standing next to a disabled vehicle.
When the FMCSA investigated the crash, the trucker admitted he had recently used meth. The truck driver was also discovered to have been in violation of the hours-of-service rules when he struck the motorist. The Idaho trucker also acknowledged he had been texting behind the wheel at the time of the crash.
The average motorist would be a serious hazard on the road if he or she were high on drugs, distracted, and going on too little sleep. It’s terrifying to think of the driver of an 80,000-pound vehicle hitting the road in that state. Obviously, any individual who drives under the influence of drugs is an imminent threat to their own safety and the safety of anyone on the road.
Drug Testing Rules for Truck Drivers
The FMCSA has specific rules for drug and alcohol testing for truck drivers. To operate a commercial vehicle, drivers must pass pre-employment substance abuse screenings. They are also required to take a substance abuse test after any accident.
Additionally, truckers are subject to random drug testing at any point during the year, and employers are allowed to give drug tests if they have a “reasonable suspicion” that a driver is using drugs or alcohol.
Texas truck accident lawyer Amy Witherite says, “Unfortunately, some drivers fail to comply with the required tests. Additionally, some commercial carriers allow their drivers to bend the rules or to get behind the wheel without passing a drug test or following through with the return-to-duty rules. When these drivers are allowed on the road, serious and fatal accidents can happen.”
Attorney Witherite adds that anyone who has been injured by a truck driver, or anyone who has lost a loved one in a semi-truck accident, should watch these videos by Texas truck accident lawyer and contact 1-800-TRUCK-WRECK about their case right away.
Media Contact:
Lucy Tiseo
Eberstein & Witherite, LLP
Phone: 800-878-2597
Email: lucy.tiseo@ewlawyers.com
www.1800truckwreck.com
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