Some of the most preventable, yet absolutely devastating, collisions you will see on our roads are drunk driving truck accidents in Allentown. When a commercial trucker drives while intoxicated, they have turned their vehicle into a deadly weapon. Unfortunately, many people can suffer injuries, and it is usually not the impaired truck driver.
At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., we believe these drivers and their employers need to be held accountable for the destruction they cause. Contact our truck accident attorneys for a free consultation if you have suffered injuries or lost a loved one due to a drunk truck driver.
This area sees significant commercial truck traffic, with major routes creating a network of potential danger zones that could cause drunk-driving accidents for trucks in Allentown. Route 22 runs from east to west through the region and carries thousands of trucks daily between I-476 and the Delaware River Valley. I-78 is a critical interstate that also runs east to west and connects New York and Pennsylvania, passing just north of Allentown.
Commercial truck drivers face stricter blood alcohol content limits than regular drivers. While state law sets the legal limit at 0.08% for most drivers, commercial truck drivers can be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) at 0.04% or higher.
This lower threshold exists because the dangers posed by an intoxicated truck driver are significantly greater than those posed by a drunk driver in a passenger vehicle. For example, a fully loaded commercial truck that weighs up to 80,000 pounds becomes catastrophically dangerous when operated by someone with any level of impairment in Allentown.
A commercial driver’s DUI conviction serves as powerful evidence in civil litigation after a truck accident in Allentown. The criminal conviction establishes that the driver operated the vehicle while impaired, satisfying the negligence element of breach of duty.
Courts often allow DUI convictions as admissible evidence of negligence per se, strengthening your case. Additionally, the conviction may expose the trucking company to liability for negligent hiring, retention, or supervision if it employed a driver with a history of driving while impaired.
Federal regulations prohibit truck drivers from consuming alcohol within four hours of driving. Drivers are also subject to random drug and alcohol testing, as well as testing after accidents, such as those caused by trucks in Allentown. However, not all trucking companies enforce these rules rigorously. Some companies fail to conduct proper testing or ignore warning signs that a driver has a substance abuse problem, prioritizing profits over public safety.
Liability in Allentown drunk-driving truck crashes often extends beyond the driver. Trucking companies can be held responsible under theories of negligent hiring, retention, or supervision. If a company knew or should have known that a driver had a drinking problem yet continued to employ them, the company may be liable for the resulting accidents. This is particularly important given that commercial trucking companies typically carry substantial insurance policies.
Bars and restaurants that over-serve truck drivers can also face liability under the state’s dram shop laws. If an establishment in the region serves a visibly intoxicated person who then causes an accident, the establishment may be partially responsible for damages.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash caused by an impaired driver, the compassionate legal team at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., is ready to fight for you. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these drunk driving truck accidents in Allentown may take on victims and their families.
Contact our office and schedule a free, confidential consultation to learn how we could help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve. Do not let a drunk driver ruin your future without being held accountable.
