Most truck accidents result from driving errors or equipment failures. However, drug and alcohol use can play a role in a significant minority of collisions. For help after a crash, contact Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers at (636) 999-9587.
Collisions due to drug or alcohol use happen despite comprehensive federal testing rules designed to prevent crashes resulting from truck driver drug and alcohol use in Chesterfield, MO. These collisions can have severe consequences. A semi truck can weigh 40 times more than a passenger car, resulting in potentially life-threatening personal injuries.
A Chesterfield truck accident lawyer from our team can help crash victims pursue compensation from trucking companies and independent drivers for their injury-related losses.
How Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a DUI Truck Accident in Chesterfield, MO
For over 20 years, Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers has fought for the rights of accident victims in Chesterfield, Missouri. Our attorneys have over 30 years of combined experience and have successfully settled or won cases worth hundreds of millions total for our clients.
When you are injured in a truck accident due to trucking company or truck driver negligence, our firm provides the following services:
- Discussing your injuries and the options we can pursue for financial compensation
- Gathering evidence against the at-fault trucking company and its driver
- Filing claims with the company’s sureties and insurers
- Negotiating for a settlement or litigating if the claims are denied
Trucking companies often have the resources to fight injury cases, attempting to frustrate you into giving up. Contact our team today to schedule a free consultation with a Chesterfield personal injury attorney to learn how we stand up to negligent truck operators and fight for fair injury compensation.
Impaired Driving and Truck Crashes
The Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium’s car accident statistics do not report how many impaired driving truck crashes occurred in Chesterfield. However, the state’s portal provides numbers for St. Louis County to estimate the scope of Missouri’s DUI truck accidents.
According to Table 6.9, 2023 Missouri Commercial Motor Vehicles Involved Crashes by County and Crash Severity, St. Louis County had 2,679 commercial vehicle crashes in 2023. These crashes included seven fatal crashes and 446 non-fatal injury crashes. According to the state’s statistics, over 17% of Missouri’s commercial vehicle crashes occur in St. Louis County.
Accidents Caused by Alcohol or Drug Use
Missouri does not report how many of St. Louis County’s truck accidents resulted from alcohol or drug use.
Statewide, alcohol use caused 81 truck accidents, including one fatal crash. Drug use caused 13 truck accidents. However, intoxicated truck drivers did not cause all 94 of these collisions. Instead, these numbers represent the truck accidents where either driver was impaired.
To get an idea of how many crashes resulted from truck driver drug or alcohol use, you must use the statistics gathered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA’s large truck crash causation study gave the following estimates:
- 17% of truck collisions resulted from truck driver over-the-counter drug use
- 2% of truck accidents happened because of illegal drug use
- 1% of truck accidents occurred due to alcohol use
Thus, you can estimate that about 20% of truck accidents are caused by truck driver DUI.
Liability for Truck Accidents Caused by Drug or Alcohol Use
There are several parties that may be held accountable for truck accidents caused by drug or alcohol use. Liability may fall on:
- The truck driver: If a truck driver chooses to operate their vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are violating both state traffic laws and federal regulations and could be held liable for resulting accidents.
- The trucking company: In many cases, the trucking company that employs or contracts with the driver can be held liable through vicarious liability or negligent hiring/supervision.
- The truck owner: If the truck is owned by a separate individual or entity—such as a leasing company or a logistics provider—that party may be held liable under a theory of negligent entrustment.
A qualified truck accident attorney can listen to your story and help hold the responsible parties liable.
Contact Our Chesterfield, MO, Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Truck accidents in Chesterfield, Missouri, can produce physical disabilities, mental trauma, and financial losses. Contact Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your truck crash and the compensation you can seek under Missouri law with an experienced Chesterfield truck accident lawyer.