Trucks and Drunk Driving

• In the United States, someone is killed in an alcohol-related crash every 30 minutes.
• Four out of every ten fatal motor vehicle accidents involve alcohol, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration.
• Nearly 17,000 Americans died in alcohol-related traffic crashes in 2004.
• In Michigan alone, drunk driving killed 360 people and injured another 7,400 individuals in that year.

The fact is that drinking and driving simply do not mix.  Any amount of alcohol can impair a driver’s judgment and coordination, and reduce the ability to evaluate distance and speed.

To help prevent needless injuries and deaths, Michigan has strengthened laws against drunk driving.  In this state, an individual can be convicted of the crime of “driving under the influence” (DUI), if that driver is:

• An adult with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or greater.
• A young person (under age 21) with a blood alcohol content of .02 or greater.
• Anyone, regardless of age or blood alcohol content, who is unable to safely drive because of the effects of consuming alcohol or controlled substances.

Michigan has much stricter laws against drinking by truck drivers. 

State drunk driving laws prohibit operating a large truck, tractor-trailer, or other commercial vehicle, if the driver has a blood alcohol content of only .04 or greater.  In addition, an individual cannot drive a large truck, if he or she drank any alcohol within the previous 4 hours.  A truck driver must stay off the road for at least 24 hours, after declining a preliminary breath test (breathalyzer).

An individual will lose a Michigan commercial driver’s license (which is required to drive a large truck or tractor-trailer), following a conviction for violating the drunk driving laws of Michigan or any other state, or after refusing a law enforcement officer’s request to take a chemical test for alcohol or illegal drugs.

If you or a loved one was injured by a Michigan truck driver who may have been drinking, talk with an experienced Michigan truck accident lawyer immediately. Just click here to make out a simple, free and confidential legal consultation form about your Michigan truck accident claim now.