Even so, a study conducted by the insurance Institute for Traffic Safety showed that, for interstate tractor-trailer drivers, 15% tested positive for marijuana, 12% tested positive for non-prescribed stimulants, 5% tested positive for prescription stimulants, 2% tested positive for cocaine but fewer than 1% had alcohol in their systems.

Even so, a driver can still be impaired by alcohol even if they are not legally intoxicated. Even at low blood content levels, alcohol reduces reaction times and will slow the decision making process. In recognition of this, the Federal government prohibits mass transit workers, truck drivers, railroad workers, marine employees and airline pilots from operating a vehicle with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) at or above 0.02%.

At one time, alcohol abuse and truck driving was a prevalent and severe problem. However, this has decreased with driver intoxication being more effectively controlled by strict monitoring and regulation enforcement by the Department of Transportation.

Recently, statistics have indicated that truck accidents, related to alcohol use, stand at only 1-3%. The greater problem is attributed to driver fatigue which accounts for over 30% of all truck accidents. Driving continuously without proper rest periods would seem to be an area where stricter monitoring and regulation would be required.

Another big problem lies in the fact that most truck drivers feel that “drugged driving” is somehow safer than drunk driving. Of course, marijuana can also affect perception, reaction time and concentration. These effects can last up to 24 hours after smoking, which is a far greater timeframe than the effects of alcohol impairment.

The National Transportation Safety Board issued a report in 1990 which studied 182 truck accident fatalities. Their finding indicated that 12.5% of those accidents were the result of marijuana use.

The New England Journal of Medicine also issued a report which indicated that out of drivers stopped for recklessness on the road (without alcohol in their systems), 45% had marijuana in their systems and 25% had cocaine in their systems.

Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.

Substance abuse convictions may not deter a driver from continuing to place motorists in danger. If you’re a victim of this type of reckless behavior, don’t hesitate to contact the South Texas truck accident lawyers Todd Elias and Steven J. Gordon in Houston, Texas.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim

Malpractice suits are not just about people anticipating to make a fast buck. Almost all personal injury medical claims are quite severe.  Every time personal injury lawyers get involved in a potential case, there must have been a life-threatening violation in how a medical doctor, nurse, or hospital has treated the patient. In a few lawsuits it has been as drastic as someone losing their life.  When you are treated by a surgeon or a doctor and have been harmed by them as a consequence of them diverting away from the set medical practices, you quite possibly could have a legitimate injury claim.  If you have a loved one or family member that has passed away because of the fault of second-rate care by a doctor or at a hospital, you most definitely have a lawsuit.

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer to Handle Medical Malpractice

It is not, however, as simple as asking the doctor or staff to hand over their money.  You must first retain services of an experienced licensed lawyer.  Personal injury lawyers are extremely well versed in the particular personal injury laws of the state that they are licensed in, and know precisely to what degree a medical professional can ultimately be held liable for in such a case.  Even if you think that you know how the laws for personal injury work, you still need a lawyer.  You need a lawyer for the basic reason that the physician or the hospital’s insurance will have several qualified lawyers who will be resolved to prove to the courts that their client was following standardized medical procedures.  In cases of gross negligence, many physicians and hospitals will more than likely want to settle out of court in order to avoid the influx of bad publicity.  Your qualified personal injury attorney will advise you on the approximate amount of money that you should receive for a settlement and finalize the paperwork.  Insurance for medical malpractice is designed to protect nursing staff, hospitals, and doctors from medical injury claims.  If by chance, the doctor let their insurance expire, the lawyer for the injured party can and will go after the physician’s assets.  Having monetary reimbursement may not help you feel better if you have been seriously injured, but is most certainly will make the medical community stand up and take notice to the guilty party.  A medical malpractice lawsuit could end up costing the doctor his or her medical license if it was shown that he or she ignorantly or intentionally injured you.