How Our Truck Accident Lawyers Help in Fort Worth After an Impaired-Driver Crash
We prove the driver was impaired and show what the trucking company knew or should have known. That evidence is often in testing files and company records that only a formal request will produce.
When you hire us, we:
- Request post-crash drug and alcohol test results and the driver’s testing history
- Get the police report, field sobriety notes, and any criminal case records
- Review the carrier’s hiring files and driver qualification records
- Document your injuries and losses
- Pursue every responsible party, including the trucking company
Federal Drug and Alcohol Rules for Truck Drivers
Commercial drivers who need a CDL must follow federal drug and alcohol rules in 49 CFR Part 382. Carriers must test drivers:
- Before they start driving
- At random during employment
- After qualifying crashes
- When a supervisor has reasonable suspicion
- Before returning to duty after a violation
Federal rules also set a lower blood alcohol limit for commercial drivers than for regular drivers. A carrier that skips these steps can be held responsible.
Who Is Liable When an Impaired Truck Driver Causes a Crash?
The driver is responsible, and the trucking company usually is too. Texas holds employers liable for an employee’s on-the-job negligence, and the company may face direct claims for:
- Hiring a driver with prior drug or alcohol violations
- Failing to run required tests
- Ignoring signs of impairment
- Pressuring drivers to meet schedules that encourage stimulant use
When a driver’s conduct shows conscious indifference to safety, Texas law may allow exemplary damages on top of compensation. Learn more about FMCSA violations.
What You Can Recover After a Truck Crash Involving Drugs or Alcohol
Compensation covers both money losses and personal harm. A claim can include:
- Medical bills, now and in the future
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Physical impairment and disfigurement
If a loved one died, family members may bring a wrongful death claim. In most cases you have two years from the crash to file suit in Texas.
About Brad Parker
Truck Driver Drug and Alcohol Use in Fort Worth, TX FAQs
Do truck drivers have to be drug tested after a crash?
Under federal rules in 49 CFR Part 382, carriers must test commercial drivers after crashes that meet certain criteria, such as a fatality or a citation combined with injury or a tow-away. Drivers are also tested before hiring, at random, and on reasonable suspicion. The records can be critical evidence.
Can the trucking company be liable if its driver was impaired?
Yes. The company is generally responsible for its driver's negligence on the job. It can also be directly liable if it failed to run required tests, hired a driver with a known violation history, or ignored signs of impairment. Those failures are separate evidence of negligence.
Does a criminal DWI case affect my injury claim?
They are separate cases. A criminal conviction can help prove fault, but you do not need one to win a civil claim. Your injury case uses a lower standard of proof and focuses on compensation for you, not punishment by the state.
What does a truck accident lawyer cost for an impaired-driver case?
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers handles these cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney's fees unless we recover money for you. Our fee will never exceed your recovery, and we explain the exact terms in writing before we start.
Visit Our Fort Worth Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
209 N Hampton St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed