The Truck Accident Law Firm Blog

Truck drivers have enough stress on their jobs as it is without worrying about drunk drivers sharing the roadways with them. If a truck driver is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you can bet the result will be catastrophic. Truck accidents kill an estimated 5,000 people every year in the United States alone.

Every state has "Zero Tolerance" laws that target drivers under the age of twenty-one (21) years. Zero tolerance means that an underage driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) higher than 0.0 can be penalized. The BAC level for drinking and driving under the age of 21 in Florida is 0.02%.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) carries several possible penalties ranging from suspending your license, vehicle confiscation, alcohol education/treatment/assessment, installation of an ignition interlock device that that prevents the vehicle from operating if it senses a BAC level over 0.02%, fines, community service or jail time. Second and third DUI offenses incur even harsher penalties and fines. It’s no surprise that the most severe penalties will be imposed on any DUI offender involved in an accident that causes an injury or death.

With penalties this severe for drivers twenty-one years of age or older whose BAC is .08% or more, it’s worth thinking twice about underage drinking. Such penalties can be imposed after drinking as little as ½ of a standard drink made with one ounce of alcohol, or four to six ounces of beer (depending upon the alcohol content of the beer.) That’s only a few big gulps, actually.

The law assumes implied consent to test for BAC. If you suspect you’ve been in an accident with an under-aged driver who has been drinking ask the officer to test the youth, at the scene, with a Breathalyzer.

If you have been involved in a truck accident in which alcohol was a factor, it’s imperative that you contact an experienced truck accident attorney right away; personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means they don’t get paid unless they win your case.