Were you hurt in a St. Louis truck accident caused by a drunk commercial driver? It is easy to get overwhelmed in the aftermath of a drunk driving truck accident, but you do not have to deal with the recovery process alone.
The experienced personal injury lawyers at Sumner Law Group, LLC, are here to take the pressure off your shoulders. We can build a strong case, handle all the paperwork, and fight for what you need to move forward. We do not charge anything up front, and we get paid only if we win.
Contact us now to set up your free consultation. Let’s talk about what happened and how we can help.
What Happens When a Drunk Truck Driver Causes an Accident in St. Louis?
When an intoxicated commercial truck driver causes a crash in St. Louis, the police respond to the scene and may start a criminal investigation right away. If officers suspect impairment, they may conduct field sobriety tests or ask the driver to take a breath or blood test. If the results show the driver was under the influence, the police can arrest them and file criminal charges.
While the criminal case moves forward, the victims of the crash may bring separate civil claims. Victims do not have to wait for the criminal case to conclude before starting a civil claim. Both may move forward at the same time. Injured motorists can recover compensation even if the truck driver is acquitted on drunk driving charges or never charged in the first place.
Who Is Legally Responsible for a Drunk Driving Truck Accident?
The truck driver is legally responsible for choosing to drive while drunk, but that does not mean they are the only one who will face consequences when impaired driving causes a crash. If the commercial driver was working at the time, their employer may also be legally responsible. Any company that owned the truck, controlled the driver’s work, or hired the driver directly may share responsibility.
In some situations, Missouri dram shop laws may enable a drunk driving accident victim to pursue compensation from the bar, restaurant, or other business that overserved the impaired driver.
Other parties may be legally responsible as well. A third-party maintenance company might be liable if a truck defect contributed to the crash. A loading company might be at fault if an overloaded trailer made the vehicle harder to control. Victims can name multiple parties in one case, and each may owe compensation depending on the role they played.
What Penalties Do Drunk Commercial Truck Drivers Face in Missouri?
A commercial truck driver can face strict penalties if they cause a wreck while under the influence in Missouri. Federal law requires a minimum one-year disqualification of a commercial driver’s license (CDL) after a first-time DUI offense. A second offense can result in a lifetime ban. These rules apply whether the driver was operating a commercial vehicle or a personal one at the time.
Missouri law may also impose separate penalties, including criminal charges, jail time, and steep fines. Commercial drivers caught with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 percent or higher while operating a commercial vehicle in Missouri can lose their CDLs even without criminal convictions. Refusing to take a chemical test also counts as a disqualifying offense.
In many cases, the truck driver’s employer must remove them from duty immediately. Afterward, the driver may not return to work until they complete the federally required return-to-duty process, which includes evaluations and testing. These consequences can end truck drivers’ careers.
Can a Trucking Company Be Liable for a Drunk Driving Accident?
Yes. A trucking company can face legal consequences if its driver causes a crash while under the influence. If the impaired truck driver was an employee, the employer trucking company is vicariously liable.
Trucking companies may bear direct liability – even for independent contractors – if they:
- Hired a truck driver with a known history of DUI arrests
- Ignored other red flags in a truck driver’s past
- Failed to run proper background checks
- Skipped regular drug and alcohol testing
- Failed to enforce safety policies
When companies put profit over safety, they open themselves up to liability. Victims can hold both the negligent trucking company and the truck driver accountable in a single lawsuit.
What Compensation Can Victims Recover After a Drunk Driving Truck Crash?
Missouri law allows drunk driving truck accident victims to pursue financial recovery for their crash-related losses by filing civil claims. The exact types and amounts of compensation vary based on the facts of the crash, the severity of the injuries, and who shares legal responsibility.
Depending on the circumstances, drunk driving truck crash victims may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death benefits, including funeral and burial costs, after a fatal truck accident
- Property repair or replacement
How Do Lawyers Prove a Truck Driver Was Driving Under the Influence?
Our experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyers can identify and preserve many different types of evidence to show that a truck driver was under the influence at the time of the crash, including:
- Police reports with details like field sobriety test results, BAC readings, and officer observations
- Lab results from breath or blood tests
- Video footage from dashboard, traffic, or security cameras
- Data from onboard tracking systems
- Black box data indicating swerving, speeding, or erratic braking before the wreck
- Past employment and driving records for the at-fault truck driver
- Statements from eyewitnesses and experts
- Information on reported violations from the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
When Should You Contact a St. Louis Drunk Truck Driving Accident Lawyer?
You should reach out to our DUI truck accident lawyers as soon as possible after the crash. We can start working on your case right away by collecting evidence before it disappears and speaking with witnesses while their memories are fresh. Waiting too long can make it harder to build a strong case.
There is also a strict deadline for injury lawsuits in Missouri. If you miss the five-year deadline, the court will most likely throw out your case. Our truck accident injury attorneys can explain how the law applies to your situation and help you take the right steps to protect your case.
You do not need to wait for the police to finish their investigation or for prosecutors to file charges before getting legal help with your truck accident claim. The sooner you contact our experienced personal injury attorneys, the better.
Get in Touch with a Drunk Driving Truck Accident Lawyer in St. Louis
If you were hurt in a drunk driving semi-truck accident, the lawyers at Sumner Law Group, LLC, want to help you find answers and take legal action. We are ready to listen to your story and help you explore your options.
Contact our legal team today to get started with a free consultation session with an experienced truck accident attorney at our law firm.
