Many people work in jobs that require them to spend a great deal of time behind the wheel: bus drivers, truck drivers, and even construction workers and other people who need to haul a great deal of equipment on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, drunk drivers killed more than 10,000 persons in 2016 alone—and drivers on the job can engage in drinking behavior just as easily as those who take to the road for personal reasons.
Does Drinking on the Job Increase Hazards?
For many people who spend countless hours on the road as part of their jobs, a couple of drinks with dinner or a drink or two as an effort to ease some of the stresses of traffic jams and difficult drivers may seem no more consequential than, for example, having a drink at home when the work day is over. Unfortunately, drinking and driving on the job can create extremely serious consequences.
- Drunk drivers at work spend more time on the road. Most of the time, drunk drivers are just trying to get to their destinations—usually home. Typically, that means a comparatively limited amount of time behind the wheel. Those who work as drivers, on the other hand, may spend longer amounts of time behind the wheel, leading to more opportunities for accidents.
- Working drivers may have other problems that increase accident risks. They may, for example, suffer from fatigue, or may have already spent too many hours on the road for the day, especially in the case of truck drivers. They may also drive larger vehicles, which require greater levels of attention and skill than private passenger vehicles.
- Working drivers may drive larger vehicles or bear a greater degree of responsibility. This might, for example, mean operating a truck, which is larger than most other vehicles on the road. It might mean driving a bus or other public transportation, which means a large number of passengers are under the care of the driver. Both larger vehicles and larger numbers of passengers can increase the repercussions of an accident—bigger vehicles can do much worse damage when they crash.
Unfortunately, knowing that drinking and driving is dangerous doesn’t always stop it. Twelve percent of American truck drivers tested positive for at least some amount of alcohol. About half of truck drivers also admit to sometimes driving under the influence—and once they’ve done it once without consequence, they’re more likely to do it again.
Preventing drunk driving is an ongoing challenge for many cities, and taking the right action after an accident with a truck driver is critical to keeping yourself safe.
Seek Legal Help if You Were in a Drunk Driving Accident
If you were in an accident with a driver who was drinking on the job, email the Richard Rizk Law Office today or call 503.245.5677 to secure the legal help you need. When drunk drivers are on the job, their company may bear some of the responsibility for damages that occur as a result of their drinking—and you need an attorney who can help navigate the complicated legal system and ensure that you recover the compensation you deserve.