Menu
No Fee Unless We Win
(215) 866-2424
$1.4 million settlement during trial: Failure to recognize intraoperative bleeding and death. Our client required a pacemaker to be removed from his body because of an infected pacemaker wire. During the procedure, the doctor pulled out the wire and ripped a hole in the patient’s blood vessel, causing internal bleeding. For the next hour, even though the heart rate and blood pressure were becoming increasingly abnormal, the doctors never called a heart surgeon to help stop the bleeding. The patient, a father of two, died on the procedure table. After a few days of trial, the defendants settled for $1.4.
Despite national campaigns against driving under the influence (DUI), drugged and drunk driving remains prevalent. While statistics for drugged driving are hard to measure due to how the body metabolizes different drugs, estimates from the Governors Highway Safety Association show nearly 44% of drivers involved in fatal accidents tested positive for some type of drug. And per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 28 U.S. residents are killed in drunk driving crashes every day. The worst part is that these deaths were preventable.
Have you been injured by an intoxicated truck driver? You may have the right to compensation for any resulting losses. Contact The Beasley Firm online today for a free consultation!
When we hear of driving under the influence, many of us immediately think of drunk driving. It is important to note, however, that intoxicated driving also includes driving under the influence of other drugs. Cannabis is one of the most common drugs used behind the wheel, slowing reaction time and impairing judgment; cocaine and methamphetamine are less common but still an issue, as they have been found to lead to aggressive and reckless driving.
Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications are another oft-overlooked form of intoxicated driving. Many medications have side effects that directly impact a person’s driving skills, such as:
Medication can change a person’s life for the better. But when it comes to driving, it is better to be safe than sorry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that people refrain from driving after starting a new medication until they know how it will affect them. This can be difficult for truck drivers, as their whole job revolves around driving. This does not free them from liability in the event of a crash, however.
One of the biggest roadblocks in intoxicated driving prevention is that many drivers attempt to drive while buzzed. This is extremely dangerous—after all, buzzed driving is drunk driving.
To understand this, let’s take a look at the legal limit for driving under the influence. In Pennsylvania, and in most states, the legal limit is set at a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. (It takes the average person about four to five drinks imbibed in a period of two hours to reach a BAC of 0.08%, although the exact number varies by sex, weight, tolerance, and more.) Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows, however, that a BAC as low as 0.02% may lead to a decline in a person’s ability to track moving objects. In other words, while a person with a 0.02% may only feel a little “buzzed” and is well under the legal limit, they may still present a danger to themselves and others on the road—especially if they are getting behind the wheel of a large truck.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the rate of DUIs among truck drivers is relatively low. In 2018, only 4.6% of truckers involved in fatal crashes were found to have a BAC of 0.01% or higher, while only 3.1% had a BAC of 0.08% or higher. When compared to the rate of drunk driving among passenger car drivers, this may seem like a non-issue. But let’s be clear: It is a significant problem. A large truck is a lot more complicated to operate than a passenger car. And due to their size, accidents involving them almost always result in life-changing injuries.
All drivers have a duty of care to those around them. Drugged and drunk driving is a violation of this duty. If you have been injured in a truck accident with a drugged and/or drunk driver, our trial team at The Beasley Firm has what it takes to recover your full compensation. Since 1958, we have won over $2 billion for injured Philadelphia residents—that’s more than any other personal injury firm in the state of Pennsylvania. Let our compassionate trial attorneys guide you down the path to compensation.
Call (215) 866-2424 today for a free consultation!
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.