When the driver of an 18 wheeler, big rig, bus or commercial vehicle operates and drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causes an accident, California law holds stiff penalties including fines, loss of license and jail time for the driver. If you’ve been injured in a big rig crash caused by DUI or someone under the influence of drugs, you have a legal road forward for the justice and financial compensation you deserve. Los Angeles truck accident lawyer David Azizi will fight to make you and your loved ones whole again in the eyes of the law by making these drivers and the companies that represent them pay the money damages they owe.
Higher DUI Standards For Truck and Commercial Drivers
The duty of care required from truck, bus and commercial vehicle drivers is higher than the standard for other non-commercial vehicle motorists. This is demonstrated of course by the requirement to carry a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) and to receive additional training and certification. These are huge powerful vehicles capable of massive destruction and even wrongful death.
When a driver of a big rig, city bus or similar commercial vehicle decides to drive under the influence of alcohol, or any combination of alcohol and drugs, the laws in California also holds them to a higher standard. According to current state laws, it is illegal to operate a vehicle with these blood alcohol concentration (BAC) percentage levels:
- 0.08% or higher ― applies to drivers over 21 years old operating a standard non-commercial passenger vehicle.
- 0.04% or higher ― applies to all drivers operating a commercial vehicle (semi trucks, buses, delivery vans, etc).
- 0.01% or higher ― applies to drivers under the age of 21 operating any kind of vehicle.
These BAC levels apply to alcohol use, use of standard over the counter drugs, prescription medications, street drugs and any drugs that contain alcohol in them.
Negligence Claims With a Los Angeles Truck DUI Lawyer
When a driver is impaired in their duties behind the wheel because of alcohol and/or drug use, they have committed an act of negligence. That means they have liability (fault) for the accident and injuries they have caused through their poor decisions and behavior, and will be responsible to “right the wrong” by paying money damages to injured parties and their families.
If the accident resulted in death for any of the victims, Federal law requires the truck or bus company to perform an alcohol and drug screening within two hours of the incident. This required testing also applies when police officers get involved, issue a citation and note that the crash included any bodily injury requiring medical transportation and treatment and/or when a vehicle is damaged to such a degree that it requires towing from the accident scene.
The Law Offices of David Azizi will seek all medical records, police reports, and reports from the truck or bus company to demonstrate and establish that the commercial driver was at fault and prove negligence caused your accident and injuries. Anytime a trucking company does not follow through with required BAC testing, or cancels the testing, they must provide compelling reasons for taking such actions. A refusal to conduct a test may be admitted in court to demonstrate the intent to cover up DUI for their drivers.
We will also seek records verifying that they met original license standards to hold their driving position. Medical eligibility requirements for commercial drivers in California state that:
“All commercial drivers must submit medical reports to the department on original applications and at least every two years thereafter.”1
Armed with these facts, our truck DUI law firm will make our demands from their insurance policies, which have minimum coverage amounts.
Recovering Compensation After a DUI Crash
The legal action we take against a driver who has been accused of DUI are very similar to many negligence cases we pursue. We will establish liability of the driver and company and will pursue money damages for you. Our clients can quickly amass huge debts from all angles after a DUI accident with a commercial vehicle.
The money damages we seek for our injured clients include recovery of expenses for:
- Transport to emergency room via ambulance
- Hospital visits and long-term stays (inpatient and outpatient)
- Repair of bones or saving limbs from amputation via multiple surgeries
- Physical therapy to treat and rehabilitate injuries
- Any needed medical items, including wheelchairs and prescriptions
- Repairs of damaged vehicle
- Replacement of destroyed vehicle and property
- Recovery of lost wages from work missed
- Rental Car Expenses
Commercial DUI Accident Lawsuits Can Involve Millions of Dollars
Anytime a large commercial vehicle causes injuries or death, our team knows the case could be very complicated, require the assistance of forensic experts and could mean that millions of dollars are on the line. In the video below, Los Angeles truck and DUI attorney David Azizi describes a truck accident case against Budweiser where a verdict of $4.5 million was awarded to his injured clients. Watch the video below.
It’s important to note that these complex cases involve circumstances that are unique to every case. What they often have in common is negligence on the part of the driver, which includes acts like distracted driving (texting or eating), driving over allowed hours leading to fatigue, and of course, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
How Much Is My Commercial DUI Accident Case Worth?
We invite our clients to familiarize themselves with the truck crash injury calculator which can give you a very basic estimate of what your financial compensation might look like in a truck or bus DUI claim. The best way to determine your case value will be through a free and thorough case review, available by calling us 24/7 at (800) 991-5292. In the review we will evaluate your claims of wrongdoing, explain current California DUI laws, and will calculate the amount of money damages you may be eligible to collect, including pain and suffering.
The Deadline for Filing Your DUI Commercial Vehicle Lawsuit
We need to hear your important and unique story if you’ve been injured by a big rig, tractor trailer, bus or other commercial vehicle involving DUI. We urge all injured victims to call us at 800-991-5292 as soon as possible.
The deadline for filing a lawsuit after a major truck or bus crash is known as the statute of limitations. In California, that will typically be two years from the date of the accident. However, whenever a government entity is involved (like a city bus), that timeline shrinks to six months. When in doubt about deadlines, reach out and get your questions answered through a free case review.
Begin With A Proven Los Angeles DUI Crash Lawyer
David Azizi and the truck and bus DUI team hold a 98 percent winning track record. We front the legal costs for all clients using the contingency fee structure. That’s the “no win, no fee” system common to personal injury law. That means only when we win you case and collect compensation for you do we get paid, via a percentage of the recovery. If we do not win your case, you do not pay. We assume that risk based on our solid history of success in representing injured victims.
You can expect us to take the following actions once we are on your DUI big rig, bus or van accident case:
- Gather medical records on your behalf
- Obtain Police Report
- Contact commercial vehicle driver and the company representing them
- Contact insurance companies
- Send a letter of representation to the driver accused of DUI
- File a legal complaint to officially open your case
- Review and respond to the legal answer given by trucker and company
- File a lawsuit
- Litigate your case in court during to trial
- Negotiate a fair settlement that reflects the justice you deserve
- Collect money damages for your and your family
If you are ready to pursue your claim of wrongdoing for DUI involving a truck, bus or large commercial vehicle, Los Angeles big rig accident attorney David Azizi and team are standing by to begin work on your case. Call us 24/7 at 800-991-5292 or fill out the form on this page and let’s get the justice and compensation you and your loved ones deserve.
