Gone are the days when Floridians could smoke virtually anywhere. After the passage of the state’s Clean Indoor Air Act, most smoking in public and private businesses is illegal. Still, there are few restrictions to prevent drivers from smoking inside their vehicles.
While you may not care much if a commercial driver lights up behind the wheel, a trucker’s smoking habit may put your life in danger. Consequently, if you suffer a serious injury in a collision with a tractor-trailer, you may want to investigate whether the trucker’s preference for cigarettes played some role in the crash.
Truckers smoke more than other drivers
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, truck drivers are twice as likely to smoke cigarettes than other drivers. This may be due to a variety of reasons, such as trying to stay alert or simply attempting to pass the time.
Smoking leads to serious health conditions
Smoking can be catastrophic to anyone’s health. In fact, those who smoke cigarettes are at greater risk of developing cancer, lung disease, stroke, heart disease and other ailments. While truckers with commercial licenses undergo regular health screenings, smoking-related diseases may appear between checkups.
Smoking-related diseases make drivers unsafe
If truckers develop heart disease, stroke or other smoking-associated diseases, they may lose control of their vehicles. Because tractor-trailers outweigh other vehicles by as much as 75,000 pounds, losing control of one is likely to lead to catastrophic consequences.
All truckers have a duty to drive responsibly. Ultimately, if a trucker’s smoking-related poor health causes an accident that injures you, you may be eligible for substantial financial compensation from the trucker or trucking company.