According to local reports a trucker was injured when a suspected underage drunk driver cut his rig off at mile marker 564 of Interstate 20 in Texarkana Texas. The accident occurred around 2:20 p.m. Friday August 19 when Texas Department of Public Safety troopers believe the 19-year-old male attempted to pass 63-year-old Steven Sharpes rig cutting him off on the interstate. The teens car then struck the rig injuring Sharpe. The teen has been arrested for driving with intoxicated.
Commentary
Many of my blogs detail inconsistencies regarding the trucking industry and some of its drivers. While a detailed independent investigation is needed to determine liability it would appear this trucker was caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. When drivers choose to drink and drive they make a reckless move that could endanger themselves and others on the roadway. If the teenager was indeed found to intoxicated typically this places liability upon him. There could be a personal injury claim for the truck driver. Unfortunately this may be the only claim present. This is due to what some believe to be a loophole in Texas Social Host laws that could hold a homeowner liable for their guests. If the teen was 18 or younger these laws would be in place but the loophole usually does not cover 19 and 20-year-olds. This is due to a legal distinction in Texas between minors above 18 but not yet adults.
Texarkana Personal Injury Attorney Michael Grossman
