Distracted Driving Truck Accidents
Distracted driving may not sound as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but it is. Accident statistics reflect the fact that drivers are just as impaired when they drive and use a cell phone as they are when driving while intoxicated at the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08%. Also, the US Department of Transportation has reported that sending a text message or reading one while driving takes about five seconds, which is enough time to cover the length of a football field while driving at 55 mph and increasing the risk of being involved in a collision by 23 times.
There are different types of distractions while driving:
- Those that involve the driver taking their hands off the wheel
- Those that take the eyes of the driver away from the road
- Cognitive distractions, which are those that take the driver’s mind away from the task of driving
Truck Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving
As if distracted driving was not dangerous enough, hazards become much more pronounced when the distracted driver is sitting behind the wheel of a truck. When a truck driver engages in manually dialing a phone, sends or reads a text message, or looks elsewhere other than at the road, devastating damage is a significant possibility.
A commercial truck is not an easy machine to handle. Therefore, whoever is at the wheel must give the vehicle and the road their undivided attention. The use of cell phones or anything else that takes their eyes off the road results in serious or even fatal collisions.
The Institute for Highway Safety has banned text messaging for all drivers, and the general use of cellphones by beginner drivers is also banned for 38 states including Missouri. In cases of emergency, the driver must pull to the side of the road to use a cellphone if there is no possibility of making a call without taking the hands off the wheel. Nevertheless, truck drivers still use mobile devices while driving.
Other Culprits of Truck Driver Distraction
Electronic devices are not the only cause of truck driver distractions. Other dangers include:
- The driver being extremely tired
- Use of GPS units or electronic logging devices
- Paper maps that are still used by many drivers
- Eating, drinking, or reaching for something that requires the attention to veer off the road
- Smoking, lighting a cigarette, or reaching for a match or cigarette.
- Outside distractions such as landmarks, other vehicles, an accident nearby, and more
Distracted Driving Truck Accident Claims
An accident between a truck and a passenger vehicle immediately sets off the trucking company and the insurance provider in an attempt to defend themselves against a potential claim from the injured victim. With extensive experience to back them up, they know how to present a defense against distracted driving claims and pay out as little as possible in a settlement.
You can be sure that the truck driver will have a strong legal team behind them. If you suffered injuries in a distracted driving truck accident, you also want the best legal representation by your side.
Turn to The Eslinger Law Firm to Get Justice
The team of truck accident attorneys at The Eslinger Law Firm understands that injuries suffered because of a distracted driving truck accident can leave you with long-term physical consequences. The cost of dealing with your injuries, the possibility that you may end up being unable to go back to work, and the pain and suffering you might be experiencing, may quickly deplete your savings and put you in a fragile financial position from which you may never recover.
Schedule an initial consultation. Our attorneys will work with you to build a strong case and help you get the compensation you deserve. And, sincere they work on a contingency basis, there will be no out of pocket expenses for you.