What are the Dangers of Distracted Truck Drivers?

According to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, a total of 11,081 auto accidents occurred in the state in 2014 that involved various types of large trucks. This included crashes involving single unit 2-axle trucks; single unit trucks with three or more axles; tractor trucks; trailer trucks; semi-trailer trucks; double tractors; and unknown heavy trucks. These truck accidents had many causes, including distracted driving.

Distracted driving truck accidents occur when truckers are focused on anything other than safe vehicle operations. Truckers could be distracted by cell-phone use, including hands-free phones; by GPS devices; by entering data into log books; by looking at maps; by eating while driving; by playing with the radio; or even by daydreaming. Any time focus is not 100 percent on the road, a trucker could cause a distracted driving accident.

When a truck accident occurs due to distracted driving, accident victims should be entitled to compensation. Claims may be made against the truck driver, and also against his employer in most circumstances.

It is up to a victim who wishes to pursue a truck accident case to demonstrate the collision was caused by a truck driver’s careless and negligent choice to drive while distracted. Victims may subpoena phone records with the help of their attorney, or can take other steps to prove distraction, such as consulting accident reconstruction experts.

A Charlotte, NC truck accident lawyer can provide assistance to crash victims hurt by a truck accident involving distracted driving. Contact an attorney for help as soon as possible following a collision.