A driver of any vehicle puts themself and others at risk when they are distracted. This danger increases when the driver operates a large truck. Heavy trucks travel at highway speeds and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded.
All it takes is a single distracted truck driver to present a gravely dangerous risk to every driver around them. In-cab distractions are one of the reasons truck driving is a dangerous job. Knowing why truckers get distracted and how investigators prove it matters in any truck accident case.
Why Distraction Looks Different Behind the Wheel of a Truck
The amount of time commercial drivers spend behind the wheel is greater than that of an ordinary driver. Commercial drivers travel for long distances on highways, where mobile phones, dashboard technology, food, and paperwork can all be very distracting. With the addition of dispatching calls, GPS systems, and logging equipment, the potential for distraction increases.
What Counts as Distraction in a Commercial Vehicle
Long trips can create many opportunities for driver distraction. Common examples include texting, eating, or entering directions into a GPS. In addition, even a brief distraction like reaching for items inside the vehicle or adjusting in-vehicle technology like dispatch and communication systems can cause an accident.
Generally, federal regulations prohibit drivers from texting or using hand-held mobile phones while driving. Limited hands-free use is permitted under federal rules. If a driver violated these restrictions around the time of a crash, the violation may serve as evidence when evaluating negligence and liability.
Investigating the Real Cause After a Crash
It’s not usually evident from the scene of the truck crash if distraction was a factor. To figure out what caused a truck accident, a Northern Illinois truck accident lawyer first conducts an investigation. What the investigation finds determines how the rest of the case proceeds. This kind of investigation into the true cause of a crash applies just as directly to distraction-related cases as it does to any other category of truck accident.
The Regulatory Framework Trucking Companies Operate Under
Just as federal hours of service rules exist to combat driver fatigue, commercial drivers operate under separate federal restrictions specifically targeting distraction, including bans on handheld device use while driving.
In this case, it’s important to know how truck driver fatigue causes catastrophic accidents. This explains why electronic logging data is often central evidence when a trucker or trucking company breaks the rules.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Distraction-Related Crash
Liability is not confined to the truck driver in cases of distracted driving. The trucking company may also be liable. Federal rules bar carriers from allowing or requiring handheld phone use while driving, and companies are typically responsible for their drivers’ actions on the job.
What Compensation Typically Covers
A victim of an accident caused by distraction is usually eligible to file for a claim for medical bills, loss of income, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Property damage can also be recovered. Because these crashes often cause serious injuries, medical costs can accumulate over time.
Why These Cases Require Specific Evidence
It is often challenging to prove that distraction was a causal factor. Utilizing cell phone call and text records, in-vehicle technology data, dispatch communications, and witness statements will help. Delay in collecting these forms of evidence can lead to data loss and deletions. Trucking companies do not always provide such documentation, which makes thorough investigation important.
Addressing a Preventable Category of Crash
There are numerous causes of accidents involving commercial trucks, but distraction is one of the easiest to avoid. When such a thing occurs, the aftermath can be very frustrating. Knowing the causes and how liability is determined helps those involved handle the process more easily.