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Common Truck Driver Distractions

Common Truck Driver Distractions

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Distracted driving is dangerous and sometimes deadly, especially when it comes to a distracted truck driver. Even though truck drivers are exposed to many distractions, they are still expected to keep their attention on the road and drive safely. The right attorney can help you.

Truck drivers are essential to our economy and way of life. They work long hours that drain them physically and mentally. However, these factors don’t give them an excuse to use unsafe driving practices. They are beholden to the same standards and laws that other drivers are plus some additional ones. Semi-trucks are extremely dangerous vehicles given their structure, weight, and size. A semi-truck crash will typically cause much more damage than a passenger vehicle accident. 

If you or someone you love sustained injuries due to truck driver distraction, don’t hesitate to contact a seasoned Huntsville personal injury lawyer for help. There are legal remedies available to you.

Common Truck Driver Distractions

Distracted driving happens when a driver diverts their attention away from activities crucial for safe driving. These behaviors increase the risk of getting into an accident. A distraction is generally anything that draws the truck driver’s attention or eyes away from the road ahead of them. 

Truck drivers face distractions from both inside and outside the truck’s cab. Distractions inside the cab include eating, reading, dialing a cell phone, texting, using dispatching devices, or adjusting the radio. Distractions outside of the cab can include looking at a passing building, billboard, or person. 

Truck Driver Distraction Statistics

Very concerning statistics exist regarding truck driver distraction in the United States. It’s common knowledge that driver distraction is dangerous, but when behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle traveling at high speeds, it’s even more so. Consider these statistics:

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):

  1. Texting or using a cell phone increases the risk of an accident 23.2 times for truck drivers
  2. A texting truck driver has their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. If they are traveling at 55 mph, they travel the length of a football field while checking their text
  3. The probability of being involved in a truck accident increases by 600 percent when a truck driver is dialing a hand-held device
  4. Commercial truck drivers reaching for an object in their cab are three times more likely to be involved in a collision
  5. A 2009 study found that 71 percent of semi-truck accidents happened when the truck driver was doing something besides driving the truck.

A Huntsville personal injury attorney can help determine who caused your accident and how. When a big rig is involved, the cause or a contributing factor is commonly truck driver distraction.

Injured by a Distracted Truck Driver? A Huntsville Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

People who are injured in accidents involving semi-trucks often face many difficult challenges. Their physical recovery might be limited or take a long time. They are missing work and have medical expenses waiting for payment. An attorney can help them receive compensation for these challenges.

Are you ready to schedule your truck accident case review with an experienced Huntsville personal injury attorney? Call Cloud, Ryan & Rouse at 256-801-1000 today or complete our online contact form.


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