Truck drivers can spend up to 11 hours out of a 14-hour shift on the road. That means there is a lot of opportunity for distractions.
Distracted driving truck accidents in Media can lead to serious injuries for people in passenger vehicles. When a trucker’s inattentiveness has injured you or your loved one, call an experienced tractor-trailer wreck attorney today.
Several distractions on the road can affect a trucker’s focus and put them at risk of a crash.
Due to the long hours truck drivers spend behind the wheel during an average shift, they can suffer from severe road haze, which can prevent them from noticing what happens around them. Unfortunately, truck drivers may not realize they have slipped into this state until they have already caused a severe accident.
Truck drivers cannot legally use a cell phone while driving. However, some may still attempt to take calls or even send texts while behind the wheel without using hands-free equipment. Cell phones pose a particularly serious distraction because they take away the driver’s eyes, hands, and attention from operating their vehicle.
Truck drivers, especially those on unfamiliar routes, may rely on their cell phones to help them navigate on the road. Unfortunately, GPS devices can be distracting, especially if they need to recalculate or do not offer adequate auditory instructions to help truck drivers navigate successfully.
In addition, truckers may communicate via radio with other trucks. While those communications can offer essential insights into events on the road around them, they can also pose a risk of distraction.
Many truck drivers choose to eat and drink behind the wheel rather than stop to take a break. Unfortunately, they must take at least one hand off the wheel, risking a wrong maneuver or lack of reaction time.
Distractions behind the wheel can increase the risk of accidents for any Media driver, but they can result in especially hazardous crashes for truckers.
Trucks have large blind spots on all four sides. Those blind spots can make it more difficult for truckers to track the movement of other vehicles around them, so they must pay close attention to others sharing the road.
Truck drivers operate large vehicles that require more time to respond. They need to have quick reactions to avoid collisions, including staying away from hazards on the road or reacting to the movements of other drivers around them. A distracted truck driver may not have adequate time to respond in an emergency.
If you suffer injuries due to the negligent actions of an inattentive truck driver, you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side who could help you navigate the claim process.
In some cases, trucking companies that do not have effective policies in place can share liability with a distracted truck driver. A lawyer could help you determine who bears liability for the accident and how to maximize the compensation you can recover.
Get in touch with Dan Doyle Law Group today to discuss a recent distracted driving truck accident in Media.
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