Over the last couple of decades, with the growing prevalence of text messaging and smartphones, distracted driving has become one of the most dangerous risks of injury on the road. Most distracted driving accidents involve passenger vehicles, but commercial truck drivers can also fall prey to distraction. If you have been in an accident with a distracted truck driver, your injuries may be especially severe. However, you may also be entitled to substantial compensation, and a personal injury lawyer can help you take the necessary steps to secure it.
The Dangers of Cell Phones for Commercial Truck Drivers
For truck drivers, using a cell phone while driving is risky on multiple levels. Reading or typing a text message means that a driver’s full attention is not on the task of driving, and research shows that it may lead a driver to take their eyes off of the road for almost five seconds on average. Texting also typically requires the use of a driver’s hands, which makes it more difficult for the driver to make steering adjustments or otherwise control the vehicle.
Distracted driving can have outsized effects among truck drivers since the adjustment time to change direction or bring their vehicle safely to a stop is longer than the time for a typical passenger vehicle. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that texting makes truck drivers 23.2 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash. Even simply dialing a phone by hand can make an accident or near-accident six times more likely.
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