Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of vehicle accidents, and the problem extends to the trucking industry. Accidents involving these large and heavy semi-trucks and tractor trailers often tragically result in multiple fatalities. It is therefore vital that truck drivers remain focused and drive on the road without distractions.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,474 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2009. Sixteen percent of all fatal crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has said that a commercial driver who is even just reaching for his or her phone while operating a large truck is three times more likely to be involved in a serious accident. If the driver dials a number on the phone, he or she is six times more likely to cause an accident.
There are many stories of deaths caused by truck drivers who were texting, looking at their phone, dialing a number, or talking on their cell phone. In one tragic case, a truck driver was looking at pictures on his phone and killed a police officer when he crashed the truck into the cop car.
In response to the large number of distracted driving accidents involving truck drivers, in 2012 the United States Department of Transportation placed a ban on the use of hand-held cell phone devices by all interstate truck and bus drivers. Truck drivers who violate the ban can lose their commercial driver’s licenses, or cause the companies they work for to be penalized with fines up to $11,000.
If you have been injured by a distracted truck driver, or you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a distracted truck driver, contact a qualified attorney. Robert Greening is the principal attorney at GreeningLaw, P.C. He has dedicated his 24 years of practice to the litigation of wrongful death and serious injury cases. Contact GreeningLaw, P.C. at 972-934-8900.