Our Blog

Truckers Are Not Always At Fault: Distracted Driving Can Hurt Anyone

Friday, November 9th, 2018
Blog Post Thumbnail Thumbnail

There are few things on the road as dangerous as distracted driving. Texting and driving has become a real problem that can have deadly results. If you text and drive, you’re taking your eyes off the road, not securely holding the wheel, and concentrating on something other than safely driving. Traveling at about 55 miles per hour means that you’ve gone almost the length of a football field in 5 seconds. Sending even a short text within that time can have dangerous consequences.

In the United States, 3,477 people were killed in crashes involving distracted driving in 2015. In that same year, 391,000 people were injured in accidents caused by distracted driving. When people think of bad car accidents, they often think of those caused by semi-truck drivers. But, truckers are not always at fault for tragic wrecks.

When truck drivers are not at fault for accidents

The first thing that many people think about after an accident is who was at fault for the truck accident. They often blame the truck driver without having all the facts since they are the professional driver. People think that maybe the truck driver was tired from driving too long or speeding to get to their next stop. But, research from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute has found that about 80 percent of over 8,000 wrecks were caused by car drivers, not truckers.

Truckers are usually trained on how best to drive such larges vehicles. The problem is that many car drivers, even if they aren’t distracted, can cause accidents because they lack this knowledge and training. They don’t understand that they could be in a trucker’s blind spot or that they can’t cut a semi off on the highway like they can with other vehicles. Many times truckers do cause terrible accidents, but in situations like these, they are not at fault.

What happens to truckers after a distracted driving accident?

Although they are behind the wheel of a large semi-truck, truck drivers can sustain severe injuries after a crash. They can suffer burns, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and spinal cord issues. Even if the trucker survives the accident without any physical injuries, they can develop mental disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder. All these issues can make it hard for them to be able to return to work on a routine basis.

When truckers experience a traumatic accident caused by a distracted driver, they have to deal with seeing the results. The other driver is often killed or severely injured. The scene of the accident and the extent of the injuries often leave truckers with post traumatic stress disorder. This can affect their work lives and personal lives, making it difficult to drive anywhere or work again.

What to do after an accident

There are a few things that you should always do after you’ve been involved in an accident. First, you must stay at the scene of the wreck. You’ll want to call for help or have someone else call, especially if there are injuries involved. The authorities will get the proper response to the accident.

Next, you’ll want to get information from other drivers, if possible. Take down their personal information, license plate, and insurance information. You’ll also want to talk to any witnesses that saw the truck accident. You really need to get the name, phone number (and address if possible) of the witnesses to the wreck. Those can be the difference between a positive result in your case or no result in your case. Document the scene for your records as much as you’re able. Try to get pictures of all the vehicles involved, any damage, and the surrounding area. Taking a video with your cell phone is a good way to capture the scene as well. If you don’t have anything to write with, you can take a video of each witness telling you their name and phone number and what they witnessed.

Contact a personal injury attorney

You may think that you’re protected since you have insurance, but the insurance company isn’t always your best ally. Their first priority is protecting their company as much as possible and reducing their costs. They may have your best interests at heart when handling your claim, but getting a lawyer ensures that you’re completely protected. An experienced personal injury lawyer can assist you with getting what you deserve after an accident occurs. You will likely need help with medical bills, lost wages, car repairs and with all the hassles and headaches that come along with having just been in a wreck.

Have you been hurt by a distracted driver?

If you have been involved in a distracted driving accident caused by someone else’s negligence, call an attorney as soon as possible. Attorney Dean Boyd can help you recover after a devastating accident, whether you drive a semi-truck or small car. You can call our caring team 24/7 at (806) 242-3333 or Contact Us by email for more information about our Services. You can also visit our offices at 4423 SW 45th Ave in Amarillo, Texas or 10623 Quaker Ave #102 in Lubbock, Texas.

*The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice. Viewing this information does not establish/constitute an attorney-client relationship with the law firm of Attorney Dean Boyd.