Distracted Driving Truck Accidents in Union
In a busy trucking hub, truck accidents are among the deadliest on the roadways. When a collision occurs due to a trucker’s distraction, it can amplify the impact and cause immense losses. Distracted driving truck accidents in Union are all too common, and if you’ve been injured in one, you need an experienced truck accident attorney. Call us at Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq today for a free consultation. We are standing by to help you.
Trucking Regulations Against Distracted Driving
Every driver bears a serious duty for the safety of others on the road. This responsibility is greater for truckers, who are professional drivers and, therefore, held to a higher standard.
Distracted drivers divert their attention away from driving safely and toward something else. The more engrossed the trucker is in a distraction, the more likely they are to cause a serious accident.
While there are many potential distractions, texting is one of the worst. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) bars truckers from texting while driving.
If phone activity involves pressing more than a single button, truckers must not engage with it and must only use hands-free communications through a wireless connection. A Union lawyer experienced with truck accidents involving inattentive driving can help determine what caused the distraction.
Consequences of Distracted Driving
When a truck is fully loaded, it can weigh upward of 80,000 pounds, many times heavier than the average passenger car. Even a relatively minor collision involving a vehicle this massive can prove deadly, and accidents caused by distracted truckers are among the most dangerous.
Slowed Reaction Times
Any distraction is likely to slow a trucker’s reaction time, which means that their vehicle’s stopping distance will take longer. The FMCSA reports that a tractor-trailer traveling at 65 miles per hour requires the length of two football fields to make a complete stop. This highlights the considerable risk involved.
Unsafe Braking
A truck driver’s distraction may cause them to slam on the brakes rather than use their brakes more safely. This intense braking can lead to a life-threatening jackknife accident.
Intersection Accidents
Many truck accidents happen in intersections. If a trucker enters an intersection without paying adequate attention, they put everyone in that area at risk of being seriously injured.
Blind Spots
Truck drivers experience very large blind spots in which they can’t see other drivers all the way around their rigs. Such blind spots play a critical role when truckers change lanes, make turns, and exit roadways. Distracted truckers are less likely to carefully check their blind spots before proceeding, and this can translate into deadly accidents.
When you’ve been involved in a Union truck accident caused by a distracted driver, an experienced attorney can help identify the many factors involved in your crash.
How Can You Protect Your Rights and Bring a Strong Claim?
To recover all your losses and help support your future, you must prove that the at-fault truck driver’s inattention directly caused the accident in Union that left you injured. To do this, you need a seasoned lawyer to gather the necessary evidence, which is likely to include the following:
- Photos and videos captured at the scene, such as by dashcams and bystanders
- The testimony of eyewitnesses
- The police report and any tickets written
- Physical evidence left at the scene
- Testimony by professionals in relevant fields of study
- Accident reconstruction models that reveal what transpired
Our team is ready to help gather all the evidence needed for a claim.
Contact a Union Attorney Experienced With Distracted Driving Truck Crashes
Distracted driving truck accidents in Union are more common than you may realize, and fully recovering your losses is paramount. The well-respected attorneys at Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq are ready to fiercely advocate for a settlement that adequately and fairly covers your losses. Learn more by calling or contacting us online.