Cell phone use may be a useful thing to do to deliver messages to your loved ones quickly. However, it is better that you leave your phone while driving if you wish to protect your and other people’s lives. Using your phone for texting or calling while driving, regardless of how safe you think it is, is illegal. If caught, you could be charged with hefty fines.
If you were injured by a driver distracted by his cell phone, you deserve justice. Other people’s negligence and carelessness should not be the cause of your financial loss. You can speak to an attorney and schedule a free initial case consultation today to understand your case and legal rights. Your attorney can calculate your damages and tell you what your case is worth.
What happens when a truck driver engages in distracted driving?
When truck drivers use their cell phones while driving, be it for speaking on a call or texting or reading a text, they are diverting their attention from the most important duty on hand, safely operating the vehicle and following the traffic laws. When drivers use a digital device while driving, their attention is divided, and they become distracted. They cannot focus fully on the road, and thus, the chances of a collision increase.
Common types of accidents that happen while using your phone while driving include side-impact accidents, rear-end accidents, head-on collisions, and roll-overs.
Common types of truck driver distractions
A truck driver can get distracted while using a smartphone in countless ways. Even if you believe you are a great driver and have been driving for years, diverting your attention from the road can result in devastating consequences. Here are some of the common ways a mobile phone can be distracting to truck drivers:
- Texting or speaking on the phone.
- Using GPS or Maps on the phone to know or confirm the route they need to travel on.
- They take pictures of themselves or some object that might have taken their attention.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) knows how dangerous it can be for truck drivers to use their phones while driving, so it is illegal for drivers to text and drive.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a truck driver who you believe had been using their phone just before the collision, you deserve compensation. Had the driver paid more attention to the road and their surroundings, the accident may not have occurred. Hire an attorney today.
