Distracted driving endangers everyone on the road. This is particularly true when the heedless driver is behind the wheel of a big rig, 18-wheeler, semi, tractor-trailer, or another large vehicle.
Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded with cargo. When truck accidents caused by distraction occur, they tend to produce catastrophic injuries and deaths.
Common Distracted Truck Driver Behavior
Truckers are vulnerable to many of the same types of on-the-road distractions as regular motorists. Some of the most common types of distracted driving behaviors include:
- Talking, texting, playing games, or surfing the internet on a smartphone
- Operating an in-vehicle stereo, entertainment, climate, or navigation system
- Eating or drinking
- Grooming behaviors such as combing hair or applying makeup
- Daydreaming
- Reaching for objects in another part of the cab
Commercial truck operators also face additional distractions more specific to the profession, such as fuel-economy tracking devices, in-cab fleet-tracking and communication systems, fleet management and workflow devices, and electronic logging devices.
Proving Liability
Victims hurt in wrecks caused by negligent truck drivers may be eligible for compensation for accident-related medical expenses, lost wages, loss of income, and pain and suffering. However, before victims recover compensation, they must first prove the trucker was liable for the crash.
Proving distraction caused the wreck requires evidence. An attorney can help truck accident victims gather what’s needed to strengthen their claims, such as video footage, witness statements, and the trucker’s cell phone records. Attorneys may also rely on expert witnesses such as accident reconstructionists to help them demonstrate the lack of truck operator focus was the reason for the crash.
Consult a Knowledgeable Georgia Truck Wreck Attorney
Truck accidents often turn victims’ lives upside-down, leaving them with devastating injuries, insurmountable medical bills, and other serious economic and non-economic losses. At Van Sant Law, we’ve seen the terrible consequences of distracted driving truck wrecks. We’re committed to helping victims get the justice and compensation they deserve.
Were you injured in a Georgia accident caused by a distracted trucker? Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free initial case consultation.
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