This blog recently discussed trucking industry regulations, and one area where truck driver regulations are strict is the area of distracted driving and texting while driving. Truck accidents can be caused by truck drivers who are texting while driving with catastrophic results for truck accident victims.
Federal rules limit the use of hand-held mobile phones and texting while driving by truck drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s research revealed that the odds of a trucker being involved in a safety-critical event increased by 23.2 times if the truck driver was texting while driving compared to truck drivers who made the decision not to text while driving. Research also showed that truck drivers who text while driving remove their eyes from the roadway for an average of 4.6 second which, while traveling at 55 miles per hour, is equivalent to removing their eyes from the roadway for the length of a football field.
Unfortunately, a lot can happen while traveling the length of a football field. If a truck driver is not paying attention to the road during that time, a severe accident can occur that may seriously harm unsuspecting motorists. Texting while driving includes entering a text message or reading a text message while driving. It also includes calling a webpage, accessing email, and other electronic distractions. Truck drivers are limited to pushing a single button to initiate a phone call or to terminate one while driving.
Personal injury legal protections are available to protect victims injured by a distracted truck driver who is texting while driving or otherwise behaving inattentively on the roadway. It is essential for injured truck accident victims to be familiar with the legal resources that can help them with their physical, financial and emotional damages suffered in a truck accident.
