Staring at the open roads all day can impact a driver in many ways, especially for a truck driver who does this on a daily. Because many truck drivers can easily become distracted in their line of work, accidents happen in the blink of an eye involving drivers. Many truck accidents can be prevented each year if drivers abide by the rules of the road and remember to keep the well-being of others in mind.

Statistics taken in a 2009 study found that 71% of truck crashes took place when the driver was engaged in distracted driving while operating their truck. Distracted driving can take on many forms and when the driver of a large vehicle engages in these acts, serious results can take place quite quickly.

Distracted Driving Contributing to Truck Accidents 

Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents in the U.S. each year, claiming the lives of over 2,800 victims in just 2018. When you add a large truck into the mix there is no doubt that catastrophic results will occur. What types of distracted driving commonly affect truck drivers?

Texting or Calling: Texting and driving is actually an illegal act for a commercial driver to engage in. This does not mean that truck drivers will not engage in texting and driving from time to time, along with answering phone calls instead of waiting until they are pulled over or taking a break. Texting puts truck drivers at an increased chance of becoming involved in a catastrophic or even fatal accident. This is why there are many laws and regulations that have been enacted to attempt to lessen the amount of texting and driving accidents on our roadways.

Handling Materials: In a large percentage of distracted driving cases involving large trucks, a driver was handling materials instead of keeping both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. This is especially true due to the fact that truck drivers do not have a lot of time when they are making a delivery and may believe they have to rush from location to location. A driver may be more inclined to answer a text message or eat while they are on the road. However, these acts come with risks. 

Reading/Watching Items: Truck drivers are also more inclined to become distracted by objects on the side of the road. For instance, a large percentage of accidents take place each year when drivers take their eyes off the road to look at billboards and other accidents.

Speaking with a Florida Truck Accident Attorney

Florida truck accidents take place every day, leading to thousands of hospitalizations across the state every single year. Being injured in one of these accidents can leave a huge impact on your life, especially because these claims are incredibly complex in many cases. As such, it is important that you or your family seek the help of a personal injury attorney who can help you every step of the way. At Sheftall & Associates, our attorneys are dedicated to helping you in your time of need. Please contact an accident attorney in Florida for more information on your options at (904) 569-6025.