Cell Phone Use among Common Causes of Truck Accidents

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are some of the most dangerous accidents facing motor vehicle users. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, in 2012 there were nearly 4,000 people killed and an additional 104,000 people injured in accidents that involved large trucks. This was an increase of 18 percent from the previous year.

The vast majority — 73 percent — of those injured in such incidents were occupants of the other vehicle involved in the crash, while only 24 percent of injuries sustained were by occupants of the trucks themselves. The disparity is probably because cars are much more likely to be totaled in an accident than the truck, because of the size difference. An additional 3,000 people injured were not occupants of either the truck or another vehicle, but pedestrians or cyclists on the road who collided with a large truck.

There are several things that truck drivers can do to minimize the risk of causing a fatal accident. These include (but are not limited to):

• Following road rules and laws;
• Maintaining the speed limit at all times;
• Maintaining proper tire pressure and inflation;
• Being aware of vehicular blind spots;
• Refusing to drive when particularly exhausted or worn;
• Refusing to drive under the influence; and
• Refraining from using a cell phone while driving.

While truck drivers have always communicated using CB radios, the use of cell phones while driving a truck can be particularly harmful. In March, it was announced that a lawsuit was being filed after a woman and her two children were struck and killed by a truck driver who was using his cell phone at the time of the crash.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident with a truck in which you were not at fault, you may be eligible for compensation. Do not go through it alone. Contact an experienced Lake County accident attorney today.