When professional truck drivers get behind the wheel of large commercial vehicles, they have a duty to look out for the safety of others sharing the road by driving responsibly. As part of that duty of care to others, truck drivers should always give driving their full attention. Unfortunately, distracted driving truck accidents in San Diego occur with alarming frequency.
If you were injured in an accident and suspect that the truck driver responsible was distracted at the time of the crash, you should meet with an experienced truck accident attorney from Singleton Schreiber. Our dedicated legal team is here to help you through this challenging time.
Why Is It So Dangerous for a Truck Driver To Be Distracted?
Distracted driving is dangerous for anyone driving any type of vehicle. However, when the distracted driver is behind the wheel of a massive tractor-trailer truck, the risk is substantially higher. Semi trucks are already considerably harder to operate than passenger cars. They do not drive as steadily. While many motorists feel it is generally safe to drive their cars with only one hand on the wheel, driving a truck takes more effort and coordination. Truck drivers need to be prepared and able to respond appropriately to any kind of situation that could arise. Even the most minor distraction could cause a truck driver to be ill-prepared for an emergency.
For example, because trucks take longer to stop, if a truck driver is distracted and does not immediately notice that traffic has slowed in front of them, they might not be able to stop in time to prevent a rear-end collision. Similarly, if a truck driver is not paying sufficient attention to their route, they might need to execute an overly sharp turn, which could force the truck into a rollover or jackknife.
Our seasoned San Diego truck crash team is aware of the risk distracted truck drivers pose. We can work closely with you to hold the distracted driver and their employer legally responsible for their mistakes.
What Are Some Common Truck Driver Distractions?
Drivers of all kinds of vehicles are occasionally distracted by the following:
- Texting
- Changing the temperatures
- Eating
- Fixing their appearance
- Talking to passengers
- Reaching for something that fell onto the floor
However, commercial truckers face other distractions that are unique to their jobs. For instance, while all drivers occasionally look at their GPS for directions, commercial truckers frequently rely much more heavily on their GPS units, especially when they are driving new routes. Constantly looking at the GPS could cause a truck driver to miss changes in traffic patterns. Truck drivers also are more likely to succumb to the temptation of talking or texting on the phone to combat the fatigue and boredom they face on long, solitary rides. Additionally, truckers who are in a rush sometimes enter information into their onboard computers while driving.
Our diligent San Diego attorneys can carefully investigate to uncover what may have distracted the truck driver at the time of the collision.
Contact a San Diego Lawyer About Distracted Driving Truck Crashes
Like all drivers, truck drivers should always pay attention to what they are doing because distracted driving truck accidents in San Diego can lead to devastating outcomes. If you believe the truck driver responsible for the accident was distracted, you might be able to pursue damages in a civil lawsuit. However, proving the distraction can be complicated, which is why working with a knowledgeable attorney is critical.
Call Singleton Schreiber today to set up a preliminary meeting.
