Distracted Driving Truck Accidents in Medford
Request a Free ConsultationDistracted driving is a hazard for everyone on the roadways, regardless of the vehicle an operator is driving. When truckers drive with distractions, it is extremely dangerous. Driving a massive commercial truck is a job that requires an operator’s full attention.
While distracted driving will make the trucker liable for an accident, trucking companies have lawyers and insurance companies fighting on their side. Contacting a skilled truck accident attorney will give you the best chance at fair compensation. Schedule a consultation with a lawyer experienced in distracted driving truck accidents in Medford.
Different Types of Distracted Driving
When a truck driver performs any activity from behind the wheel that takes their attention off the road, they drive with distractions. A lawyer in Medford could investigate a truck crash to find evidence of driving distracted. There are three categories of distractions:
Visual
Visual distractions are any activity that takes the trucker’s eyes away from the road in front of them. This could include texting, playing with the radio, or reading billboards.
Cognitive
Cognitive distractions take the trucker’s mind off driving. Distractions include daydreaming or thinking about anything other than driving.
Manual
A truck driver taking their hands off the wheel is often due to a manual distraction. A trucker eating or reaching for things in the cab around them could cause a crash.
Damages After an Accident with a Distracted Truck Driver
After proving a truck driver was driving with distractions and caused a collision, a court in Medford could award compensation to cover the following damages:
- All current medical expenses and future care costs
- Lost pay and future earning potential
- Home renovations
- Inconvenience
- Physical pain and suffer
- Emotional pain and anguish
- The loss of enjoyment of life and inconvenience
The maximum compensation a court awards for damages depends on the case’s specifics. However, an accident with a truck often leaves a plaintiff with severe injuries and losses, leading to a large payout for damages.
Prohibition Against Texting
Strict court-enforced federal laws prohibit commercial vehicle drivers from texting while driving. According to 49 Code of Federal Regulations 392.80, no trucker may text while driving, including when temporarily stopped in traffic. The law does allow exceptions if the driver pulls over to the side of the highway or communicates with the police department in emergencies.
Currently, no laws prohibit truck drivers from using their CB radio while behind the wheel. When truck drivers are texting while driving and cause an accident, they face steep fines, license suspension, a criminal conviction, and civil suits from injured motorists. An attorney in Medford could answer questions on driving with distractions and the federal texting statutes after a commercial vehicle wreck.
Schedule a Meeting with a Skilled Attorney About Distracted Driving Truck Accidents in Medford
A collision with a large commercial truck often leads to severe, life-threatening, or fatal injuries. When an accident occurs because the trucker was operating a vehicle distracted, you should not have to pay for the damages and losses they caused.
Compensation could cover your medical expenses, the loss of pay while you recover, and pain and suffering. Call a legal team skilled with distracted driving truck accidents in Medford for more information.