Call Us atDistracted driving has become an increasingly serious problem on roads all around the country. When drivers stop paying full attention to what they are supposed to be doing, they can hurt people in other vehicles, bystanders, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. When those drivers are behind the wheel of large commercial tractor-trailers, the risk of those injuries being serious is even more likely.
Distracted driving truck accidents in Bothell can have catastrophic consequences. If you believe the truck driver who hit you or your loved one was distracted at the time of the crash, you might be able to pursue a lawsuit. A seasoned truck collision attorney could guide you through the legal process.
Reasons Why Distracted Driving is a Problem with Truck Drivers
Driving a commercial truck can be a tiresome job. Truck drivers frequently operate their large vehicles by themselves for long hours. After driving on highways for long stretches of time, the roads can all begin to look the same, which can cause drivers to feel fatigued and bored. To pass the time and get through a long shift, truck drivers sometimes reach for distractions.
Although the federal government has set strict limitations on the number of hours a truck driver can operate, truckers sometimes violate those rules. They push themselves to drive for too long in order to get to their stops on time. If their employer implicitly or explicitly encouraged them to violate federal operating hours restrictions, the trucker’s employer could share liability for a distracted driving accident in Bothell.
An experienced legal team could investigate to determine if the trucking company had a pay structure set up to reward truck drivers for completing deliveries in unreasonably short periods. They could also see if the trucking company performed valid background checks on their drivers. A lawyer could see if the company continued to regularly check on their truck drivers and discouraged distracted driving by having a no-tolerance policy for violations.
Types of Distractions Faced by Truckers
Truckers face many different types of distractions. They face the same types of distractions that other drivers face, in addition to other hurdles unique to truck drivers. The most common truck driver distractions are as follows:
- Texting or using social media on a cell phone
- Talking on the phone
- Using a GPS or paper map to navigate
- Changing the radio station
- Using a dispatching device or entering information into an onboard computer while driving
- Eating or drinking
Trying to determine if a driver was distracted at the time of a Bothell accident can be challenging, which is why working with a seasoned and skilled legal team is critical. A legal team could follow the precise procedural channels to gain access to the driver’s phone records and onboard computer. They could carefully comb through the evidence to reconstruct the accident in order to learn why it happened.
Contact a Bothell Attorney Familiar with Distracted Driving Trucking Collisions
Distracted driving truck accidents in Bothell should never happen. Truck drivers should carefully pay attention to their driving duties, and trucking companies should do everything in their power to minimize the risk of their drivers operating vehicles while distracted.
If you suspect the trucker who caused an accident was distracted, contact a knowledgeable attorney today to see if they can assist you.
