Truck Accidents and Driver Distractions and Fatigue
It should come as no surprise to anyone that in collisions between large commercial trucks and smaller passenger vehicles, the large commercial trucks tend to inflict the greatest damage. In Daytona Beach, truck accidents commonly produce serious injuries and, tragically, deaths. When truck drivers or the companies that put these big rigs and other large trucks on the road behave negligently, it is only right that they should be held financially liable for the losses and expenses suffered by injured victims and their families.
Two of the most common causes of catastrophic truck accidents are driver distractions and driver fatigue. The personal injury attorneys of Chanfrau & Chanfrau expertly handle claims involving these all-too-common causes of truck accidents.
Driver Distractions
Modern technology has created more distractions than ever for drivers. This is particularly true of professional truck drivers, who face the same potential distractions as other drivers on the road as well as distractions that are unique to their jobs. Common distractions for truckers while driving include:
- The use of dispatch devices such as CB radios
- Cell phone use, whether for the purpose of speaking to someone or, worse yet, texting
- Looking at a map
- Using a computer or piece of equipment with a computer screen
- Eating or drinking
- Fiddling with the radio or a CD player
- Talking to the occupant of the passenger seat, if there is one
Our truck accident attorneys will expertly collect evidence and reconstruct the accident to prove fault on the part of the distracted truck driver.
Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes of truck accidents, and is sadly one that is generally avoidable. Truckers are held to strict hour limits and must take breaks as mandated by federal law. When truck drivers “power through” to deliver their loads while ignoring these laws and regulations that are meant to ensure their safety, they put other motorists on the road at extreme risk. Our truck accident attorneys examine trucking logs and other potential evidence to determine whether broken laws contributed to the fatigue of a truck driver was responsible for a catastrophic accident.
As with distracted driving cases, our attorneys use all of the resources at their disposal to collect relevant evidence and reconstruct the accident to prove fault on the part of the fatigued truck driver.
Potential Damages
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a truck accident caused by a distracted or fatigued truck driver, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Other losses and expenses related to the accident
If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, you may be further entitled to compensation for funeral expenses, future lost wages, loss of support and consortium, and other losses and expenses that can be projected into the future.
Contact Chanfrau & Chanfrau Today
To learn more about truck accident litigation arising from driver distractions and fatigue, please contact the law firm of Chanfrau & Chanfrau today.