As the biggest and heaviest cars on public roads, semi-trucks are, regrettably, the most dangerous. In North Dakota, tractor-trailer accidents happen frequently. North Dakota witnessed 655 truck accidents in 2020, out of which 25 were fatal. Bismarck is one area where lots of truck accidents occur.
Sadly, distracted or careless drivers are to blame for many of these collisions. Distracted driving refers to behaviors that take a driver’s focus away from the road. The nature of their work makes truck drivers particularly vulnerable to distractions.
Following a truck accident, see a physician to ensure you are not injured, and then call one of the truck accident lawyers in Bismarck immediately. Your attorney will put great effort into determining if distracted driving contributed to the collision and will hold the truck driver responsible.
5 Instances of Distracted Driving That Lead to Truck Accidents
1. Mobile Phone Usage
Cell phone usage is the most prevalent cause of distracted driving. Nearly 10% of fatal truck accidents involve a driver using a cell phone. This type of distraction encompasses visual, manual, and cognitive aspects. The rise in distracted driving incidents following the introduction of cellphone-related technology is not surprising.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving accounts for 71% of tractor-trailer accidents. Distracted truckers are 70% more likely to be involved in an accident since fiddling with a phone decreases their attention to the road.
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2. In-Cab Distractions
In-cab distractions constitute about 2 percent of all incidents involving distracted driving. It occurs when a motorist reaches for an object, such as stereo headphones, or uses a GPS navigation system. Although GPS helps truck drivers find their way, it may sometimes divert focus from the road. Distracted driving can also occur when one reaches to adjust the volume or switch the radio station.
For instance, looking for anything inside the cab while driving might cause drivers to divert their attention from the road for some time. They may lose control of the vehicle if they dig through a bag for their phone or put their hands to another use.
3. Fatigue and Multitasking
Fatigue is a subtle but dangerous enemy since it impairs alertness, slows response times, and causes a loss of vehicle control. However, because of their rigorous schedules, which sometimes include long hours on the road, tense delivery deadlines, and the need to travel great distances, truck drivers run the danger of being exhausted while operating a vehicle. They become a threat to others and themselves as a result of fatigue.
The risk is greatly increased because tired truck drivers handle large vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds. According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study, 13 percent of commercial truck drivers reported feeling tired at the collision scene.
4. External Distractions
Anything that happens outside of the vehicle is considered an external occurrence. At first glance, these incidents can appear small and unworthy of notice. However, several risks are associated with seemingly little actions like tilting your head while driving. Drivers occasionally lose concentration when gazing at anything that piques their interest.
A person on the sidewalk, a billboard, or a nearby event—like a police traffic stop or an accident—can all distract the driver.
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5. Eating or Drinking
Eating while driving causes both physical and visual distractions. It requires drivers to take their hands off the wheel and occasionally take their eyes off the road when handling food or drinks.
Distractions include grabbing a drink or removing the wrapper. Drivers don’t realize that even a little incident of distraction might result in an accident. Every action that results in distracted driving has the potential to be fatal for both the victim and the driver.
Bottom Line
Truck drivers work long hours on the roadways. Although drivers must always keep their eyes on the road, some become sidetracked out of boredom, causing collisions.
Following a truck accident, car attorneys can help investigate potential driver distractions to determine fault. You need the best legal counsel to hold the trucking firm liable if a distracted truck driver causes injury in an accident.
