Diverting your attention from the road is dangerous, even if only for a few moments. Sadly, distracted driving is a leading cause of truck accidents in South Carolina. When a trucker is unfocused, they can cause severe collisions, resulting in catastrophic injuries.
Those who suffer injuries in distracted driving truck accidents in Mount Pleasant deserve compensation for their losses. Driver distraction is a form of negligence, which could make the trucker and their employer financially liable for a crash. A skilled attorney at Geel & Gentry, LLC, could explain your options for taking legal action and seeking justice for your traumatic experience.
In the trucking industry, it is not uncommon to work long hours. Many truck drivers are forced to work overnight and for days at a time to meet delivery deadlines. They may lose focus during long, monotonous shifts. Truck drivers commonly face distractions such as:
Anything that prevents a driver from concentrating on the road is considered a distraction. There are three main types of driving distractions: visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distractions take a driver’s eyes away from the road, manual ones take their hands off the wheel, and cognitive ones take their mind away from their driving duties.
While any type of distraction can be dangerous, texting while driving a truck is particularly dangerous because it commands the trucker’s visual, manual, and cognitive attention. Cell phones are the most common type of distraction in truck accident cases. Regardless of the specific reason a trucker was distracted on the road, a Mount Pleasant attorney at our firm could work to hold them accountable for an ensuing collision.
Truck accident litigation can be complicated, as multiple parties are often involved. Although the distracted truck driver is responsible for their actions, their employer could also be liable under certain circumstances. For example, perhaps the driver received inadequate training, or the company hired the trucker despite a history of bad driving or other accidents. Truck companies are responsible for their trucker’s actions during the scope of their employment. This means that if the accident occurred while the trucker was working, their employer may be a liable party.
In a distracted driving truck accident case, you and your lawyer must demonstrate that the trucker’s distraction caused your injury. Proving liability will depend on the type of distraction involved. Sometimes, witness testimony can prove liability; cell phone records and traffic footage can serve as supporting evidence in other cases.
Distracted truck drivers put other vehicles and their occupants at risk of severe harm. If you suffered injuries in a distracted driving truck accident in Mount Pleasant, speak to a dedicated attorney about your case.
Truck accident victims only have two years from the date of their injury to file a claim. The sooner you reach out to the legal team at Geel & Gentry, LLC, the sooner we can begin investigating the cause of the accident, gathering evidence to support your case, and determining who is legally responsible. Do not hesitate to contact our office for a free consultation today.
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