Distracted Driving Truck Accidents in Rockaway Beach

Distracted driving is always dangerous. In fact, driver distraction plays a role in most accidents, making it more dangerous than driving while intoxicated or driving while drowsy. As a result, many states have enacted laws to address distracted driving and criminalize the behavior. These laws are essential for truckers because their huge vehicles significantly increase the likelihood of severe injuries or even death in an accident.

While these laws may be able to prevent some types of distracted driving behavior, they are unlikely to end all cases of distracted driving. Driver distractions include overt behavior like texting while driving, but they can also include more subtle behaviors like daydreaming. These subtler forms of distracted driving can be more difficult to prove after an accident, which can reduce the likelihood of financial recovery after a truck accident. A skilled lawyer who handles distracted driving truck accidents in Rockaway Beach could help if you are struggling to recover from one of these collisions.

Types of Distracted Driving

There are three main types of distracted driving:

• Cognitive
• Manual
• Visual

Cognitive distractions include things that take a driver’s mind off the road. They may be the most difficult distractions to avoid. Just like everyone else, truckers have many things on their mind. If they start to think about them, it is easy to stop paying attention to the road. Music, books, phone calls, and other distractions can take a driver’s mind off of the road.

Manual distractions include anything that takes the trucker’s hands off the wheel. Eating and drinking while driving are two common types of manual distraction.

Visual distractions are things that take the trucker’s eyes off the road. Changing the radio station, reading, looking in the mirror, or just rummaging around the cab of the truck are all types of visual distractions. Just a few moments of distraction can cause a trucker to miss things moving into the roadway. Once they see them, they may be unable to stop, given the size and stopping distance of these large trucks.

The most common type of distracted driving is texting while driving. Mobile communication device usage is hazardous because it simultaneously involves all three types of distraction. New York prohibits this behavior, only permitting people to use their cell phones or other mobile devices in hands-free mode while they are driving.

Proving Distracted Driving

If a trucker is distracted, it is much more likely that they are responsible for an accident. Proving some types of distraction is relatively easy. For example, if a trucker was texting while driving, the electronic record on their phone will support that theory. However, if the distraction is less obvious, it can be challenging to prove.

Fortunately, police often spot signs of distraction at an accident scene. First, the trucker may make an admission while telling their version of the accident. Second, signs at the scene may point to distraction. For example, if a trucker was eating and drinking behind the wheel, a spilled meal in the cab after an accident can help support that theory.

In many cases, the lawyer will not have to prove driver distraction. Instead, they will use evidence of the driver’s erratic, reckless, or careless driving behavior to demonstrate the driver was at fault. Witness testimony or other evidence that establishes the trucker’s behavior was irresponsible can support the claim.

Talk to an Attorney About Distracted Driving Truck Accidents in Rockaway Beach

Truck wrecks are devastating. You may have substantial injuries while the trucker walks away unscathed. It can leave you feeling frustrated and like you will never get justice. Fortunately, you can hold a wrongdoer responsible for your injuries. To find out more, schedule a consultation with an attorney who handles distracted driving truck accidents in Rockaway Beach.