Trucking continues to be the most common method for moving goods in the United States. Aurora is a supply chain hub with many distribution centers. State and interstate routes crossing the city are full of commercial trucks coming and going.
With a surplus of semi-trucks on the highways, there is a higher likelihood for collisions to occur. Truckers can easily become distracted on the road, whether it be due to exhaustion or trying to multi-task. Our tenacious semi-truck attorneys could help you recover for your injuries and damages from a distracted driving truck accident in Aurora.
Laws on Distracted Truck Driving
Federal law prohibits truckers from driving inattentively. Specifically, commercial vehicle drivers cannot text, Google directions, or answer emails.
Additionally, truckers operating vehicles containing hazardous materials cannot use a handheld phone while driving. They are only allowed to use a hands-free mobile phone to make calls. Penalties for violating these laws include fines and possible driving disqualification.
An Aurora lawyer who works on distracted semi-truck crash cases could provide you with all the necessary information concerning trucking laws and how they apply to your case.
Causes of Distracted Truck Driving
There are numerous ways that truckers can become distracted besides their cell phones. Other causes of trucker distraction include:
- Using a dispatch radio
- Eating
- Scrolling on social media
- Looking at documents
Truckers drive long hours under tight schedules and may resort to drugs, entertainment, or talking to others to stay awake. However, even looking down for a few seconds can cause a truck to leave its lane and collide with another vehicle.
Hazards of Distracted Truckers
Given the size and power of a commercial truck, a driver has much less time and space to maneuver the vehicle. Stopping distance is much longer, and there are many more blind spots where the trucker cannot see other drivers. When a truck is involved in a crash, the risks of catastrophic injuries to other motorists are much higher.
Recovering Damages in a Distracted Trucker Accident
Illinois courts follow a “modified comparative” negligence model, which means that if a plaintiff files a lawsuit, he or she can recover compensation from a defendant or defendants if the plaintiff is less than 50% at fault for the incident that caused the damages.
In distracted driving truck wrecks in Aurora, the plaintiff can recover damages if the trucker is more than 50% at fault for the accident. A professional personal injury lawyer could collect vital evidence from your incident to help you obtain rightful compensation for your injuries.
Enlist in the Help of a Reliable Attorney After an Aurora Distracted Driving Truck Accident
The aftermath of a truck collision with a passenger vehicle can be catastrophic. If you have been injured in a wreck caused by a distracted truck driver, the knowledgeable lawyers with the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. could assist in filing a timely suit and collect all necessary evidence to achieve a favorable case outcome.
Call a dedicated personal injury attorney today for a free consultation. Our team could determine if you are entitled to compensation and which types of damages you qualify for.