If a semi driver is texting while driving, get out of his way. This is an accident looking for a place to happen.
Many people don’t realize that over 100,000 people end up being seriously hurt every year thanks to being in an accident with a big rig. It’s a no-brainer to think about the total destruction that results when something that size hits something a great deal smaller.
Often the other vehicle’s occupants die in the carnage.
“While size alone may make them the “Kings” of the highway, this doesn’t mean they are exempt from following the rules of the road, just like the rest of us. In fact, you’d think it would make them ‘more’ aware of what they were doing ‘because’ of their size and deadly potential,” noted Michael G. Smith, an Arkansas injury and Arkansas accident lawyer, practicing personal injury law and veteran’s benefits in Arkansas.
“Here is an interesting fact for you. Commercial trucks account for approximately 3% of all motor vehicle registrations. Doesn’t sound like much does it? Unfortunately though, they are responsible for roughly 12% of all yearly traffic fatalities,” observed Smith. The government does seem to be working toward making highway travel safer by putting stricter rules and regulations into effect that target truckers; specifically to get them to take precautions to avoid fatigue and distracted driving.
The statistics for big rigs crashes show that distracted driving tops the list of fatal driving errors. That list includes three kinds of distracted driving: taking their eyes off the road, taking their hands off the wheel, and disengaging their minds. This likely won’t surprise you in this day and age of texting, but truck drivers causing accidents while texting is negligent and deadly, and the very worst combination of the top three distractions,” Smith outlined.
“Maybe you haven’t heard about the case where a trucker killed a mom and her young child because he was watching a porn movie on his laptop while driving. Of course this is the high end of recklessness, not to mention stupidity, but it points out that some really strange things can and do happen,” added Smith.
Some other research just done recently by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revealed that truckers who text do so while taking their eyes off the road for 5 out of every 6 seconds. “If they are traveling at 55 mph, the trucker actually travels the full length of a football field without looking at the road. Pretty scary stuff, isn’t it?” asked Smith. On top of that frightening revelation, big rig truckers are up to 20 times more likely to get into an accident while texting on their cell.
The good news here is the DOT has now banned texting for truckers. If they follow the rules, this should help reduce accidents as a result of texting. If they don’t follow the rules, and let’s face it, some people won’t, there will still be death by texting while driving a big rig. “Yes, there is a fine if they’re caught texting. Lawyers can now also go for punitive damages to make a point that texting while driving is deadly,” said Michael G. Smith, an Arkansas injury and Arkansas accident lawyer, practicing personal injury law and veteran’s benefits in Arkansas.
Learn more by visiting http://www.Arkansaslawhelp.com
