octubre 24, 2019
There are strict rules concerning texting while driving that Illinois truck drivers must follow. The rules are designed to help keep the driving public safe as they share the roadways with large trucks and truck drivers and trucking companies who violate the rules may be liable to compensate victims for the harm and damages they have suffered.
According to federal rules, truck drivers are not permitted to text while driving their use of hand-held cell phone devices while driving is also limited. They cannot access their phone other than to press a single button to initiate or terminate a phone call. The rules include a definition of texting while driving, which is generally thought to be the most serious form of distracted driving because it combines all three types of distracted driving including physical, visual and cognitive distraction.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has commissioned research that reveals that the odds of being involved in a safety-critical event, including a crash or other dangerous situation, is 23.2 times greater for drivers of commercial motor vehicles who text than for those who do not. Drivers who were texting while driving took their eyes off the roadway for an average of 4.6 second, which, while travelling at 55 miles per hour, is like travelling the length of a football field without looking at the road.
Truck accidents can cause extreme harm to victims, which is why they should be familiar with the personal injury legal protections that can help them with the physical, financial and emotional damages. Though truck drivers should bear in mind the dangers of texting while driving, injured victims should also be familiar with the legal protections available to them when injured by a negligent truck driver.
