Distracted driving and commercial motor vehicle accidents

Whether you operate a commercial motor vehicle on a daily basis or you worry about the likelihood of a large truck or bus colliding with you, it is very important to understand the dangers associated with distracted driving. Every year, distracted drivers cause fatal crashes and accidents that leave victims with life-altering injuries.

Many distracted driving crash victims have to take time off work and cannot take care of daily responsibilities due to their pain and inability to drive. Drivers should go over statistics on distracted driving and review risk factors in order to remember how vital it is to focus when behind the wheel.

Data on distracted driving and commercial vehicle accidents

According to a three-year survey carried out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 11,000 truck accidents across the U.S. involved distractions outside of trucks’ cabs, based on estimates. For example, commercial motor vehicle drivers can become distracted by billboards and other distractions on and near the road. Moreover, a study found that dialing on a handheld phone made the chances of an accident three times more likely.

Other distractions that affect commercial vehicle drivers

Aside from using handheld devices and diverting one’s focus from the road due to external factors, many commercial vehicle drivers become distracted as a result of eating, writing and using a map. Anything that takes a driver’s eyes or mental focus off of the road, or causes them to take their hands off of the wheel, can lead to a traffic crash.

If you sustained injuries in a distracted driving accident, you need to swiftly look into your options.