St. Louis Distracted Trucker Accident Lawyer

St. Louis Distracted Trucker Accident Attorney

While you might do everything you can to be a safe driver to protect yourself and others, you also have to depend on other drivers to do the same. Unfortunately, preventable accidents caused by negligence, like distracted driving, occur every day. Some drivers can also cause more serious damage if they cause an accident than others, such as truck drivers. Truck accidents can cause life-threatening injuries to those involved, and victims of these accidents will require a lot of assistance to recover.

A truck accident can lead to serious damages for victims, like financial challenges from expensive medical and lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by the traumatic event and injuries. A distracted trucker accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO, from The Cagle Law Firm can help truck accident victims get the help they need to receive compensation.

Commercial drivers are held to a higher standard of safety simply due to the size of their vehicles. Commercial drivers are forbidden by rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to engage in texting and driving. Drivers can be penalized through fines up to $2,750 and up to $11,000 for employers who allow or require drivers to use a hand-held device for texting while driving. Multiple infractions for texting and driving can lead to disqualification of that driver.

Causes of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving makes up many of the motor vehicle accidents that occur every year. All drivers are susceptible to distractions, including truck drivers. Distractions can lead to a serious truck accident in seconds. Due to commercial trucks’ size, these accidents are often much more severe than accidents involving other vehicles. Because of this, truck drivers have specific rules they need to follow to ensure safe driving. Since truck drivers have to follow certain rules, you need a lawyer who understands the differences between a truck driver and a passenger car driver.

There are many reasons a trucker can become distracted. Whatever caused your distracted trucker accident, The Cagle Law Firm can provide you with a personal injury lawyer experienced in these cases.

Here are a few common causes of distracted driving that can lead to distracted trucker accidents.

Manual Distractions

Manual distractions include some distractions that many of us might think of first when we think of distracted driving. These are any distractions that require drivers to take their hands off the wheel, such as texting, which is banned for truck drivers while they’re driving. Hand-held devices are prohibited while truck drivers are driving due to the distraction they cause. Not only do manual distractions cause a driver to take their hands off the wheel, but they also often cause the driver to take their eyes off the road.

Visual Distractions

Safe driving requires a driver’s eyes to be on the road at all times. A visual distraction can be as simple as quickly looking at directions but includes anything that gets a driver’s eyes off the road. Truck drivers have specific rules to follow to prevent visual distractions caused by things like GPS systems and other technology inside the cab. Visual driving distractions make it difficult for truck drivers to react to road conditions, causing events like failure to stop accidents.

Cognitive Distractions

A driver might have both hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, but that doesn’t mean they’re paying attention to their surroundings. Truck drivers are on the road for hours at a time, which could start to cause the mind to wander, especially without enough breaks. Fatigue can make it much easier to get distracted, which is why it’s so important for truck drivers to have required breaks to keep them well-rested.

Get Help From a Distracted Trucker Accident Lawyer in St. Louis, MO

Distracted trucker accidents are entirely preventable, and truck drivers have a duty to stay attentive and keep everyone on the road safe. Many accident victims don’t get the compensation they truly deserve, especially when they’re up against a trucking company. While any accident has challenges, having a trucking company involved often makes it much harder, which is why getting the right help is so important. At The Cagle Law Firm, we have experience working with victims in this situation and have the skills it takes to help them win adequate compensation for their damages.

We know you might have many questions and concerns after a serious accident, which is why we offer a free consultation. Contact us today toll-free at (1-800) 685-3302 or locally at (314) 276-1681 to speak to a distracted trucker accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO.