Maine Injury Lawyer Blog
Distracted driving continues to pose risks to transportation safety as it impairs a driver’s performance and increases the likelihood of a Maine truck driving accident. A significant amount of research focused on the rate and risks of distracted driving in passenger car vehicles, and very few studies evaluated the effect on truck drivers. However, truck drivers are more susceptible to using a handheld device or radio to coordinate deliveries and logistics because of the fundamental job responsibilities.
According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, fatalities involving cell phone usage increased nearly 24 percent between 2011 and 2015. Further, from 2014 to 2017, distracted driving fatalities had the most significant percentage increase. Most concerning is that truck crashes have continued to increase over the past decade. These accidents can lead to chain reaction events, severe injuries, and property damage.
For example, a news report from Kittery explained that a tractor-trailer hit two vehicles on the Maine Turnpike. Safety officials explained that a state trooper was in the breakdown lane with his flashing lights on behind a flatbed truck. A tractor-trailer driver veered into the lane, slammed into the trooper’s vehicle, and then drifted into travel lanes, hitting a Jeep. The Jeep became pinned against a concrete barrier. Shockingly, the family inside the Jeep and the trooper only sustained minor injuries. At the time of the accident, the tow truck driver was under the flatbed and miraculously survived without injuries. Officials charged the tractor-trailer driver with distracted driving and failure to move over.
Many types of distraction can lead to an accident; however, cell phone usage is a leading form of distracted driving. Distraction includes communicating with passengers or passersby, changing music, and eating or drinking. Some contributing factors to a driver’s decision to use a cell phone while driving include demographics such as age, marital status and education. Moreover, crash history, fatigue management, and hour management contribute to these types of accidents.
An experienced attorney can help injury victims identify all liable parties and hold them responsible for damages. In these cases, in addition to the driver, other liable parties may include the truck manufacturer, trucking company, trucking management, or another driver. Identifying all avenues to relief is critical to recovering appropriate amounts of compensation.
Have You Suffered Injuries in a Maine Truck Accident
Despite widespread knowledge of the dangers of distracted driving, this negligent conduct continues to cause harrowing amounts of accidents. The attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates can help Maine distracted driving accident victims secure compensation for their injuries and other losses. In addition to distracted driving claims, our lawyers handle premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and wrongful death claims. Our firm provides clients with individualized attention and personalized strategies to maximize their recovery. Contact our office at 800-804-2004 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney on our team.