Someone who lets themselves get distracted behind the wheel of a moving automobile is dangerous both to themselves and to other people around them. Unfortunately, this kind of irresponsible behavior is more common around the Silver State than you might think, including among people driving massive tractor-trailers.
Distracted driving truck accidents in Reno can cause life-altering injuries to people who did nothing to deserve them. When you are injured under such circumstances, you likely have grounds to file a civil suit over your injuries. If you want to give yourself the best chance of getting a positive final case result, enlist the help of our dedicated and dependable semi-truck collision lawyers at Shook & Stone.
Common Sources of Truck Driver Distraction
Both federal and state laws prohibit commercial truck drivers from texting, talking, or doing anything on a mobile communication device they are holding in their hand while driving, and they can only perform certain one-touch functions with such a device while it is mounted on their dashboard. Unfortunately, texting while driving is just one of many ways a truck driver can be distracted behind the wheel, with others including:
- Eating or drinking
- Personal grooming
- Reading a map or GPS readout
- Watching a video or reading a book
- Reaching for something inside their cab
- Talking on a CB radio or to someone else in their cab with them
Overly fatigued drivers are also more likely to get distracted while driving, as are drivers who are impaired by drugs or alcohol. Regardless of what specifically leads to a distracted driving truck crash in Reno, the fact that the trucker involved was distracted prior to the wreck is usually enough to make them legally “negligent” and, therefore, liable for resulting damages.
Are Distracted Truckers Always Entirely at Fault for Wrecks?
Even if you can prove that a truck driver involved in a wreck with you was distracted behind the wheel, that does not necessarily mean that the truck driver holds 100 percent of the civil liability for the wreck’s consequences. On the one hand, it is very often possible to name a negligent truck driver’s employer as a defendant in a civil claim against them, which may allow for much greater financial recovery than a claim filed solely against an individual trucker likely would.
On the other hand, your own “comparative negligence” behind the wheel—for instance, your distracted driving—could lead to you missing out on much-needed compensation if a court decides that you hold some of the blame for your own injuries because of it. This is just one example of the many legal roadblocks our lawyers could help you navigate during a claim based on a Reno distracted driving truck accident.
A Reno Attorney Could Help File Suit Over a Distracted Driving Truck Accident
The aftermath of a serious truck wreck can be a chaotic and traumatic time, even if you suffered only minor bumps and bruises as a result of the collision. Unfortunately, distracted driving truck accidents in Reno tend to cause much more severe injuries than that, especially when they happen at highway speeds.
Taking effective legal action after a crash of this nature can be difficult. Fortunately, you do not have to pursue your case on your own if you first get help from one of our qualified legal professionals. Call today to learn how Shook & Stone could help with your unique situation.
