The driver of a small pickup was killed in a crash in Murfreesboro in March when a dump truck crashed into it on Memorial Boulevard. Three vehicles were stopped in a line at an intersection when a dump truck struck the last vehicle in the line causing the third vehicle in the line to hit the second one, the second vehicle struck the first one, which then slightly hit a car in another lane. Two other drivers suffered minor injuries. The driver of the dump truck was not injured according to WKRN TV in Nashville.
In an accident such as this one, where a large, dump truck was driving on a city road; not on a highway at high speeds. The cars struck by the truck were stopped at an intersection. Without knowing any more facts about the accident which just happened recently, one can only speculate that something took the truck driver’s attention away long enough for him to crash into and almost completely run over the top of a car stopped on the road in front of him.
What are common distractions for truck drivers?
Truck drivers owe a duty to themselves and the other drivers on the road to operate their vehicles safely, avoid distraction and follow the rules of the road. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has a campaign called “Defeating Distracted Driving.” According to the NHTSA, an estimated 3,328 people were killed and 421,000 were injured in distraction-related crashes in 2012.
The most common distraction for drivers is cell phone use and texting behind the wheel. Because texting takes the driver’s hand, his eyes and divides his or her mental attention between composing and sending a text and watching the road before them, it becomes a tremendous hazard. Trying to navigate a busy road with drivers of passenger vehicles can be difficult even with 100% of their attention on the task of driving.
Federal law bans texting for truck drivers
The fine for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving a commercial vehicle include:
- Up to $2,750 fine for drivers and up to $11,000 for employers
- Driver disqualification after multiple violations
Everyone who gets behind the wheel should keep their eyes and all of their attention on the task of driving or there may be catastrophic consequences. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident caused by a distracted driver, talk to a Knoxville truck accident attorney who will answer your questions and fight for fair compensation for your injuries.
If you would like to speak to an attorney after a car crash, contact Banks and Jones to schedule a consultation today.
T. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE courses on trial strategy, teaching other lawyers his methods for success in the courtroom, and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator in the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and both the Tennessee and American Associations for Justice.
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