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Distracted driving is extremely dangerous, particularly when an 80-000-lb tractor-trailer is involved. If you have been injured in a truck crash and you feel that distracted driving was to blame, there are things you and an experienced attorney can do to strengthen your case.
Evidence in a Distracted Driving Claim
There are many potential distractions while driving, including:
- Using a smartphone
- Eating or drinking
- Performing personal grooming
- Talking to passengers
- Playing loud music
While it’s dangerous for any motorist to engage in distracting behaviors while driving, this is particularly true for truckers. Truckers who drive while distracted are essentially at the wheel of an unguided missile barrelling down the highway.
If you are involved in a truck crash, and you suspect distracted driving is to blame, there are some steps you can take after the incident, if you are able. First, take any photos that you think could help your case, including property damage, injuries, and any tire skid marks on the road that could indicate the path of the truck right before the crash. Second, see if the trucker is holding a phone when they exit the vehicle or if there is anything in the driver bay that could indicate the trucker was recently distracted, such as an electronic device, food wrappers, and the like. Third, contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you gather additional evidence to strengthen your claim.
A qualified attorney will be able to gather evidence that you may not be able to collect on your own, such as the trucker’s phone records, either from a device itself or from the trucker’s phone company, data from the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) installed in many modern trucks, witness testimonies, footage from cameras in the driver bay or nearby traffic lights, and more.
Such cases are complicated and require the careful gathering and presentation of evidence. Our North Carolina personal injury attorneys have helped countless auto accident victims recover the compensation they deserve, and we may be able to help you, too. Call Lanier Law Group, P.A. at (855) 757-4204 to schedule a free consultation.