Whenever anyone gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, they owe a duty of care to everyone else on the road to pay full attention to driving. When the driver is operating a large 18-wheeler, that duty of care is even more important due to the risks these massive commercial vehicles pose. Unfortunately, some drivers ignore this responsibility, causing texting and driving truck accidents in Chicago that result in debilitating harm.
If you were injured in a wreck and suspect that the at-fault truck driver was on their cellphone, an experienced truck crash attorney from Kaveny Sarmas Injury Lawyers can provide you with the knowledgeable and compassionate guidance you need. Our seasoned legal team can help you figure out your next steps.
Dangers of Texting for a Truck Driver
Texting is one of the most dangerous distractions for any driver because it simultaneously takes their hands, eyes, and mind away from their driving duties.
Hands
A truck is harder to handle than a passenger vehicle. Truck drivers often need both hands to safely operate their vehicles. For instance, when a truck driver needs to execute a particularly sharp turn, they need to use both hands. If they take one hand off the steering wheel to scroll through a text or even two hands off the wheel to type out a reply, they are at risk of losing control of their vehicle.
Eyes
Truck drivers need to continuously look ahead and in their mirrors to know what is around them. In the time it takes to read a text message, traffic patterns could change, and the car in front of the truck could come to a complete stop, causing the truck to rear-end it. Alternatively, while a trucker is scrolling through their phone, the road could curve, causing the truck to veer out of its lane.
Mind
Driving a truck requires intense concentration. When a truck driver’s focus is on their phone, they are no longer alert enough to drive safely.
Our skilled Chicago attorneys at Kaveny Sarmas can help you fight back if you suspect the truck driver who caused your crash was texting.
How Do You Prove Liability in a Texting Truck Crash Case?
To be successful in a Chicago legal claim against a texting truck driver and their employer, you must establish that the trucker’s negligent actions caused the crash that harmed you. However, proving that a truck driver was using their cellphone is not always straightforward.
Usually, a trucker is aware of the possible complications of texting while driving. They know that they could face monetary fines and lose their license and job. Consequently, they are not likely to admit that they were using their phone at the time of the crash. If the truck driver received a police citation for texting, we can use that as evidence of their negligence. Even without a police citation, the seasoned legal team from Kaveny Sarmas can help you search for proof of liability.
Although we are a small firm, we have the necessary skills and resources to perform an in-depth investigation of your accident. We can request the trucking company’s records to learn its policy for cellphone usage while driving. Surprisingly, some trucking companies communicate regularly by text with their drivers during their delivery routes. We can also help you legally obtain copies of the driver’s personal phone records and the trucking company’s phone records.
Injured in an Accident Caused by a Texting Truck Driver in Chicago? Contact Us
The attorneys at Kaveny Sarmas understand how devastating texting and driving truck accidents in Chicago can be.
If you were injured in a crash with a texting truck driver, call our legal team to discuss your options today. We have a history of proven results and want to help.
