Long Beach Distracted Truck Driver Accident Lawyers

Aggressive Representation for Long Beach Accident Victims Injured by Distracted Truckers

Driving while using a cell phone has become the norm for Californians, despite laws against it. Even looking away from the road for a second to read a text can result in a serious, and often fatal, car accident. But these risks increase drastically when the driver is behind the wheel of a powerful and heavy semi-truck. Truck drivers should always drive with clear minds and both hands on the wheel; otherwise, they can cause massive pileups and unimaginable devastation.

If you or someone you love was injured due to a distracted truck driver, then you are well within your rights to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver and should not hesitate to contact a lawyer. At The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV, our California distracted truck driver accident lawyer has more than 20 years of experience representing accident victims and their families and can provide you with the same rigorous legal guidance. Do not let a negligent driver get away with injuring you. Call our Long Beach office at (562) 901-0840 or toll-free at (888) 454-5569 and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

How Common Is Distracted Driving?

In a single recent year, over 400,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In those accidents, over 2,800 people died, all due to some form of distracted driving. Sadly, the National Safety Council (NSC) also notes that these accidents go underreported and that distracted driving is not typically acknowledged in police reports, limiting the amount of data we have. But what we do have shows that an alarming number of people are not only using cell phones illegally while driving, but also causing catastrophic and deadly accidents.

While anyone can be involved in a distracted driving accident, truck drivers are especially prone to it due to working long hours and driving for hundreds of miles at a time. This can cause them to grow bored, restless, and easily distracted. Smartphones have only exasperated the issue with social media apps, streaming platforms, and other applications. However, there is no excuse for this behavior, as even looking away from the road for a few blinks of an eye can lead to disastrous results.

In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has noted that a “lack of recognition,” or distracted driving, contributed to 29% of trucking accidents in a single year. In response to the growing dangers of distracted driving, the FMCSA has outright banned all cell phone use among truck drivers unless they use a hands-free device or speakerphone. These regulations cross all state lines and can lead to serious punishments for a trucker caught using a phone while driving, including potentially losing their certification.

In addition, in the state of California, it is illegal for any driver to use a cell phone without using voice-activated software or hands-free technology. Unfortunately, these regulations have still not completely stopped the issue, and further research has shown that hands-free devices still cause some forms of distraction. As a result, many truckers still cause dangerous distracted driving accidents.

Why Distracted Driving Is Deadly

Distracted driving can include other actions beyond texting or making a call, including eating food, arguing with passengers, or fiddling with a radio. The American Automobile Association (AAA) defines distracted driving as:

• Taking your eyes off the road – Looking at billboards, passengers, cell phones, nearby crash scenes, and staring into a mirror.
• Taking your hands off the wheel – Reaching for a cell phone, eating food, drinking, messing with a radio, grooming, or interacting with passengers or pets.
• Driving with your mind off the road – Any of the above actions, as well as daydreaming, talking on the phone, using voice-activated software, and speaking to passengers.

At the end of the day, any action that pulls a driver’s attention away from the road can result in a serious collision.

While many drivers assume that they can multitask, the truth is that our brains can only focus on one task at a time. Looking away from the road can cause a truck driver to miss a red light, cause a serious intersection accident, or strike a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In addition, truckers might not notice other dangerous road conditions, such as a tight curve in the road, debris, or heavy traffic in front of them that they should slow down for. As seen in the above statistics from the NHTSA, these accidents are often fatal.

Proving Negligence After a Truck Accident

Distracted driving is a clear act of negligence and, if you were injured by a distracted truck driver, then you may be eligible to pursue an auto accident claim against them. In order to do that, you will have to review the accident report, collect evidence of wrongdoing, interview witnesses, calculate the amount of compensation you wish to pursue, and argue your case before an insurance adjuster or jury. Doing so on your own, especially if you are dealing with catastrophic injuries or the death of a loved one, can be next to impossible.

However, if you work with our lead trial attorney at The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV, you can trust that we will utilize all of our resources, skill, and knowledge to relentlessly investigate your case and defend your right to compensation. There are ways we can help prove that a truck driver was distracted and caused your injuries, including:

• An investigation by an accident reconstructionist who can determine if the truck driver lost control of the vehicle or was distracted at the time of the collision
• A review of the police report, which may show that the driver was cited for using a cell phone
• A trucker’s driving records that show previous violations
• Cell phone records that show the driver made a call, was texting, or using an app during the accident
• Black box data that reveals the driver lost control of the vehicle
• Witness statements that confirm that the driver was on the phone before or during the accident

In addition to collecting all available evidence of negligence, The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV can also fight back if the truck driver’s insurance company tries to deny liability. They will often launch their own investigation into the accident and try to secure important evidence before victims have a chance to see it. But if you work with us, we can act quickly to acquire all records of the accident.

Speak To a Long Beach Truck Accident Attorney Today

Distracted driving should never be ignored. It can, and has, caused serious and deadly accidents all across California and the United States. That is why the legal team at The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV is dedicated to representing accident victims who were injured by distracted truck drivers. If you work with us, our lead Long Beach truck accident attorney can provide thorough legal guidance throughout the claims process and pursue all forms of compensation from the at-fault driver. We are fully committed to representing our clients in insurance negotiations and are not afraid to take your case to trial. To schedule a free consultation with The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV, call our office at (562) 901-0840 or toll-free at (888) 454-5569.