This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by JR Krebs following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. JR Krebs, the Founding Partner, has years of legal experience as a bankruptcy attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
About 4,000 people die yearly in truck accidents across the U.S. Distracted driving among commercial truck drivers causes about 25% of these crashes. When truck drivers take their eyes off the road, everyone on the highway is at risk.
Distracted driving happens when truck drivers focus on anything besides driving. The trucking industry faces challenges such as long hours and tight deadlines. Commercial drivers handle 80,000-pound commercial motor vehicles, where a few seconds of distraction can be deadly. Commercial vehicles have unique safety and regulatory considerations, including significant blind spots and strict federal laws that govern their operation.
At Krebs Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we help victims of distracted truck driver accidents in Tuscaloosa. Our team knows how to hold distracted truckers and trucking companies responsible when they cause harm on Alabama roads.
A fully loaded truck at highway speeds needs about 525 feet to stop—almost twice the distance of cars. When a truck driver looks at a cell phone or gets distracted, this stopping distance gets even longer. Losing the driver's focus due to distractions significantly increases both stopping distance and the risk of accidents. This is why distracted truck drivers are so dangerous on the road.
Truck accidents often involve multiple vehicles. When a distracted driver crashes, it can cause pile-ups and highway closures. People in smaller vehicles usually suffer the worst injuries. What starts as a driver checking a text can end with serious injuries for others sharing the road.
Cell phone use is the top distraction for truck drivers. Despite rules against it, many truck drivers are caught driving while texting, making calls, or using social media. Using mobile devices combines all types of distractions at once, making it a very risky behavior behind the wheel.
Physical or manual distractions happen when truck drivers eat, drink, or reach for items while driving. The truck cab becomes a moving office and dining room. When drivers take their hands off the steering wheel to grab food or fix their seated driving position, they can’t react quickly to traffic changes.
Cognitive distractions affect truck drivers after hours on the road. Worrying about deadlines or personal problems can distract a driver’s attention from driving. A driver might be looking at the road but thinking about something else. This mental distraction slows reaction time just as much as texting while driving. Any lapse in attention can lead to a safety-critical event, such as a crash or near-miss, especially when a driver's mind is not on the road.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) creates rules to prevent distracted driving. These FMCSA distracted driving rules aim to make roads safer by limiting the actions that commercial truck drivers can take while driving. The FMCSA enforces strict rules to ensure compliance and safety. FMCSA regulations require drivers and their employers to comply with distracted driving laws.
FMCSA regulations ban texting while driving and specifically target the use of handheld cell phones for all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers, as these devices are particularly dangerous and significantly increase the risk of accidents. There is an exception for contacting law enforcement—FMCSA regulations allow drivers to use mobile devices only when contacting law enforcement or emergency services.
Penalties include hefty civil fines of up to $2,750 for drivers and $11,000 for the driver's employer. These penalties are based on existing FMCSA guidelines. Two serious traffic violations within a three-year period can result in a driver's disqualification from commercial driving for 60 days. Repeat offenses can lead to increased fines and longer disqualification periods. The safety measurement system tracks these issues, affecting both the driver and company ratings. The driver’s employer may be fined or penalized if they knowingly permit or require drivers to violate distracted driving laws.
Truck driver distraction comes in three forms: visual distractions (eyes off the road), manual distractions (hands off the wheel), and cognitive distractions (mind off driving). Texting combines all three, making it extremely dangerous.
Even a few seconds of distraction at highway speeds can be fatal. A texting driver takes their eyes off the road for about 5 seconds. At 65 mph, that’s like driving the length of a football field blindfolded. This momentary lapse often happens right before a traffic delay or obstacle. Wearing a seat belt is crucial, as it significantly reduces the risk of injury in the event of a crash caused by distraction.
Distracted truckers often cause rear-end crashes when they miss slowing traffic. They drift from lanes when not paying attention and miss traffic lights or stop signs at intersections. In each case, the truck essentially becomes driverless during critical moments on the road.
Smartphones pose the biggest risk for truck drivers today. Despite federal law against it, many truckers use hand-held mobile phones to text, call, or browse social media. All types of mobile devices, not just smartphones, can contribute to distracted driving risks. Mobile device use while driving is particularly dangerous and is strictly regulated by FMCSA rules to prevent accidents and ensure safety. When drivers focus on screens instead of the road, they put everyone at risk.
GPS and navigation systems distract drivers who try to program them while moving. The trucking industry increasingly uses combined GPS systems with dispatch functions. When drivers look away to check directions, they miss changes in traffic and cause accidents.
Many trucking companies now utilize fleet management systems, which include in-cab technologies. The term electronic device refers to any device used for communication or navigation, such as mobile phones, dispatching devices, and electronic logs. Dispatching devices, in particular, are regulated by the FMCSA to ensure that communication and navigation can occur without compromising safety.
There is a regulatory distinction between a company's fleet management system, which is permitted for operational purposes under FMCSA rules, and personal devices, which are subject to stricter limitations. While helpful for business, these electronic devices can pull attention from driving if not designed with safety in mind. The FMCSA addresses dispatching devices in its rules to strike a balance between communication needs and safety, and encourages the use of hands-free device options to minimize distraction.
Truck drivers create manual distractions when they eat, drink, or adjust controls while driving. These actions occur when their hands are off the steering wheel at critical moments. Even reaching for a water bottle or changing the radio station can make a driver miss important changes in traffic flow.
Outside distractions also pull eyes off the road. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that looking at billboards, accident scenes, or construction zones takes a driver's eyes off the road for crucial seconds. During this time, a traffic light can change, or traffic can stop, causing accidents when the driver's attention returns too late.
FMCSA research shows that distracted driving contributes to 71% of commercial truck crashes. Safety-critical events increased by 23.2 times when drivers text while driving. This makes texting one of the most dangerous driving behaviors.
In Alabama, distracted driving incidents involving trucks increased by 18% in five years. These crashes happen most often on major highways near cities. Tuscaloosa experiences numerous such accidents due to its location at the intersection of several major truck routes.
These crashes cost billions yearly. A serious injury truck accident averages $200,000 in damages. Fatal crashes often exceed $4.5 million. These numbers encompass medical costs, property damage, and lost work time that impact entire communities.
To win a distracted driving case, we must prove the truck driver wasn't paying attention. This means showing the driver broke safety rules and that this directly caused your injuries. We often need to link phone use or other distractions to the exact time of the crash.
Evidence comes from several sources:
Time matters in these cases. Phone records can be deleted, witnesses forget details, and trucking companies might lose evidence if they are not legally required to keep it. We act fast to send legal notices that protect this crucial evidence.
Trucking companies share the blame for their drivers' actions. If a driver causes an accident while distracted on the job, the company is usually also responsible. This legal principle makes them accountable to the victims of these crashes.
Companies must address distracted driving through clear driving rules. Failing to create or enforce phone use policies strengthens the case against them. Some companies still encourage drivers to use hands-free phones for updates while driving, creating a dangerous conflict between safety and job demands.
Hiring practices matter, too. Companies that hire drivers with poor safety records assume the responsibility of putting risky drivers on the road. When they fail to monitor driving behavior or neglect to enforce common-sense safety procedures, they share responsibility for resulting accidents.
Distracted truck drivers face serious penalties. In Alabama, using a phone while driving a commercial vehicle brings fines starting at $500. Repeated offenses can lead to license suspension. If distraction causes a fatal accident, drivers may face criminal charges with jail time of 1-10 years.
Beyond criminal penalties, distracted drivers face civil lawsuits. These can result in substantial lawsuits, with personal financial consequences that may last for years. While insurance covers some damages, serious cases often exceed policy limits. This leaves drivers personally responsible for the difference, often resulting in the end of their trucking careers.
If you're in a truck accident, follow these safety tips:
Get medical help immediately, even if you feel okay. Many truck accident injuries show up days later. Then, call an experienced attorney before talking to insurance companies or trucking company lawyers. Quick legal action helps save evidence that might otherwise be lost.
At Krebs Law, we start investigating as soon as you contact us. We visit accident scenes, talk to witnesses while memories are fresh, and document conditions that might have contributed to the crash alongside the driver's distracted behavior.
We use proven methods to find distraction evidence:
We work with experts who can tell if braking patterns match those of a distracted driver. We also consult specialists who explain how specific distractions affect drivers' focus and response times. This approach helps us connect the driver's behavior directly to your injuries.
If a distracted truck driver hurts you, you can seek payment for:
Proving the driver was distracted strengthens your case. Clear evidence of phone use right before a crash often leads to better settlement offers. In severe cases, courts may award extra damages to punish the driver and company for dangerous behavior.
Working with experienced lawyers makes a big difference in what you receive. Insurance companies typically offer unrepresented victims about $20,000, but pay much more when facing attorneys who know trucking laws. We ensure that all your damages are properly calculated, including future needs that others might overlook.
We fight for victims of distracted truck drivers throughout Alabama. Our team helps people minimize distractions and combat distracted driving through education and legal action.
Krebs Law has won millions for truck accident victims. We are familiar with both Alabama state laws and FMCSA rules regarding hands-free devices and hands-free dispatching devices. We understand when drivers can use phones (only when safely pulled over) and when drivers are legally required to stop.
In your free consultation, we'll review your accident details, explain your options, and outline our plan to hold distracted drivers accountable. You pay nothing unless we win your case. Call us today to schedule your free case review. When a distracted trucker has changed your life, we help you get the justice and payment you deserve.
J.R. is dedicated to providing personalized representation, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. He tailors his strategy to the unique challenges and needs of each client and case, ensuring focused and individualized attention.
His practice mainly covers Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, including car and 18-wheeler accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, defective products, and wrongful death. He also handles commercial disputes on contingency, with experience in contracts, construction, and probate. For any dispute headed toward litigation, J.R. develops an aggressive strategy to maximize your recovery through negotiation, arbitration, or trial.
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