Distracted Driving Truck Accidents in Bedford
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of truck accidents. Truck drivers have a legal obligation to operate their vehicles safely. That said, commercial truckers are on the road for many hours a day, and despite taking precautions, they often become tired or distracted at the wheel. When a negligent trucker causes an accident and hurts someone else, they are legally responsible for their injuries.
When you suffer injuries in a distracted driving truck accident in Bedford, you could have a cause of action against the driver for negligence. Discuss filing a claim for financial compensation with one of our hardworking and experienced truck crash attorneys.
Types of Distracted Driving for Truck Accidents
Even when tractor-trailer operators drive carefully, they can become tired, hungry, or distracted by their phones behind the wheel. Moreover, commercial truckers work long shifts to meet their deadlines, causing extreme fatigue. The most common examples of distracted driving include:
- Texting or using a cell phone
- Drinking or eating
- Using a navigation system
- Adjusting the radio
- Driver fatigue
Distracted driving happens when a trucker takes their eyes off the road, even for a short time. When a truck driver in Bedford causes an accident due to a distraction, they are breaching their duty of care to other drivers on the road. Accidents with commercial semi-trucks can cause significant injuries due to their size and weight. Anyone hurt in a wreck with a large truck should hold the negligent operator liable.
Who is Liable for a Distracted Driving Truck Wreck?
Complex liability issues often arise in semi-truck collision claims in Bedford, especially in cases where distracted driving causes the crash. For example, who bears legal responsibility when a trucker causes an accident while texting at the wheel but was working when the accident occurred? Depending on the circumstances, the trucker or their employer could be legally responsible for the injured person’s harm.
Trucking companies are liable for their drivers’ negligence under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. The employer bears legal responsibility for the accident caused by an employee acting within the scoop of their employment.
Texas Law on Distracted Driving for Commercial Truckers
The amount of financial compensation a personal injury plaintiff in Texas can recover depends on their degree of fault. This approach, known as modified comparative fault, means that when the injured person is more than fifty percent at fault for the accident, they cannot recover compensation for their injuries.
Deadlines exist for filing a lawsuit for personal injuries. In Texas, the statute of limitations is two years from the date the injury occurred. Under some circumstances, this deadline is shorter. Failure to meet this deadline could prevent the injured person from being able to recover compensation. When considering filing a lawsuit after a big rig accident caused by a distracted operator, discussing legal deadlines with a trusted personal injury attorney is beneficial.
Contact a Distracted Driving Truck Accidents Lawyer in Bedford
When you suffer injuries in a truck accident, you may be entitled to financial damages for your injuries if you can demonstrate that the tractor-trailer operator was at fault. When a truck driver is distracted at the wheel and causes your injuries, the trucker and their employer could be legally responsible for your injuries. Call our attorneys today to discuss your case.