Bellevue Personal Injury Attorney | Should Truckers Be Allowed to Text and Drive?

Blog Categories:

As a Seattle distracted driving accident attorney, I have seen first-hand the dangers that the use of cell phones while driving either for making calls or for texting present. With the ever-growing presence of cell phones and other hand-held electronic devices, there are more ways than ever before for drivers to distract themselves while they drive. This phenomenon is certainly not restricted to automobiles owned and driven by private individuals. Distracted driving and accidents caused by cell phone use is also a problem for commercial vehicles of all kinds. The Associated Press is reporting that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending a complete ban on the use of cell phones by commercial vehicle drivers.

This article reports that while many trucking companies have policies against cell phone use while driving, there may be not be tremendous support within the industry for this ban. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sponsored a study on driver distraction among commercial drivers through the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. The study reveals some startling facts about driver distraction. As the researchers calculated odds ratios of drivers creating dangerous situations, they found that a driver is over 23 times as likely to drive unsafely while texting, and nearly 6 times as likely to drive unsafely while dialing a cell phone. Additionally, they report that drivers are nearly 7 times as likely to drive unsafely while operating some other hand-held electronic device. All of this research and theory seems to equal what I see in practice, that distracted driving by commercial vehicle drivers is extremely dangerous, and result s in many serious injuries every year, including right here in Bellevue.

Commercial trucking companies have attorneys who know how to protect their employees in the event of a collision, so if you or a member of your family have been injured in a Seattle auto accident with a distracted commercial vehicle driver, you need a Bellevue commercial vehicle accident attorney to fight for your rights. Jason Epstein has the experience you need working for the victims of distracted driving commercial vehicle accidents. He will work to make sure that the trucking company does not take advantage of you. For more information, and a FREE CONSULTATION, contact Jason at Premier Law Group at (206)285-1743.