Distracted driving is a leading cause of traffic fatalities in Florida

Distracted driving continues to be one of the leading causes of wrecks in the United States. Statistics show there are upwards of 400,000 injury accidents a year involving drivers taking their eyes off the road. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in 2018 due to a driver not paying attention.

When a distracted trucker is behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound vehicle, the consequences can often be catastrophic. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the odds of being involved in a crash, near-crash or unintentional lane deviation are more than 23 times greater for truck drivers who are texting than those who are not.

Truck drivers still drive distracted despite the laws

There are laws prohibiting truck drivers from texting while operating their vehicles. Sanctions including civil penalties and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle can be imposed if drivers fail to comply. Yet, we continue to see cases every day that prove the drivers are often ignoring these laws. Such was the case for a trucker who inexplicably crossed the median and killed a man.

Just this week in Palatka, police say the driver of a semi veered off the road on U.S. 17 and hit a car that was parked on the shoulder of the road. A woman who was seated in the car was killed. The truck driver was not injured.

Pajcic & Pajcic has had numerous cases in Putnam County, including the largest verdict ever at the time. Our client was on a motorcycle and was hit by a logging truck that did not stop. A Good Samaritan saved our client’s life. Our team went to work to identify potential trucks until they found the exact vehicle involved and secured a scraping off a tire rim to prove it. The defendants continued to deny responsibility, but a Putnam County jury returned a seven-figure verdict.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a crash caused by a distracted driver, contact our law firm and schedule your free case evaluation.