Our Top-Rated Florida Accident Attorneys Explain Your Rights After a Crash With a Distracted Trucker
If you’re injured in an accident with a distracted truck driver, you may suffer serious, life-changing injuries and even death. According to the Florida State Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), one in seven crashes is due to a distracted driver, and in 2023, nearly 300 people died due to car accidents that involved distracted driving. Distracted driving is a form of negligence, and any driver not paying attention to the road risks the lives and well-being of other drivers. 
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Spetsas Buist understand the catastrophic consequences of being in an accident with a truck. We’ve represented hundreds of clients who’ve been injured because a truck driver wasn’t paying attention while driving. If you’ve suffered injuries or have lost a loved one as a result of a truck accident, our accident attorneys at Spetsas Buist can help you investigate whether distracted driving was the cause and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Understanding Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is any operation of a motor vehicle during which the driver allows their attention to be diverted from the road. Common causes of distracted driving include:
- Using your cellphone
- Applying cosmetics or brushing your hair
- Eating or drinking
- Talking to passengers in your vehicle
- Allowing your eyes and mind to focus on something other than driving
- Using the navigation system or fiddling with the stereo
Many people don’t realize that distracted driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that in 2019, over 3,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. If you send a text or take your eyes off the road for five seconds while driving 55 mph, it’s equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
Possible Compensation if You’re Injured by a Distracted Truck Driver
The recovery process after a truck accident injury can be difficult and stressful. You may be dealing with expensive medical bills and need to be off work while you recover. That’s why it’s important to obtain legal counsel from a truck injury lawyer. They will protect your rights and take steps to help ensure you receive fair compensation.
If your accident was caused by a negligent, distracted truck driver, you might be eligible to receive compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses. Due to the catastrophic nature of truck accident injuries, you may face expensive medical bills. It’s important to keep records of all your medical bills as you pursue compensation.
- Lost wages. If your accident caused you to miss work, you may be eligible for compensation for the wages you would have earned on those missed days.
- Loss of future earnings. Your injuries may leave you with a long-term or permanent health condition that limits your ability to work in the future. If so, you may be eligible for compensation for those future lost earnings.
- Pain and suffering. Accidents and their resulting injuries can be traumatic and may cause physical and emotional suffering for which you may be able to recover damages.
- Property damage. You may be eligible for compensation for property damage if your vehicle suffered major damage in the accident.
- Wrongful death damages. If you have lost a loved one in an accident as a result of a distracted truck driver, you and your family may be able to recover wrongful death damages, including medical bills, funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship, and your loved one’s lost wages.
It’s important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to help determine fair compensation for damages.
How to Prove a Distracted Driver Caused Your Truck Accident
Proving that a truck driver caused your accident because they were distracted can be difficult. It’s important to gather crucial evidence to help prove your claim. Some of the best evidence can include:
- Eyewitnesses. Testimony from those who witnessed the accident can make a big difference in your case if they observed the truck operator’s distracted driving.
- Truck driver’s cellphone records. Your attorney may be able to obtain cellphone records that prove the truck driver was on the phone or texting at the time of the accident.
- Black box data. The “black box” tracking device in many modern trucks stores various types of information about the vehicle, including braking information, which is particularly useful in distracted driving cases.
- Dashcam footage. Some trucks have dash cams that record the trucker while they’re driving. You may be able to find footage of the driver looking away from the road at the time of the accident.
Our Florida Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help Protect Your Rights
Given the complexities of truck accidents, seeking help from a qualified attorney is important. The experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyers at Spetsas Buist can help with the investigation, negotiations, and communication with the insurance companies. Let us be the lawyers you call when you need help after your truck accident.
