When a driver gets behind the wheel and fails to pay attention to the road in front of them, the consequences can be severe. This is especially true when these crashes involve commercial trucks. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles can cause catastrophic and deadly accidents, making it crucial for truckers to remain attentive.
Distracted driving truck accidents in Bethlehem happen far too often, but you may have legal options after suffering injuries in this type of incident. Your experienced attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will be with you every step of the way in getting the compensation you deserve. Our track record of success includes a $10 million recovery for a client who suffered catastrophic injuries after being rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on a Pennsylvania Interstate highway. In another case involving a limited tort Lehigh County resident, we obtained a $900,000 settlement for hip, wrist, rib, and head injuries caused by a tractor-trailer driver who ran a red light while distracted by his cell phone.
Common Causes of Distracted Driving Truck Crashes in Bethlehem
Truck crashes in Bethlehem are often caused by distracted driving. Some of the most common types of distraction are visual. For example, a truck driver using their smartphone while behind the wheel is visually distracted. Cognitive distractions can also endanger the safety of others on the roadway, such as a truck driver operating the vehicle while blasting overly loud music or other media.
Manual distractions are a third common form of distracted driving. For instance, if a truck driver is eating, smoking, or drinking while driving, this could prevent them from keeping full control of the wheel. Regardless of the type of distraction involved, a truck driver puts everyone else on the road at risk by failing to stay focused. As our local attorneys can explain, this could make the distracted trucker liable for an ensuing crash.
Liability and Damages in Distracted Trucker Collisions
When distracted driving leads to a serious truck collision in Bethlehem, one of the most important aspects of filing a claim for compensation will be to prove who is liable for your injuries. Some commonly liable parties in distracted driving accident cases include the truck driver or the truck company.
If another motorist’s actions contributed to the distracted driving collision, your Bethlehem lawyer could work to hold them liable in a truck accident claim. When it comes to proving that any person or entity is liable for your injuries, the following must be true:
- They owed you a duty of care
- They breached their duty of care
- This breach was the direct cause of your injuries
- Your injuries resulted in damages that can be compensated
Truck drivers are legally obligated to operate their vehicles responsibly and remain attentive. If they violate this duty of care and injure someone else, they can be held liable for the victim’s losses from the accident. These compensable losses can include pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and loss of life’s pleasures, as well as losses like medical bills and missed wages from the accident.
Contact a Bethlehem Distracted Driving Truck Accident Attorney
Distracted driving truck accidents in Bethlehem can leave a devastating toll. The severe injuries that often result from these accidents can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life, not to mention your finances.
Our attorneys can tirelessly fight on your behalf to see that you get every penny you deserve for your injuries and losses from the accident. To find out more about what could be possible for your specific case, call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today. You will not owe us anything unless we win the compensation you need.