Motorist distractions are anything that diverts a driver’s attention from the road, and they substantially increase the risk of a collision. These distractions are a significant issue and public health concern for all motorists, including those driving tractor-trailers.
Collisions involving commercial trucks have the potential to be particularly catastrophic due to these vehicles’ massive size and weight. You should contact our firm for help from a knowledgeable semi-truck crash attorney experienced with distracted driving truck accidents in Houston.
What Are Some Common Distractions?
A variety of driver distractions can lead to tractor-trailer wrecks in Houston. The most common of these include the following:
- Using the vehicle’s technology
- Eating food or drinking beverages while operating a truck
- Cell phone use, such as texting, scrolling, or making phone calls
- Adjusting controls, such as fiddling with the mirrors, GPS, radio, or the seats
- Talking to passengers, dealing with stress or emotions, or reacting to outside events
Highway safety organizations categorize trucker distractions into three primary groups. The first is visual and involves anything that diverts a driver’s eyes from the road. The second category is manual, which consists of a driver taking one or both hands off the steering wheel. The third is cognitive and refers to anything that takes a driver’s mind off safely operating the vehicle.
Federal Hands-Free Rule
Truckers holding a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) must comply with federal government requirements. According to the rules set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truckers cannot use handheld cell phones, smartphones, or other communication devices while operating tractor-trailers. Additionally, they cannot use any device that requires them to push more than one button.
The regulations also prohibit them from doing anything requiring them to leave their seat or unfasten their seatbelt, as well as anything requiring manual text entry. This rule applies even when truckers stop temporarily in traffic. They must wait until they find a safe location to pull over and turn off the vehicle.
Exceptions to the Rule
The regulations permit 18-wheeler operators to use hands-free devices, such as those mounted or in holders, that the driver can activate with a single button or voice command while remaining seated and buckled. Examples include:
- Speakerphones
- Bluetooth earpieces
- Voice-activated dialing
Our knowledgeable Houston lawyers can answer your specific questions regarding distracted driving semi-truck crashes after reviewing your case.
Fines and Penalties
Using a handheld device includes any activity requiring a trucker to reach for and press buttons, and the risks associated with this are severe. Drivers who use handheld devices while operating a vehicle may face fines of up to $2,750, and their employers may receive penalties of up to $11,000.
Multiple violations can also lead to suspension and disqualification. Truck operator disqualification is the mandatory suspension or revocation of their CDL, prohibiting them from operating any vehicle that requires special licensing.
Contact a Houston Attorney About Distracted Driving Big Rig Wrecks
If you suffered injury in a collision due to a truck operator’s reckless behavior, you have the right to hold them legally and financially responsible. Distractions that divert drivers’ attention from safely operating their vehicles are a significant public safety issue affecting all motorists, including those with a CDL. However, commercial trucks’ massive size and weight make crashes involving these vehicles particularly catastrophic.
You can contact our office to schedule a consultation with our seasoned lawyers for further information about distracted driving truck accidents in Houston. Please call us as soon as possible to ensure we have sufficient time to conduct a thorough investigation and file your case in compliance with state laws.