Fox8 Live News reported last week on a chilling incident that is becoming much too common on our roads and highways in New Orleans. A U.S. Xpress driver appears to be live streaming as he drives his freight truck across the Twin Spans on his way into New Orleans. The 5-minute video shows the driver navigating the center lane of the bridge and commenting on how he hopes the police do not catch him doing this. Not only does the driver shoot the video while driving, but he also responds to comments from viewers.
Distracted Driving and Truck Drivers
Truck drivers are sometimes judged harshly because of the unfair stigma that all truck drivers are reckless and careless. It is a fact that commercial truck accidents are extremely dangerous for the occupants of other vehicles because of the size and weight of a large truck compared to a passenger vehicle.
Over 70 percent of the injuries and fatalities in commercial truck accidents are sustained by the drivers and passengers of other vehicles. A truck driver has a duty to protect others on the road and must exercise extreme care because of the significant risk of injury to others in a large truck accident. When a truck driver takes risks as in the story above, he puts everyone on the road at risk.
Distracted driving may be a problem for truck drivers, but it is also a problem for all drivers. In 2015, the NHTSA reported that 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents in the United States. In addition, 551 non-occupants (i.e. bicyclists, pedestrians, etc.) were killed by distracted drivers. The problem seems to be getting worse each day.
Forms of Distracted Driving
The truck driver in the story above is not the first driver to stream live video while driving. A 20-year-old man was injured as he streamed live video of him driving at least 100 mph before crashing his vehicle into a truck. A deadly crash that left five people dead in Florida was caught on Snapchat. These incidents are just two of the many examples of drivers streaming live video when they are behind the wheel of a vehicle.
In addition to streaming videos, using social media websites, texting, watching videos, emailing, and performing other tasks on electronic devices while driving, there are many other forms of distracted driving that are just as deadly. Forms of distracted driving include:
- Reading and writing
- Eating and drinking
- Grooming or changing clothing
- Adjusting the vehicle settings
- Interacting with passengers, including taking care of children
- Daydreaming
- Being distracted by objects or activity outside of the vehicle
Anything that takes your attention away from the road or the task of driving is a potentially deadly distraction. A distracted driver who causes an accident is liable for any damages that result from that accident. Unfortunately, the compensation received by the accident victim will never undo the physical and emotional harm caused by a distracted driving accident.
Help Us Hold Distracted Drivers Responsible
If you are injured in a distracted driving accident, our NoLA truck accident attorneys want to help you fight for your right to receive full compensation for your injuries. Our attorneys want to call attention to the dangers of distracted driving and help victims and their families receive justice.
Call Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm by at (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to request a free consultation with a New Orleans car accident attorney.