West Virginia roads pose numerous safety risks to drivers. One of the biggest dangers to motorists is the large trucks with which they must share the road. The danger is compounded when the truck driver is distracted. The truck drivers, however, can take measures to increase their focus behind the wheel by planning ahead of time.
Truck drivers generally will try to drive long shifts when they can while following the law that restricts how much time they can go without a break. As a result, they often end up trying to multi-task like talking on the phone and eating behind the wheel so that they can keep going. This is a dangerous condition for other drivers on the road. In order to minimize distractions, drivers should try to do as much as possible before they start the truck. This could even include small things like unwrapping their food or putting the straw in their drink. It could also mean buying a Bluetooth headset for their phone so that they do not have to pick up their device to answer it.
Setting the proper safety culture for a trucking company comes from the top. The corporate policies should reflect safety priorities. The company should refrain from things that undermine the overall message such as requiring drivers to call them from the road while they are driving.
Drivers who have been injured in a truck accident where the driver was distracted may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries. Distracted driving is a sign of negligence, and it may mean that the truck driver ends up being found responsible for the accident and must pay. Defendants may hesitate to take truck accident cases to trial because they are afraid of jury verdicts, which means they might be more amenable to a settlement that can result in financial compensation.
