Distracted Driving Truck Accidents in Bakersfield

Sustaining injuries in a truck accident usually means facing long-term treatment and recovery. Since these vehicles are large and heavy, the damage they cause is usually significant. If such damages occur because of someone’s negligence, the injured party can seek compensation.

If distracted driving was the cause of the accident that caused your injury, you need to file a claim with the help of our truck accident attorneys. Understanding how distracted driving truck accidents in Bakersfield work can help you plan legal action.

What Is Distracted Driving?

The most severe truck accidents in Bakersfield occur because the driver does not pay attention to the road. Distracted driving means engaging in activities that remove the focus from the road and other traffic participants. Some examples are:

Texting or using a phone
Eating or drinking while driving
Adjusting GPS or music controls
Talking to passengers
Reaching for objects
Daydreaming or fatigue

When the truck driver takes their eyes off the road to deal with personal matters, they act negligently. This negligence becomes the basis for a personal injury lawsuit.

Liable Parties in Distracted Driving Truck Accidents

While the distracted truck driver is usually to blame for the Bakersfield accident, they are not always the only liable party. In some cases, the truck company may be responsible.

Inadequate Training: When the company fails to properly train drivers on safety protocols and avoiding distractions.
Unrealistic Delivery Schedules: If the company imposes strict deadlines that encourage drivers to multitask or skip breaks (this could mean that they are forcing the driver to break the HOS regulation).
Failure to Enforce Safety Policies: When the company fails to enforce rules that prohibit phone use or other distractions while driving.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance: If faulty equipment (like a malfunctioning GPS or communication device) contributes to the driver’s distraction.
Pressure to Use Devices: When the company requires the driver to respond to messages or calls while on the road.

In any of these situations, the trucking company may share or bear full responsibility for the resulting damages. To prove their negligence, our attorneys would need to conduct a full investigation, gather evidence, and speak to witnesses.

Damages in Distracted Driving Truck Accidents

Damages a person can recover in a distracted driving truck accident that occurred in Bakersfield include economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are related to all the financial burdens the injured person is facing because of the crash. This includes medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Meanwhile, non-economic damages have to cover everything related to the injured person’s quality of life. Some examples are chronic pain, emotional distress, and PTSD.

If the truck driver demonstrated extreme negligence, the court may also demand that they pay punitive damages. The goal of such damages is to prevent similar behavior in the future.

Discuss Distracted Driving Truck Accidents with an Attorney in Bakersfield

The process of damage recovery in distracted driving truck accidents in Bakersfield can be complicated. It involves identifying liable parties, proving their negligence, and negotiating with insurance companies. In some cases, the injured person may have to prove their right to compensation in court.

An experienced attorney from Levin & Nalbandyan could consult you about your options in a distracted driving truck accident case and help fight for the money you deserve. Call us to schedule a consultation today.