It is a bad decision for a motorist operating a sedan or SUV to text and drive. It is a horrendously terrible decision to text and drive when you are operating a massive tractor-trailer. Why? When a tractor-trailer collides with another vehicle, the damage is often quite extensive and typically results in serious bodily injuries or loss of life.
A prime example is a tragic accident that occurred on Minnesota 36 in Lake Elmo. Reports indicate that a commercial truck operator was looking at his cell phone for eight seconds before his 2016 Freightliner crashed into a 2015 Toyota Scion XB that was stopped at Lake Elmo Avenue.
The collision was so severe that the Scion was completely totaled and the driver lost his life. The victim was only 54 years old and a successful businessman and biology instructor at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park. He leaves behind a wife and four children, according to twincities.com.
Police have filed criminal charges against the semi-tractor trailer driver. Reports indicate that the 28-year-old truck operator made no attempt to brake as his big rig slammed into the Scion at 63 miles per hour. The speed limit on the road was only 36 miles per hour.
Accident investigators discovered footage from a rear- and a front-facing camera showing the truck operator holding his cell phone in his right hand. He was looking down at his phone when the collision occurred. If that was not bad enough, the truck operator attempted to mislead investigators by stating that he observed a green light at Lake Elmo Avenue from a distance but then became distracted by another vehicle. After further questioning, the truck driver finally admitted that he was looking at his cell phone when the deadly wreck occurred.
Our deepest condolences go out to the friends and family of the victim who was hit by this distracted truck driver. Losing a loved one is always gut-wrenching, but the pain of a sudden, unexpected loss is particularly awful.
Serious Safety Risks Associated with Texting and Driving
Each year in the United States, close to half a million people suffer serious injuries or lose their lives in accidents caused by texting and driving. In 2013, more than 3,000 people lost their lives in texting and driving accidents. In addition, more than 400,000 suffered serious injuries in these types of collisions, according to the Department of Transportation. This data is disturbing and especially frustrating since this is an avoidable safety risk.
Take Legal Action to Hold a Texting Driver Accountable
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a collision caused by a texting driver, now is the time to take legal action to hold the reckless driver accountable for his or her dangerous and negligent decisions. If you take legal action through a personal injury and/or wrongful death claim, you can pursue financial restitution for your harm and losses.
Have Questions About Your Legal Rights? Contact an Experienced St. Paul Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you have questions about how to proceed with a legal claim against a negligent driver, now is the time to contact the experienced Minnesota truck accident lawyers of Bye, Goff & Rohde today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.