Trucks clog up many of Pennsylvania’s narrow roads and highways, and while trucking is a vital industry for our country, negligent truck drivers can cause serious or fatal accidents.
This may have been the case in a recent fatal accident involving two trucks. The accident occurred on the I-476 Turnpike in Salford Township, just under two hours from Scranton.
Passenger struck by truck after getting out of vehicle
According to the Pennsylvania State Police, a utility service vehicle pulled over to the right shoulder of the highway to check a load that was potentially unsecure. After a passenger in the service vehicle exited the vehicle, they were struck by a semi-truck.
The semi-truck driver was allegedly distracted and did not notice the service utility truck on the shoulder. The driver’s distraction apparently caused the truck to drift over to the right shoulder and hit the service vehicle passenger.
Incidents such as this one demonstrates that distracted driving continues to be a major problem in Pennsylvania.
Common causes of truck driver distraction
Truck drivers are as prone to distractions as any other driver. They can become distracted from adjusting a navigation system, eating or drinking while driving or using a cell phone.
The long hours and grueling schedules faced by truck drivers could also cause them to become fatigued or drowsy, which is another top cause of truck accidents.
Sometimes no matter how safely you drive, you find yourself the victim of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. In the case above, the utility service vehicle was safely pulled off to the shoulder of the road and a fatal accident still ensued.
Knowing what to do after an accident you believe was caused by distracted driving is critical.
Details matter
After the accident, make a police report and document everything you can remember, such as details about what you saw the other vehicle doing or how the other driver was behaving. This type of information can help you prove a case of negligence.