Naperville Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Distracted driving is dangerous for every motorist, but when the distracted driver is behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound commercial truck, the consequences can be catastrophic. A truck driver who looks down at a cellphone, reaches for a device, eats a meal, adjusts a GPS, or becomes distracted by something inside or outside the cab can travel hundreds of feet without fully watching the roadway.
The size and weight of commercial trucks make even a momentary lapse in attention potentially devastating. A distracted truck driver may fail to notice stopped traffic, drift across a lane line, miss a vehicle in a blind spot, or react too slowly to an emergency, and cause a serious truck accident.
The problem is not merely theoretical. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), at least one distraction-related factor was recorded for 4.9% of large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2021. Among those factors were cellphone use, reaching for devices, eating or drinking, distraction by objects or people, and general inattention.
In Illinois, the consequences of tractor-trailer crashes are particularly serious. The Illinois Department of Transportation reported 11,294 tractor-trailer crashes in 2024, including 91 fatal crashes and 1,750 injury crashes. Those crashes resulted in 106 deaths and 284 A-injuries, with 83 of the fatalities involving occupants of other vehicles. When a distracted truck driver causes a collision, the people in surrounding passenger vehicles are often the ones who suffer the most severe injuries.
“When a commercial truck driver takes his or her attention away from the road, the consequences can be devastating. Truck drivers are operating vehicles capable of causing catastrophic injuries, and they have a responsibility to remain focused on driving safely. When distraction causes a crash, our job is to uncover the evidence and hold the responsible parties accountable.” — John J. Malm, Naperville trucking accident attorney
What Is Distracted Truck Driving?
Distracted driving occurs when a driver’s attention is diverted away from the task of safely operating a vehicle. Distraction can be visual, manual, cognitive, or a combination of all three. A visual distraction takes the driver’s eyes off the roadway. A manual distraction takes one or both hands away from the steering wheel. A cognitive distraction takes the driver’s mental attention away from driving.
A truck driver does not have to be texting to be distracted. Common examples include:
- Texting or reading messages
- Talking on a cellphone
- Reaching for a cellphone
- Programming a GPS
- Looking at dispatch messages
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting the radio
- Looking at paperwork
- Reaching for objects inside the cab
- Talking with passengers
- Looking at something outside the vehicle
- Operating electronic equipment
- Becoming lost in thought or inattentive
FMCSA data shows that distraction among large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes includes numerous behaviors beyond cellphone use. In 2021, federal data recorded distraction involving outside people, objects or events; cellular phones; reaching for devices; eating or drinking; occupants; and other sources.
Why Truck Driver Distraction Is So Dangerous
Every driver has a responsibility to pay attention. But truck drivers have an additional responsibility because of the tremendous size and weight of the vehicles they operate. A tractor-trailer can weigh tens of thousands of pounds and may require significantly more time and distance to stop than a passenger vehicle. If a distracted truck driver does not see traffic slowing ahead, the consequences can be devastating.
For example, imagine a truck traveling at highway speed while its driver looks down at a cellphone. During those seconds, traffic ahead may slow or stop. When the driver finally looks back at the road, there may not be enough distance to avoid a collision. The truck’s momentum can turn what might otherwise have been a minor traffic incident into a major crash.
This is especially dangerous on interstate highways, where commercial trucks and passenger vehicles travel at high speeds and traffic conditions can change rapidly.
Cellphone Use Is a Major Truck Driver Distraction
Cellphones are among the most obvious sources of driver distraction. A driver who sends or reads a text must generally look away from the roadway and manipulate the phone. But even hands-free conversations can create cognitive distractions.
Federal data demonstrates that cellphone-related distractions are documented among large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes. In 2021, the FMCSA reported 15 cases involving talking or listening to a cellphone, 14 involving other cellphone-related activity, and five involving dialing or manipulating a cellphone among drivers of large trucks in fatal crashes.
These numbers likely do not capture every instance of cellphone distraction. Crash investigators cannot always determine what a driver was doing immediately before a collision. That limitation is important because distracted driving is notoriously difficult to prove after a crash unless investigators locate independent evidence.
Truck Drivers May Be Distracted by Technology
Modern commercial trucks contain sophisticated technology designed to help drivers and trucking companies operate more efficiently. Electronic logging devices, GPS systems, dispatch systems, onboard computers, navigation equipment, cameras, and other technology can all serve legitimate purposes.
But technology can also become a distraction when a driver interacts with a device while the truck is moving. A driver may be tempted to:
- Read a dispatch message
- Enter an address into a GPS
- Change a route
- Respond to a work communication
- Adjust a navigation setting
- Review information on a tablet
- Manipulate an onboard computer
Even when the device is work-related, operating it while driving can divert attention from the road.
Eating and Drinking Can Also Cause Distraction
Truck drivers spend long periods on the road. It is understandable that they need to eat and drink during extended trips. However, doing so while driving can interfere with vehicle control and attention.
FMCSA’s large-truck crash data identifies eating or drinking as a documented distraction-related factor. In 2021, seven large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes were recorded as being distracted by eating or drinking.
The numbers may appear small, but they represent documented cases in fatal crashes—not every truck accident involving distracted driving. A driver reaching for a drink or trying to unwrap food may take a hand off the wheel, look away from traffic, or lose awareness of what is happening around the vehicle.
Looking Away for “Just a Second” Can Cause a Crash
One of the biggest misconceptions about distracted driving is that a brief glance is harmless. It is not. At highway speeds, a truck can travel a substantial distance while the driver’s eyes are away from the road. A distraction that lasts only a few seconds can mean the driver fails to see:
- A stopped vehicle
- A slowing traffic queue
- A lane closure
- A construction worker
- A disabled vehicle
- A motorcycle
- A bicyclist
- A pedestrian
- A vehicle entering the truck’s lane
The Illinois Department of Transportation emphasizes that distracted driving takes a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and attention away from driving. IDOT reported that 253 people died and 28,271 were injured in Illinois crashes involving distractions between 2020 and 2024. In 2024 alone, 51 people were killed in crashes involving at least one distracted driver.
Distracted Truck Drivers Can Cause Multiple Types of Crashes
A distracted commercial driver can cause many different types of collisions.
Rear-End Collisions
A distracted driver may fail to recognize slowing or stopped traffic. Because trucks require substantial stopping distance, rear-end crashes can be particularly severe.
Lane-Change Crashes
A driver looking down at a device may fail to notice a vehicle in an adjacent lane before beginning a lane change.
Sideswipe Collisions
Large trucks have significant blind spots. A distracted driver may fail to recognize that another vehicle is traveling alongside the trailer.
Rollover Crashes
A distracted driver who makes an abrupt steering maneuver can potentially lose control of a large commercial vehicle.
Multi-Vehicle Crashes
One truck collision can trigger a chain reaction involving multiple passenger vehicles. The resulting crash can produce numerous injuries and fatalities.
Distracted Truck Driving and Trucking Company Responsibility
A truck accident investigation should not necessarily stop with the driver. Depending on the circumstances, a trucking company may have responsibilities involving hiring, training, supervision, safety policies, and monitoring drivers.
Federal regulations also restrict certain cellphone use by commercial motor vehicle drivers. Commercial drivers are generally prohibited from using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving, subject to applicable federal rules and exceptions.
If a company encourages or pressures drivers to respond immediately to communications while operating a truck, that conduct may become relevant to an accident investigation. Similarly, if a company has evidence that a driver repeatedly violated safety rules but failed to take appropriate action, those facts may be important in determining responsibility.
How Investigators Prove Distracted Truck Driving
Proving distraction can be challenging. A truck driver may deny using a cellphone or engaging in another distracting activity. Fortunately, accident investigations can involve many different sources of evidence. Potential evidence includes:
- Cellphone records
- Text-message records
- App activity
- GPS data
- Electronic logging device information
- Dash-camera footage
- Truck camera footage
- Electronic control module data
- Dispatch records
- Witness statements
- Surveillance video
- Accident reconstruction
- Statements made by the driver
- Trucking-company policies
- Driver training records
Cellphone records can sometimes establish whether a driver was making or receiving communications around the time of a collision. Video footage can be even more powerful when available. The sooner evidence is preserved, the better.
Why Evidence Can Disappear After a Truck Accident
Commercial trucking companies may have extensive records concerning their vehicles and drivers. Some information may be retained for specific periods and then overwritten, deleted, or otherwise become unavailable. That is one reason serious truck accident investigations should begin promptly. An attorney may seek preservation of evidence involving:
- Electronic logging devices
- Driver qualification files
- Cellphone records
- Vehicle inspection records
- Maintenance records
- Dash-camera footage
- Electronic control module data
- Dispatch communications
- GPS information
- Driver training records
A truck accident can involve far more evidence than a typical automobile collision.
What Injuries Can Result From a Distracted Truck Driver?
The severity of a truck crash can depend on numerous factors, including speed, point of impact, vehicle size, and whether the passenger vehicle is pushed into another object or vehicle. Potential injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Organ damage
- Neck and back injuries
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Permanent disabilities
- Wrongful death
Illinois’ 2024 tractor-trailer crash statistics underscore the danger. Of the 106 fatalities resulting from tractor-trailer crashes, 83 involved occupants of other vehicles.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
If you believe a distracted truck driver caused your accident, seek medical attention and document as much information as possible.
Consider taking these steps:
- Call 911 and report the crash.
- Seek medical attention for injuries.
- Photograph the accident scene and vehicle damage.
- Obtain the truck’s company name and identifying information.
- Obtain witness contact information.
- Preserve dash-camera or cellphone footage.
- Keep medical bills and treatment records.
- Document missed work and lost income.
- Avoid discussing the accident on social media.
- Do not assume the trucking company’s insurance company is looking out for your interests.
- Contact an experienced Naperville truck accident attorney if you suffered significant injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Distracted Truck Drivers
Can a truck driver be held responsible for using a cellphone while driving?
Yes. A truck driver can potentially be held liable when cellphone use or another form of distraction contributes to a crash. Federal regulations also impose restrictions on cellphone use by commercial motor vehicle drivers.
How can I prove that a truck driver was distracted?
Evidence may include cellphone records, electronic data, dash-camera footage, witness statements, GPS information, dispatch records, and statements made by the driver. An attorney can help identify and preserve relevant evidence.
Can a trucking company be responsible for a distracted driver?
Potentially. Depending on the circumstances, a trucking company may face liability based on the driver’s conduct or the company’s own negligence, such as inadequate hiring, training, supervision, or safety practices.
What if the truck driver denies being distracted?
A driver’s denial does not necessarily end the investigation. Independent evidence—including cellphone records, electronic vehicle data, video footage, and witness testimony—may help determine what occurred.
Are truck accidents more dangerous than ordinary car accidents?
They can be. Commercial trucks are significantly larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, and collisions can produce catastrophic injuries. In Illinois, 83 of the 106 fatalities in tractor-trailer crashes in 2024 involved occupants of other vehicles.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Illinois?
Many Illinois personal injury claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, but exceptions can apply. Different deadlines may apply depending on the circumstances and the parties involved. Anyone seriously injured in a truck accident should consult an attorney promptly rather than relying on a general deadline.
Contact the Top Naperville Truck Accident Lawyers at John J. Malm & Associates
A distracted truck driver can change the course of a person’s life in a matter of seconds. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a collision with a tractor-trailer, you may be facing medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, permanent disability, or the loss of a loved one. At the same time, the trucking company and its insurance carrier may begin investigating the crash immediately.
You do not have to investigate a complex truck accident alone. John J. Malm & Associates represents victims of serious truck accidents in Naperville and throughout Illinois. Our attorneys can investigate the driver’s conduct, identify potential sources of evidence, examine trucking-company records, determine whether federal safety regulations were violated, identify all potentially responsible parties, and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to receive.
If a distracted truck driver injured you or a loved one, contact John J. Malm & Associates today for a free consultation. The sooner you begin investigating the crash, the greater the opportunity may be to preserve critical evidence and protect your legal rights.