Are commercial truck drivers allowed to send text messages while operating a truck?

A: One of the main causes of commercial truck accidents is texting while driving. The federal truck driver rules established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have a specific regulation stating that truck drivers are not allowed to text while operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Simply claiming that a truck driver was texting while driving may not be enough to serve as evidence of negligence for commercial truck accidents. You may need an Atlanta car wreck lawyer to help you supply more substantial evidence of negligence against the truck driver.

Rule 392.80 of the federal truck driver rules states that no truck driver shall engage in texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle. The only exceptions to this rule are if the vehicle is a school bus or a 9-15 passenger van driven for purposes other than direct compensation.

This rule is also not prohibited when it is for emergency purposes, such as communicating with law enforcement or other emergency officials. However, the driver must be able to prove that this was the reason for texting to avoid violating this rule.

Victims of commercial truck accidents will need to provide substantial evidence that the driver was engaged in this type of activity, and this distraction caused the accident. One of the best ways to prove this may be to pull the phone message records, but that is often difficult to do without the help of an Atlanta car wreck lawyer who may have an easier time petitioning for access to these records.

Contact an Atlanta Car Wreck Lawyer

After serious or fatal commercial truck accidents you and your family may be dealing with the grief of serious injury, loss of a loved one and financial burdens. During this difficult time it’s easy to get frustrated with your situation – you didn’t deserve to suffer due to the negligence of another!

At The Law Offices of Shane Smith we help accident victims seek justice for their losses through truck accident claims. We have helped victims in Atlanta and the surrounding areas understand the truck driver rules that forbid a trucker from texting while driving.  

Before making the decision to hire a lawyer, request a copy of our FREE eBooks, I Was Hit By a Drunk Driver: What Do I Do Next? and 10 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Georgia Wreck Case. Our guides contain valuable information on how to handle filing a claim for serious injuries or wrongful death caused by a negligent driver. When you’re ready to get started on your claim, contact us to set up a FREE consultation – 1-770-487-8999.

Get Your Copy Of This Georgia Accident Book - FREE!