Every time a tractor-trailer barrels down I-275 or merges onto the Courtney Campbell Causeway, the stakes are higher than they are with most passenger vehicles. Commercial trucks weigh tens of thousands of pounds and take longer to stop – which means a momentary glance away from the road can turn a routine route into a life-changing catastrophe. If you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted commercial driver in Tampa Bay, a distracted driving accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and pursue fair compensation.
The scale of the problem in Tampa Bay
Florida continues to see enormous crash volumes: the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports hundreds of thousands of codable crashes statewide and thousands of traffic fatalities in the most recent annual summary. Many of those crashes involve commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), and Hillsborough County (which contains Tampa) is consistently among the highest-impact counties in the state for serious crashes and fatalities. Locally, reporting and crash summaries show that Hillsborough County saw thousands of commercial vehicle incidents (and subsequent deaths and serious injuries) in recent years.
On the national level, distracted driving remains a major contributor to death and injury. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that distracted driving was responsible for over 3,200 deaths in 2023 and hundreds of thousands of injuries – a reminder that distraction is not a “minor” risk. When a distracted driver is behind the wheel of a semi, the consequences are compounded.
Why truck crashes are more dangerous
A passenger car struck by a fully-loaded tractor-trailer is at an alarming disadvantage. Trucks have greater mass and momentum, different blind-spot profiles, and longer stopping distances. Even at city speeds, a collision with a large truck is far more likely to cause catastrophic injuries or fatalities. That’s why a truck accident attorney in Tampa must often investigate technical evidence, including:
- black box data
- ELD logs
- phone records
- maintenance records
- company dispatch communications
These pieces of evidence can prove negligence and build a strong case for those impacted by commercial vehicle crashes.
Top causes of distracted driving by commercial truck drivers
Distracted driving among commercial drivers takes many forms. FMCSA guidance and industry research point to several recurring sources of distraction for truck drivers:
Mobile device use and texting
Despite restrictions on handheld phone use for CMV drivers, phones remain a top distraction when drivers check messages, make calls, or use apps. Studies and fleet surveys repeatedly identify cell phones as the leading in-cab distraction.
In-cab technology and dispatching devices
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), onboard navigation systems, and fleet dispatch apps can divert a driver’s attention away from the road if used while the vehicle is in motion.
Eating, drinking, or reaching for items
Drivers often try to save time by multitasking behind the wheel. This means their hands or eyes must leave the controls. Simple tasks like grabbing a cup or reaching for paperwork can be dangerous in a heavy truck.
Adjusting equipment or controls
Tweaking mirrors, climate controls, radios, or load-securement systems while driving can cause critical seconds of inattention.
Cognitive distraction
Daydreaming, fatigue, boredom – long hours on monotonous stretches of highway can lead to lapses in attention. These are just as dangerous as visual or manual distractions. While fatigue is a separate regulatory focus, it often coexists with cognitive distraction.
What you should do after a distracted trucking crash
Tampa’s highways see thousands of distracted driving accidents each year.
If you’re involved in a collision with a commercial truck in Tampa Bay, the immediate steps you take can matter for both your safety and your future legal claim:
- Prioritize medical attention. Get checked by EMS and later, at an emergency room. Injuries from truck accidents can be internal or delayed in presentation.
- Preserve evidence. Take photos of the scene, and document vehicle positions, skid marks, and injuries when possible. Record the truck’s license plate, carrier name, and driver information.
- Report the crash to the police, and be sure to get a copy of the official report.
- Contact a qualified Tampa distracted driving accident lawyer. By reading this post, you’ve already found some of the best in Florida. Brooks Law Group is proud to be home to a team of experienced trucking accident attorneys in Tampa when individuals need them most. Our resources, attention to detail, and commitment to early investigation and preservation of evidence help us build the strongest possible cases for our clients, and get the results they need and deserve.
How a Tampa distracted driving accident lawyer helps
Brooks Law Group will investigate liability, consult accident reconstruction experts, subpoena driver phone and ELD records, and identify all potentially responsible parties. Commercial trucking cases often involve federal regulations and complex evidence. Working with a seasoned truck accident attorney in Tampa makes it far more likely that one will receive fair compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
Distracted driving accidents involving trucks are preventable. If a distracted driver in a commercial vehicle changed your life, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. Call Brooks Law Group for a free case review with a skilled trucking accident attorney in Tampa who understands both the law and the local roads where these crashes occur.
You’re never alone after an accident or injury upends your life. We’re here for you. Look to Brooks.
