Truck Driver Cigarette Smoking Leads to South Dakota Personal Injuries

Distracted driving by truck drivers is a serious issue in South Dakota, particularly given the growing number of truckers out on the open roads. A motor vehicle crash with a large semi-truck can cause serious personal injuries or death. In order to keep everyone safe, truck drivers must be extra cautious. However, there are many bad habits that truck drivers fall into given the number of hours on the road, with smoking cigarettes being one of them.

A recent study over a five-year period revealed that .9 percent of motor vehicle crashes occurred as a result of the driver being distracted by smoking a cigarette. Sadly, this equals approximately 12,780 avoidable motor vehicle accidents. Additionally, SmartDrive Systems announced the results of another study involving truck drivers and distracted/risky driving behaviors at the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2010 Distracted Driving Summit. According to the study, the following were the top three reasons cited for truckers' distracted driving:

1. Texting on a phone or operating a GPS;
2. Eating, drinking, and smoking;
3. Talking on a mobile phone.

These are distractions that can lead to serious South Dakota personal injuries. Further, three distinct types of distracted driving are linked to smoking:

1. Visual Distractions: Truck drivers take their eyes off the road when locating cigarettes and lighters and when lighting cigarettes.
2. Manual Distractions: Truck drivers take their hands off the wheel when holding, lighting, and smoking cigarettes.
3. Cognitive Distractions: Truck drivers take their minds off the task at hand, instead focusing on lighting and smoking cigarettes.

Smoking cigarettes while operating a truck is an internal distraction that can lead to serious motor vehicle accidents in South Dakota. If you or a loved one has been in a motor vehicle crash with a truck driver, contact a South Dakota personal injury attorney at Zimmer, Duncan & Cole. The attorneys at Zimmer, Duncan & Cole will review the facts of your case, determine the cause of the collision, and work hard to protect your rights. Call toll free at (888) 733-2992, or complete the contact form on this page to speak with a South Dakota personal injury lawyer. Please order and read a copy of our free book, The Ultimate Guide to Car and Truck Accident Cases in South Dakota: 7 Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim, which is available on our website.