Pittsburgh Personal Injury Blog

We are all subject to changes in our bodies associated with aging, but a new study indicates that moderate drinking may contribute to brain changes that include memory loss.

Could the results of this new research spell additional trouble for people who drink and drive?

Large truck crashes happen for many reasons, including fatigue, the use of alcohol and prescription medication as well as speeding. However, distracted driving is especially concerning and has resulted in many large truck wrecks over the years. When someone who is driving a large truck becomes distracted, they may put many lives in danger, including their own. Sadly, this behavior continues to occur far too frequently on roadways across the country.

Large truck drivers may be distracted by a number of diversions. Smartphones are a common source of distraction and some truckers use their phones to text, upload content to social networking sites, browse through social media, talk with friends and family members and so on. Changing the radio and eating food are other distractions and these distractions can be especially difficult for someone whose job responsibilities keep them behind the wheel for extended periods of time. After all, a truck driver may become bored or tired of spending so much time looking at the road and they may look for ways to keep themselves entertained behind the wheel.

The physical consequences of truck accidents can be incredibly difficult, whether someone suffers a severe laceration or a back or neck injury. However, many truck accident victims suffer brain injuries and these wrecks can also give rise to mental trauma that haunts victims in different ways. If you are struggling with any mental challenges after a collision that was caused by another driver’s careless behavior, you should stand up for your rights and know exactly which legal options you have.

Accidents can traumatize victims in different ways, whether someone is afraid of being involved in another crash in the future or they witnessed something traumatizing in the crash, such as the loss of a loved one’s life. Some people may not be able to drive ever again after a crash, which can be especially difficult for those whose job revolves around driving (taxi drivers, truckers, and so on). Mental trauma may interfere with any worker’s performance, cause a college student to become distracted and struggle in class, lead to sleep problems and affect victims in many other ways.

Distracted driving is nothing new, but the increasing prevalence of smartphones has given drivers new ways to take their eyes off the road. While it seems easy enough to put the smartphone down until the driver reaches the destination, many people have developed addictions to technology. Compulsive smartphone use and the rise of nomophobia, the fear of not having a cellphone, makes it difficult for many people to stay safe when behind the wheel. 

Far too many car accidents occur on Pennsylvania roadways every day. That is why everyone needs to pitch in and understand how smartphones have affected people's brains.