The American Trucking Association estimates there are 3.5 million professional truck drivers working in the States. Typically, these truckers drive a combined total of 450.4 billion miles each year. With so many miles and hours racked up on the roads, it’s inevitable that accidents will happen. Sadly, one of the latest incidents to occur in Maplewood involved a trucker striking a man in his 60’s, which resulted in his untimely death.
Box truck incident
According to Kmov.com, 62-year-old Albert Johnson was hit as a result of failing to cross within the marked crosswalk of Maplewood’s Manchester and Big Bend intersection. As a result, he stumbled and lost his balance which is when he was hit by a moving box truck. The driver of the box truck, who has not been named, was picked up two miles away after leaving the scene, having not realized that he had struck Mr. Johnson, say the police.
Adhering to the law
Currently, there is nothing to indicate that the box truck driver involved in this tragic incident acted unlawfully. There are multiple regulations in place to safeguard truckers, road users and pedestrians in Missouri. These include limiting the number of hours that truckers can drive in between rest breaks and electronic data recording. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also requires truckers to be tested for traces of alcohol, drugs and controlled substances. Additionally, truckers who are self-employed and the company’s loaning out commercial vehicles to their employees must ensure that they are covered on the roads, with a commercial or business auto insurance policy.
Supporting drivers
Despite their efforts, even the best trucker and trucking companies can’t always prevent an accident such as the one that happened on the Maplewood Manchester and the Big Bend intersection from occurring. Understandably, the last thing any local trucker expects when they’re busy earning a living is to have to come to terms with the fact that the vehicle they were driving resulted in the death of another person. The Star Tribune reports that the majority of drivers who killed pedestrians between 2010 and 2014 weren’t charged. And, while this might be the case, the psychological effects of such a trauma are often harder to deal with. Therefore, employers must make considerations, such as giving paid time off work and access to a trained counselor, to drivers who find themselves in such situations.
Seeking help
According to Accidental Impacts, a driver who unintentionally injuries another is likely to feel and experience a number of symptoms. These include difficulty sleeping, stress, fear, sadness and grief, among others. For truckers, being fearful on the road and not getting enough sleep before your shift is a big problem and could result in further accidents occurring. Therefore, these concerns must be tackled. Should these symptoms fail to go away or they impact your day to day life so severely, treatment must be sought from family, friends, doctors and psychologists.
It’s important for professional drivers in Brentwood, Maplewood and Richmond Heights to take care when driving and adhere to Missouri regulations. However, should the worse happen, it’s important that you take time to come to terms with the situation and get the appropriate treatment required to get you back to full health before you head out on the roads again.