According to statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 116,000 people were injured in truck accidents in 2015 alone. These accidents are often catastrophic, causing serious life-changing injuries to passenger vehicle occupants. Sadly, due to the sheer size and weight discrepancy between passenger cars and big rig trucks, passenger vehicle occupants are often the ones that sustain the majority of the injuries. After all, a fully loaded big rig can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs, while the average sedan weights just 3,000 lbs. Now, however, promising new technology could help reduce these serious trucking accidents and the injuries they cause.
Truck Technology Could Reduce Accidents
Driver monitoring, through on-board technology, could help reduce crashes in the future. One software developer, Trimble, Inc., now offers a suite of driver analytics which measures how often a driver applies hard braking, when a driver is speeding, and even whether the driver is wearing his or her seat belt. Trimble is partnering with Pulsar Infomatics to additionally determine how driver fatigue could be affecting overall driving behaviors.
The latest vehicle technology, such as automatic braking, could also help reduce the number of truck collisions. Automatic braking becomes standard on passenger vehicles in 2022, and more and more passenger vehicles are including other driver-assist features as well which could significantly reduce the number of truck accidents as well as the number of overall vehicle accidents.
Technology may also be changing the way truck drivers log their hours of service. While truck drivers have logged their hours behind the wheel since the 1930’s on paper log books, this method is easy to falsify, making it highly ineffective. When paper log books are used, a significant portion of truck drivers keep two sets—one with their real hours, and another set, in case they are stopped by DOT. Within the last year, electronic logging devices have been used in lieu of paper log books. These electronic logging devices automatically record driving time even down to engine hours, vehicle movement location information and miles driven. It is hoped that technology may soon be able to decrease the number of truck accident fatalities across the United States.
Trucking Accident Victims Face Uphill Battle
Unfortunately, trucking accident victims often face an uphill battle when seeking maximum compensation. Trucking companies and their insurance companies will try every trick in the book to reduce their own liabilities and that means pinning some or all of the blame on you. That’s why injured accident victims need an experienced law firm on their side from the start. Your lawyer may need to employee accident recreation experts, gather forensic evidence, and speak with medical examiners to prove negligence and help you win your case.
Have You Suffered Injury in a Serious Trucking Accident?
At Schnipper Law, P.C., our Atlanta trucking accident attorneys know that injured trucking accident victims often face an uphill battle when trying to collect the compensation they need. That’s because unfortunately, insurance adjusters don’t always play fair with trucking accident victims. If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, call Schnipper Law P.C., at (404) 983-6051 for a free initial consultation and review of your case. We can help you recover the money you need to put your life back together after a serious truck accident.
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