Technology continues to improve safety standards in almost every area, and the trucking industry is no exception. These advancements not only assist in preventing accidents but also provide invaluable data that can help determine fault in the event of a collision.
By implementing technology, the trucking industry can greatly improve safety for truck drivers and other road users. This is of paramount importance given the frequency with which accidents involving trucks occur. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), in 2021, 117,300 large trucks were involved in accidents that resulted in an injury, marking a 12% increase from 2020. This article will explore some of the latest advancements in technology that are improving safety standards within the trucking industry and their impact on truck accident claims.
Technologies And Truck Accidents
The technologies outlined below are commonly implemented in the trucking industry, helping to improve the well-being and safety of drivers as well as the general public. In the event of a truck accident, these technologies can play a key role in determining the various factors that contributed to the accident, helping those pursuing legal action accurately attribute liability for their injuries and losses.
- Driver alert system: This safety system helps to combat driver fatigue, a common cause of truck accidents. By monitoring driver behaviors such as steering patterns, lane deviations and facial movements, driver alert systems are designed to detect signs of drowsiness or distraction, and alert the driver to take corrective action.
This technology can establish whether driver fatigue was a contributory factor in an accident, and potentially result in a driver or a trucking company being held liable for negligence or violations of safety regulations such as Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations relating to hours of service.
- Event data recorders (EDR): This black box recording device stores valuable data such as vehicle speed, driver behavior, GPS location, and key crash information which can serve as valuable evidence in a truck accident claim.
For example, a claim may be disputed on the basis that the driver failed to apply the brakes in time to avoid an accident occurring. By analyzing the data stored on the truck’s EDR, investigators can accurately determine whether this was the case or not, providing crucial evidence to either support or deny the claim.
If you have been injured in a truck accident and are considering pursuing legal action, an experienced lawyer such as this Michigan truck accident injury lawyer, can help you navigate your claim.
- Dash cam: The installation of dashboard cameras within trucks can monitor the behavior and performance of drivers, and record valuable footage such as road conditions, vehicle surroundings, and real-time coverage of any accidents or incidents.
By sequencing the events leading up to, during, and after a truck accident, dashcam technology eliminates the uncertainties associated with memory recall or conflicting versions of events. The capture of this information enables dashcam footage to be used as an objective presentation of the facts, helping insurance companies, lawyers, and the law courts to accurately determine fault in an accident and assess damages.
These are just some of the ways in which technology is improving safety standards and streamlining the legal landscape regarding truck accident claims.
