Perhaps you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in a large-truck accident in southern New Jersey. The pain that such an incident causes is bad enough, but for some victims, the losses can be especially hard. Many of them may be rendered unable to work or enjoy the benefits of family relations. To be reimbursed for these and other losses, they need to show how the trucker was negligent, so it may be good to know what the most common factors in truck crashes are.
New Technology a Factor
Ever since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration completed its last large-truck crash causation study in 2003, a lot has changed in the trucking industry. Smartphone use has gone dramatically up with many truckers calling and texting behind the wheel.
Other technologies like fleet management systems and in-cab navigation systems are altering truckers’ behavior. Even those features that are meant to keep everyone safe, such as automatic emergency braking, are contributing to inattention as many truckers overestimate the features’ capabilities.
FMCSA Plans New Study of These Factors
Chiefly for this reason, the FMCSA announced in January that it will be conducting a new large-truck crash study. Researchers hope to create crash avoidance strategies that apply even to highly or fully automated vehicles. This is crucial because, according to the FMCSA, there has been a 52.6% jump in fatal large-truck crashes between 2009 and 2018.
A Lawyer’s Personalized Representation
To see whether a truck crash provides grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, you may want to schedule a meeting with a lawyer who provides personalized attention. With legal assistance, you may be able to determine just how the trucker was at fault; for instance, the trucker may have been distracted, drowsy or drunk behind the wheel.