Motorists in California may be interested in a new study being conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The proposed study is going to look at different distractions that could be causing trucking accidents. The study will be the first of its kind done in 15 years.
The last study of tractor-trailer accidents was done between 2001 and 2003. At the time, the study concluded that the majority of trucking accidents occurred due to driver inaction or action. The previous study was done before cell phones and other technology became prominent in vehicles.
Since 2009, trucking accidents that involved a fatality have been on the rise. Over 4,400 died in 2018 due to an accident involving a large truck. This is a 5.7% increase from 2016. Researchers at the FMCSA hope that developing a baseline of truck crash factors may decrease these numbers. The results from the study may help prevent future trucking accidents by promoting crash avoidance techniques. The study also plans to look at automation driving and how using the new technology may help in preventing accidents.
Truck crashes caused by drivers often cause devastating life-threatening injuries, costly medical bills, lost wages and death. It’s important that drivers and driving companies keep other drivers safe on the road by safeguarding their vehicles with the proper safety equipment. Drivers should also be well-rested and free from distractions while operating a large truck to prevent accidents from occurring. If an accident occurs, the driver or trucking company might be responsible for damages. A lawyer may be able to file a civil suit on behalf of an injured individual due to negligence. For example, a driver who dropped a navigation device and bent down to get it may rear-end another vehicle while looking down. A lawsuit might be filed against the trucking company for not installing navigation devices into the truck properly.