Trucking accident attorneys note a September 2015 blog post by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), calling for improvements in semi truck collision warning systems (CWS). The recommendation follows a series of fatal semi truck accidents, including a June 2014 multi-vehicle crash in New Jersey involving six vehicles and 21 people. The semi driver allegedly failed to slow down for slow moving traffic and crashed into several vehicles. The truck’s CWS did not alert the driver of the impending collision according to the NTSB.
If you have been injured or a loved one killed in an accident involving a semi truck, contact Attorney Group today to learn more about your options. We can answer your questions in a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. If you decide to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated trucking accident lawyer.
Important: The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.
NTSB: Preventing High Speed Crashes A Great Challenge
Dr. Ensar Becic , a human performance investigator with the NTSB, notes in the blog post that the semi truck involved in the New Jersey accident was equipped with an older model CWS, and investigators found no evidence that the CWS alerted the driver to the impending collision. Dr. Becic wrote that even though the truck driver was suffering from fatigue, an up-to-date model of a CWS installed in the truck may have reduced the severity of the crash.
Dr. Becic is optimistic with the new collision avoidance system (CAS) technologies that are becoming available, noting that they will detect crashes sooner and with more accuracy. The investigator however cautioned:
Whether a crash is prevented — or the extent to which it is mitigated — depends on the speed of the vehicles involved and the quality of the CAS in use. These issues must be considered when developing and evaluating the effectiveness of forward CAS in all vehicle types.
Developing forward collision avoidance systems that can prevent all rear-end crashes is a great challenge, the doctor concluded, but through continuous technological advancements and research, and more demanding regulatory standards, it is possible.
Injured Drivers or Passengers May Be Entitled to Compensation
Trucking drivers and trucking companies have a duty to make sure that they operate and maintain their vehicles in a safe manner. If this duty is not fulfilled, fatal accidents may occur, and the truck driver or trucking company can be held liable for injuries that may result.
Drivers or passengers who are injured in semi truck accidents may be entitled to compensation for damages resulting from their injuries, including:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income or ability to work
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish resulting from an injury
If a driver or passenger is killed in a semi truck accident, his or her family members may be able to pursue compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one. Wrongful death damages can include:
- Mental anguish, and pain and suffering from the loss of a loved one
- Loss of relationship or a loved one’s financial support
- Funeral expenses
- Conscious pain and suffering or a loved one prior to death
Trucking accidents often present complicated issues, such as determining all potential responsible parties, and negotiating fair and reasonable compensation for injuries and other damages is likewise often difficult. People who have been injured in a trucking accident are advised to seek a qualified semi truck accident attorney to help them protect their legal rights.
Contact Us For More Information
If you have been injured, or a loved one killed, in a semi truck accident, contact Attorney Group to learn more about your options. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group today.
