New and sometimes old technology can be used to effectively reduce or prevent truck accidents. Most effective for the reduction of truck wrecks from driver fatigue is GPS, which can be used by the trucking company to monitor hours of service, the speed of the vehicle and can be used to verify the logbooks that truck drivers must maintain.
Some 18-wheelers GPS devises are enhanced with "black box" technology or crash data recorder, which records accident events and gives a very clear picture of the rig in the minutes before the accident. Information such as speed, braking, rpm, and other material accident information are recorded automatically when an "event" triggers the recorder.
New passenger cars such as GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota come with crash data recorders which are very similar to data recorders on airplanes.
In semi trucks it is the engine manufacturers who have data recorders standard with their engines. One of the earlier manufacturers to incorporate black box event records was Caterpillar who since 1994 had crash data available. Cummins another large maker of diesel motors started event data in 2002. Mack had crash data available since 1998, and other semi truck motor makers have varying data available.
Prior to the crash data being incorporated into the tractor trailer motor after market suppliers provided event recorders which have been used for many years by better trucking companies.
Not only does the event recorder help answer questions about what caused the truck accident, it coupled with GPS devises can help a trucking company comply with applicable regulations to help insure a safe fleet.
When selecting a Texas truck accident lawyer find an attorney who understands what crash data may exist and how to preserve, obtain and use crash data in prosecuting a truck accident lawsuit.
It is very important to get a qualified truck accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident.
