Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Certainly everyone has heard the term 'data recorder' in reference to aircraft. They are electronic devices designed to either record instructions relayed to the electronic systems of the plane. There are also cockpit voice recorders that tape all conversations in the cockpit between crewmembers as well as other conversations and sounds. These recorders are invaluable if the need arises to reconstruct an accident.

More and more, today's automobiles and trucks are also coming equipped with an Event Data Recorder, which is designed to serve a purpose similar to that in a plane. In other words in the case of a vehicle collision the 'black box' can inform the accident reconstructionist of such valuable information as the speed at which the car or semi truck was traveling, whether or not the brakes were applied and the degree at which the accelerator was being pressed down.

In addition, it will indicate if seat belts were in use and if any warning lights were displayed.

The EDR (Event Data Recorder) may be engaged when air bags are deployed in the vehicle (but not always) and they provide the accident reconstructionist with over half a dozen pages of relevant information related to the crash. This data is retrieved by trained professionals and used in conjunction with other crash information to provide a complete picture of the car or truck accident.

While these data recorders will not prevent a wreck - the information it provides can be referenced for the future development of safety features that may prove valuable in years to come. Additionally, the data can be used in a lawsuit to determine speed, braking and other factors a jury may consider in finding fault for causing an accident.

Continue reading "Box Boxes and Accidents" »

Even more safety features are being installed in some of the more reputable semi-truck fleets across the country. For instance, a reputable trucking company has added dashboard monitors that are tied to a front collision warning system.
If a vehicle cuts too closely in front of the semi the mechanism automatically takes away the driver's control of the throttle thereby automatically reducing the truck's speed. If the other vehicle gets even closer - then this safety device actually applies the brakes for the driver!

In addition to the front collision warning system - the cabs themselves are now equipped with a rollover stability feature and lane departure warnings. The warning system works with cameras that are mounted around the vehicle - if the rig does not remain within the middle of a lane or veers too close to the lines that divide the highway. Finally, the company has added what is termed 'adaptive cruise control'.

Other features have been added to increase the driver's comfort on long rides. These include satellite radio and bigger, more comfortable chairs as well as windows with 'wider vantage points and automatically adjustable mirrors'.

No doubt, anything that can be done to make the driver more comfortable is actually a safety feature as well.

While all of these are great add-ons that have shown to decrease accidents through authentic road tests - we urge the trucking industry to continue to search for ways to cut down the number of injuries and fatalities that result from semi-truck accidents.

Continue reading "Truck Accidents Prevented by Technology" »

Most likely every reader is familiar with the fact that data - or flight - recorders are required in airplanes. Now the National Transportation Safety Board is attempting to make them mandatory on semi trucks as well.

Just as information from the recorder is used to reconstruct airline accidents - so, too, does the NTSB want the ability to reconstruct semi truck accidents. They reason that this will allow them to develop further safety precautions and devices that may eventually reduce the number of semi truck accidents on our roadways.

So what type of data does a recorder collect anyway? To begin with they can keep an accurate account of such things as the number of hours the vehicle has been in service. In addition it will provide crash data such as the speed the truck was traveling at the time of the accident and/or braking information. All of this is useful to those charged with reconstruction of an accident.

Moreover, the current approach to maintaining any type of records is simply requiring the semi truck driver to keep a manual log in which he or she inputs the information by hand.

The temptation to falsify information or otherwise misrepresent the truth is almost too great for some defense interests after a semi truck accident. To my way of thinking it's well past time to require data recorders in all semi trucks.

Continue reading "Data Recorders on Semi Trucks" »