While most people associate the internet of things (IoT) with consumer electronics such as smart thermostats and activity trackers, we can also use smart, connected devices to make our roads safer. For example, innovative trucking companies increasingly utilize fleet monitoring technologies to track their operations and improve trucking safety.
While fleet monitoring technology may reduce the likelihood of truck accidents, it also collects critical evidence that might improve your case against a driver or a trucking firm if you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a terrible truck accident.
What Is the Process of Fleet Monitoring Technology?
Fleet monitoring technology can take several forms, including:
- Telematics: It is a combination of GPS and telecommunications systems that provide trucking businesses with real-time data on the location of their fleet, driver behavior, and vehicle diagnostic information.
- System of Collision Avoidance: Technologies detect vehicles and other risks and either warn the driver or avoid crashes automatically by braking or returning the truck to its lane.
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: A system that automates certain driver functions; examples include adaptive cruise control, adaptive exterior lighting, and blind spot detection.
- Dual Facing Cameras: Dual-facing cameras record both the interior and exterior of a truck’s cab. These cameras are being used as part of a driver training evaluation process, which helps carriers improve the behavior of their drivers and make the roads safer.
These systems monitor driver performance, the mechanical status of the vehicle, and other crucial truck safety issues by combining sensors, cameras, cellular baseband radios, and complex algorithms.
Fortunately, most large trucking businesses in the United States are introducing or have already deployed telematics and other fleet monitoring systems to boost productivity and minimize expenses.
How Can Telematics Aid in the Prevention of Truck Accidents?
Telematics and other modern fleet monitoring systems can aid in the prevention of major truck accidents and catastrophic truck accident injuries by doing the following:
- Drivers are warned when they speed or drive recklessly.
- Redirecting trucks away from busy and dangerous regions
- Tracking drivers’ activity allows transportation businesses to frequently fire reckless drivers.
- Remote mechanical diagnosis allows for better vehicle maintenance.
Can Fleet Management Technology Help My Truck Accident Case?
If a truck accident occurs, a successful truck accident claim requires adequate evidence to show how the driver’s or trucking firm’s irresponsible actions caused the accident. Some pieces of evidence can be provided by advanced fleet monitoring systems, which include data about the truck’s speed, route, and mechanical function, as well as the vehicle’s braking and acceleration tendencies.
Furthermore, fleet monitoring systems can assist in documenting the driver’s behavior and whether or not they violated federal hours of service regulations. A truck accident lawyer can use this data to reconstruct the collision, challenge the driver’s testimony if it is untrue, and demonstrate the driver’s or trucking company’s fault.
If telematics-based research suggests that the truck company:
- Knew the driver had a history of risky driving and failed to rectify the behavior adequately
- There were insufficient safety measures regarding distracted driving
Then, you are entitled to additional negligence claims.
An expert truck accident lawyer can help you gather and evaluate complex data from telematics and other fleet monitoring systems, as well as assess secondary causes, insurance coverage, and other issues that will affect the value of your claim.
Trucking businesses often keep logs and other data for a short time. Although firms are required to save any data linked to an accident, many trucking companies fail to do so, and some even purposefully destroy evidence to prevent victims from successfully submitting claims.
The sooner you contact an expert trucking accident lawyer, the sooner they can issue a preservation letter and begin examining your case to ensure that all critical evidence is preserved.
Conclusion
Technology Is Not A Magic Wand. There is no doubt that safety equipment can prevent truck accidents, but driver’s intervention is more important than any technical device for road safety. Accidents occur when commercial truck drivers fail to obey traffic laws due to weariness, speeding, or any other driver error. If you’ve been in an accident caused by a commercial truck driver, you’ll need the help of an experienced law firm.
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