California semi-truck accidents often end in serious and sometimes fatal injuries. If you have been a victim of such a crash, you may be wondering how to seek compensation for your losses. You will first need to know just how the truck driver or the trucking company itself was negligent.
Phones and Other Technology
Between 2009 and 2018, the number of fatal large-truck crashes rose by 52.6%, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Some factors that have undoubtedly contributed to this were increased smartphone use and the use of in-cab navigation systems, fleet management systems, and vehicle safety features like automatic emergency braking.
FMCSA Plans New Large-Truck Crash Study
All of this technology can prove distracting to truckers, and it is accepted that distracted driving is a form of negligence. These factors will most likely be the subject of the FMCSA’s new large-truck crash causation study, the plans for which were announced in January 2020. The last time the agency conducted such a study was between 2001 and 2003. Its results were last updated in 2007. After establishing a baseline of factors in large-truck crashes, researchers intend to create crash avoidance strategies. These, they hope, will be applicable even to vehicles with Level 4 (high) or Level 5 (full) automation.
Personal Attention of a Lawyer
If you have been injured in a truck accident caused by the negligence of another party and have incurred significant medical bills, you might find it advisable to discuss your situation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Such an attorney can strive to seek a settlement with the trucking company’s insurance provider, but if the amount of compensation is inadequate, the filing of a lawsuit might be the next step.
