Preventing Truck Accidents: Does Samsung Offer a Solution?

The trucking industry is a valuable resource in this country. It provides us with access to numerous goods we use on a daily basis and contributes to the economy of our nation through the jobs it creates and services it provides.

Anyone driving in New Jersey can attest to the sheer volume of trucks on our roads. While many of us know how to share the road safely with these monstrous tractor-trailers, the fact remains that accidents involving trucks still occur on a daily basis. These accidents can result in serious and fatal injuries.

In this sense, figuring out ways to prevent truck-related accidents is something that can impact all of us. Advances in technology, in particular, hold the promise of helping us to cut down on these crashes and make our roads safer.

What You Should Know About the Samsung ‘Safety Truck’

According to a CBS News report, the Samsung “Safety Truck” may help to avoid potentially fatal accidents by increasing visibility for other motorists – specifically, those who find themselves trailing one of these large trucks.

Impeded visibility is a contributing factor in many trucking accidents. For instance, a person may try to pass a semi-truck on a two-lane road. However, because the driver can’t see past the semi, the driver may pull out into oncoming traffic.

However, the Samsung Safety Truck has a camera on the grill of the truck that provides live streaming to four large screens mounted on the back, enabling drivers to see potential obstacles such as stalled traffic or an accident in the road ahead. The camera can allow cars to pass large trucks with greater safety.

Samsung is pursuing additional tests and permits before moving forward with the project.

While Samsung is pushing this new technology as a way to save lives, not everyone is sold on the idea. Currently, a debate rages on whether the Samsung Safety Truck is a valid way to save lives and increase the safety of drivers, or whether the cameras on the truck serve as just one more distraction that can take drivers’ attention off the road.

You can form your own opinion by viewing the YouTube video of the prototype of the Samsung Safety Truck.

Truck Accident Statistics You Should Know

Due to the high volume of tractor-trailers on New Jersey roads, it is crucial that we make advances in safety. The risks are simply too serious.

An accident along Route 80 is just one of the latest incidents in New Jersey involving a large truck that resulted in extensive damage.

According to a report in the Daily Record, the driver of a Freightliner tractor-trailer lost control of his truck as he was driving in the westbound lane of Route 80 near Roxbury Township.

The truck jackknifed and collided with drivers in two separate SUVs. While one of the vehicles burst into flames, both drivers and their passenger were fortunate to walk away with only minor injuries. Unfortunately, many automobile drivers who are involved in trucking accidents are not so lucky.

According to the latest statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large trucks and buses were involved in more than 325,000 accidents in 2013 – the majority of which involved other vehicles.

The FMCSA estimates that roughly 75,000 serious injuries and more than 4,000 fatalities occur each year as the result of these accidents. More than half of all trucking accidents involved one of more errors on the part of the truck driver, according to the FMCSA.

At the same time, it is estimated that less than 700 of the 4,000 fatalities that occur each year affect the truck occupants. The vast majority of those injured or killed in these accidents are other drivers.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

In the hopes of preventing accidents involving trucks and the damages these crashes can cause, the FMCSA – in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – conducted the Large Truck Crash Causation Study. The goal of the study was to examine the reasons behind the above trucking accident statistics.

According to the study, trucking accidents are often complex events involving multiple factors. There are usually some critical factors to blame for these crashes. The study divides these critical reasons into the following three categories:

In the hopes of preventing accidents involving trucks and the damages these crashes can cause, the FMCSA – in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – conducted the Large Truck Crash Causation Study. The goal of the study was to examine the reasons behind the above trucking accident statistics.

According to the study, trucking accidents are often complex events involving multiple factors. There are usually some critical factors to blame for these crashes. The study divides these critical reasons into the following three categories:

Driver Errors

• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Distracted driving such as texting or using cell phones
• Driving while fatigued and falling asleep behind the wheel
• Aggressive driving such as tailgating
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol, prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

Vehicle Conditions

• Systems failures and brake failures
• Uneven or loose loads, causing the truck to leave the road
• Tire problems, including poor tread, uneven tire pressure and blowouts.

Environmental Factors

• Inclement weather and slick or icy roads
• Improperly maintained roads
• Areas under constructions
• Traffic tie-ups involving other vehicles.

While the fault for trucking accidents can usually be attributed to one of the above conditions, drivers can help when it comes to preventing trucking accidents. The FMCSA advises drivers to avoid following trucks too closely, refraining from slamming your brakes when a truck is behind you and not cutting off a truck by abruptly changing lanes.

Of course, you can use caution when passing tractor-trailers as well. Hopefully, technological advances such as the Samsung Safety Truck can help drivers to avoid high-risk situations.

Get Help from Our New Jersey Truck Accident Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident, contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., for a free consultation.

Our experienced New Jersey trucking accident attorneys understand the serious and potentially life-threatening injuries that can result from these types of accidents.

It may take months of medical care and treatment to address your injuries, while lost wages and your inability to perform tasks on your job may have a serious impact on your ability to provide for your family.

We can advise you on how to hold responsible parties accountable for your injuries, and we can assist you in pursuing the compensation you deserve.

Before settling with an insurance company for less than you deserve, speak with an attorney who understands your situation and the damages you have suffered. Serving Teaneck and the surrounding areas in New Jersey, we can help you.