Tyler Accident Attorney Discusses 4 Crucial Safety Features in Large Trucks

In the past, auto manufacturers developed new safety features exclusively for passenger vehicles. Put simply, this is where the money was. Safety was a much higher priority for passenger-vehicle drivers than for companies, which tended to focus more on fuel efficiency, longevity, and other economic factors.

However, due to changes in the insurance industry and federal laws, truck manufacturers have made substantial breakthroughs in CMV safety. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, some safety innovations are now mandatory in commercial motor vehicles.

Here are four examples of safety technologies that have been customized for truckers:

1. Trailer sway control;
2. Side impact protection and airbags;
3. Seat belts;
4. And electronic stability control.

Unfortunately, even the safest vehicles are not immune to collisions. If you were injured by a driver who was speeding, impaired, distracted, or otherwise negligent, contact the Cooper Law Firm.

Attorney N. Eric Cooper is a truck accident lawyer in Tyler who can help you pursue the maximum compensation for lost income, medical bills, and other damages. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a consultation. You can also visit http://truck-accident.usattorneys.com/texas/ to learn more about injury claims in Texas.

Here are four essential safety features in commercial vehicles:

1. Trailer Sway Control

Trailer sway is a real danger for truckers. The momentum can cause drivers to lose control and cause high-speed accidents.

Sometimes trailer sway causes CMVs to roll. Trailer sway control prevents this problem by activating when trailer shifts start affecting the truck’s movement.

2. Side Impact Protection and Airbags

Airbags are not exactly recent innovations, but they were not standard features in commercial trucks for many years. An increasing number of CMVs have airbags attached to the roofline, which act as side cushions. They are especially useful in rollover crashes because they cushion the head and protect drivers from brain injuries.

3. Seat belts

Although new technologies are challenging science fiction, seatbelts remain a trucker’s best defense against injuries and death. They are mandatory in all new commercial trucks.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, truck drivers are required by law to wear their seatbelts at all times. Not only do they prevent injuries to truckers, but they also keep drivers in the ideal positions to react to unexpected hazards, which can prevent accidents in the first place.

4. Stability Control 

Stability control is an important safety feature that allows truckers to maintain control of their vehicles in dangerous weather. It automatically adjusts the throttle and brakes to keep trucks stable.

Although these four safety technologies are saving lives, truck collisions still happen. If you were injured in a CMV crash that another driver caused, contact the Cooper Law Firm.

Eric Cooper is a Tyler accident attorney who can protect your interests. He helps clients throughout east Texas, including Carthage, Gilmer, Henderson, Jefferson, Longview, Lufkin, Marshall, Mt. Pleasant, Nacogdoches, Paris, Pittsburg, Texarkana and Franklin County. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a consultation.