Truck accidents are a serious issue in the state of Florida. Not only do these accidents occur more frequently than they should, but they often result in tragic consequences.
According to a report from the Large Truck and Bus Overview, which is created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 3,978 large trucks and buses involved in fatal accidents in 2014. These collisions resulted in 4,161 fatalities. Florida is considered one of the top 10 states for bus and large truck fatalities, with 190 occurring in 2014 in Florida alone.
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ data from 2014 stated that medium and heavy trucks (the ones that weighted over 10,000 pounds) were involved in thousands of accidents in Florida, which resulted in 4,320 injury crashes in 2014 alone.
With these shocking statistics, it is only natural that many people are working on ways to reduce the number of trucking accidents that occur. However, if you are involved in an accident, it is best to contact a North Palm Beach trucking accident attorney for assistance.
Enter the Self-Driving Truck
The majority of people have heard about the Google self-driving car. It is touted as being a way for everyone to get around safely and easily regardless of if they can drive or not. While there are several self-driving Google vehicles currently on the road (still in the testing phase) many people still wonder if the concept of self-driving trucks would also be beneficial and reduce the number of accidents.
Self-driving trucks would be completely automated and able to operate without any human input. As a result, no driver is necessary and as time passes, the need for humans in the truck in the instance of an emergency or problem would be completely eliminated.
Potential Pros and Cons of Self-Driving Trucks
It is difficult to predict what the precise consequences of self-driving trucks would be. In regard to driverless trucks and accidents, as well as subsequent fatal injuries, it is extremely likely that this would be significantly reduced. In fact, according to an article printed in USA Today, Google states that its self-driving cars have covered more than 1.7 million miles and only been involved in 11 accidents during a six-year timespan. All of these accidents resulted in no injuries and only minor damage. With these statistics in mind, it implies that self-driving trucks could produce results that are similar.
Liability in Self-Driving Truck Accidents
Another important issue to consider is the liability of a self-driving truck accident. While this situation is less likely, it is still completely possible. After all, even automated systems aren’t perfect. In some cases the manufacturer may be responsible for an accident, however these types of situations need to be evaluated carefully by an attorney.
While the introduction of self-driving trucks may reduce the total number of accidents in the future, preventing accidents with these innovative vehicles is still currently just an idea. If you ever are involved in an accident with a truck, make sure to call a Florida accident attorney right away. If you need help, or more information about trucking accidents and your rights, contact us at Fetterman & Associates today.
Also Read: Carrier Liability In Trucking Accidents
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