Why Pedestrian Protection Systems Sometimes Fail With Commercial Vehicles
Given the size of a commercial truck, being hit by a commercial truck as a pedestrian has a very high chance of leading to a fatal accident. Even if you survive, you are likely to end up with very serious injuries. As a result, many commercial trucks are now equipped with pedestrian detection systems. However, if the commercial truck that hits you is not equipped with one of these systems, they might be considered more liable for your injuries.
The Role of Pedestrian Protection Systems
The role of a pedestrian protection system is to detect an imminent accident so that a driver can stop in time and avoid the accident. Each second that is saved can make a difference given how long it takes for commercial trucks to stop.
When a Pedestrian Protection System Fails
The system most often fails when the company fails to install a system or purchase a truck that comes with the system pre-installed. In other cases, the pedestrian protection system may succeed in detecting a pedestrian but might fail to stop in time.
If this is the case, the driver might have been negligent, and you will need a commercial vehicle accident attorney to conduct an investigation into what went wrong and why the accident occurred.
Common Reasons for Accidents Involving Pedestrians
Some commercial truck drivers are simply not paying close attention when operating their motor vehicles. If this is the case, the driver will be considered negligent, and their insurance provider will be considered responsible for paying for damages.
Some truck drivers fail to notice a pedestrian because they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol when operating the vehicle. If this is the case, the employer might be considered liable for hiring an employee who has a history of drug use. Employers are also responsible for performing regular drug tests to detect employees who are abusing illegal substances.
Another common reason why commercial trucks hit pedestrians is that they are exhausted. Some drivers put under pressure by their employers to work longer hours to meet their obligations. This can lead to drivers not being able to pay attention or even falling asleep while behind the wheel.
Truck drivers are required by law to record how many hours they have been operating their vehicles. However, some drivers fail to maintain logs or will maintain fraudulent logs. Under these circumstances, a truck accident lawyer from a firm like Snyder & Wenner, P.C. can help you build a case for why you deserve compensation for your injuries.
