New Truck Designs Geared for Safety
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno truck accident lawyer. Two truck makers are looking toward increased sales in the new year with additions to their lineup. The manufacturers are designing the trucks with safety in mind.
Volvo Trucks North America
Volvo, long-known for its long-haul trucks, is making a move into regional use vehicles such as its VNR model. The automaker said in a recent interview that the model has a short turning ratio making it ideal for short-range delivery routes. Volvo has indicated that since its introduction, the VNR has outpaced its forerunner the VNM.
Mack Trucks
Mack trucks is moving more squarely into long-haul trucks from its previous role as a construction truck. This departure, the company hopes, will increase sales. Their new long-haul truck, Anthem, is designed for highway use in its aerodynamic design, saving money at the pumps for carriers and independent truckers alike.
Truck Design
New trucks are designed with safety and the driver’s comfort in mind. Instrumentation is laid out so everything is within the trucker’s reach and available with hands-free communication an option. The look is a more aerodynamic truck that reduces the cost of travel. Maintenance reminders and devices that gauge how close the truck is to other vehicles issue a warning when the truck is too close to another vehicle.
Defective Trucks or Truck Parts
While truckers are obligated to drive safely and maintain their vehicles, there are times a truck accident is due to a defective truck part. For instance, a trucker maintains his or her truck as required, fixing problems or replacing worn parts. Suppose on a particular run, the truck experienced a tire blowout, forcing the truck into an adjacent lane and causing it to hit a passenger vehicle, killing everyone on board due to catastrophic injuries. Upon examination, it was found that the truck’s tire was defective in its design, and the tire manufacturer had failed to recall the tire even though it had evidence that it might be faulty.
In such a case, the trucker or the trucking company he or she works for could not be held liable. The liability would turn to the company that manufactured the tire, ending in a products liability lawsuit.
Truck Products Liability
Products liability claims are of two basic types:
- Manufacturing liability: This is caused by improper manufacturing of a vehicle or part. It assumes that during the manufacturing or assembly process, mistakes were made, leading to a defective vehicle or part. In such cases, the negligent manufacturer is liable. In some cases, the work done at a manufacturing plant may be done properly, but the item was damaged after it left the assembly station.
- Design: In this case, the defect in a vehicle or part was in the designing stage. Since the design supersedes the assembly, a product will be defective in the end despite proper assembly.
Proving Negligence
Proving negligence can take considerable effort. However, in California, negligence does not have to be proven in products liability cases due to the state’s strict liability law. Under this, the plaintiff or injured party merely needs to prove that their injuries were directly caused by the product’s defects.
Fresno Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno truck accident lawyer. Truck design has improved over the years with an emphasis on safety features. But devices are only as good as the trucker who uses them or the trucking company that sets the schedules for deliveries. When truck accidents happen, they can be devastating, resulting in traumatic injuries for those in smaller, lighter vehicles. In such cases, a family may need to go on without a loved one killed in a trucking accident or an individual may face injuries such as a brain injury or an amputation injury that robs them of the life they once knew. Talking to a seasoned lawyer with experience in truck accidents can save you valuable time after the accident. Reach out to me anytime for free, friendly advice. Call (559) 377-7676 or (800) 404-5400 to reach me.
Damages after a truck accident can take their toll on one’s finances. Recovering monetary relief for these damages is imperative at a time you may have mounting medical bills and not be able to work. As an injury lawyer, I have fought to ensure my clients get the compensation they need. You can see how I’ve won verdicts and settlements in previous cases. You can also learn more about my practice using Google, Yelp and Avvo.
I am proud to have been inducted into a group whose members have cases that resulted in over $1 million for clients. Go to www.milliondollaradvocates.com to learn more.
When you are looking for more on legal topics, explore autoaccident.com, the website that I founded.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/truck-formula-1-mercedes-white-2707700/
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