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Meet the Worlds First Self-Driving Truck

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
self driving vehicleCommercial trucks may one day routinely travel on autopilot, with drivers taking over only in situations like bad weather and on city streets. The worlds first road-ready, self-driving truck, the Freightliner Inspiration, was unveiled just outside of Las Vegas. Two autonomous trucks are licensed to operate on public roads in Nevada. These test vehicles operate with a live driver behind the wheel, in case the self-driving technology encounters a situation it cant yet handle. The trucks are outfitted with advanced adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and blind spot detection currently used on passenger cars. They operate on a self-piloting technology that doesn’t allow the truck pull to the left to pass slower vehicles. The driver must regain control over the vehicle to exit the highway. Weighing up to 80,000 pounds and measuring as long as 70 feet, large trucks (also known as semi-trucks, tractor-trailers or 18-wheelers) pose a greater potential danger than any other vehicle on California’s roads. Due to the large amount of time that commercial vehicles spend on our roads, there is a greater chance that they will be involved in a traffic incident. In the event of a truck accident, it is important to establish who is liable to pay for damages that the truck may have caused. This can be a difficult process, as there are a number of different entities which may be responsible.

Free Legal Case Evaluation

At the Arnold Law Firm, the Sacramento personal injury lawyers in our office work hard to ensure that truck accident victims get the justice that they deserve. If you or a loved one has been involved in a big rig or commercial vehicle accident, don’t delay in exploring your legal options. We offer 100% FREE case evaluations and only get paid if we obtain compensation for you.

Call (916) 777-7777 or use the Free Case Evaluation today.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.