Truck cameras are becoming increasingly more common. Trucking companies began installing these cameras in 2015 after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that there had been an 8% increase in fatal crashes between 2014 and 2015.
Many truckers are opposed to these cameras because of privacy concerns. Some truck cameras face the driver, meaning that trucking companies can view the driver at any time, but the majority of trucking companies oppose recording their drivers.
Most cab cameras are designed to record the perspective of truck drivers rather than the driver themselves. That way, the trucking company, insurance companies, and courts can view what took place if an accident occurs.
But do these cameras actually decrease the number of truck accidents on the road?
In this blog, we discuss how these truck cameras work, whether they prevent wrecks, and whether you can use truck camera footage as evidence when filing a claim.
How Truck Cameras Work
Different actions trigger road-facing cab cameras to turn on including sudden braking, acceleration, and swerving. These cameras are designed to capture the driver’s perspective leading up to an accident, the accident itself, and the accident’s aftermath.
Although many drivers and trucking companies are opposed to cameras that face the driver, these cameras are designed to prevent accidents rather than invade drivers’ privacy. The idea is that if trucking companies can view footage of the truck driver, the driver will be less inclined to engage in dangerous activities at the wheel, such as driving under the influence, driving while distracted, and driving while tired. Additionally, there are also new technological advancements designed to prevent truck drivers from falling asleep at the wheel. Some trucking companies now utilize wearable biometric sensors that detect when truckers drive while fatigued. The sensors were created to reduce fatigue-induced accidents, such as falling asleep at the wheel.
The Problem with Truck Cameras
Truck cameras are far from perfect. Events leading up to truck accidents often don’t trigger cab cameras, meaning that certain accidents may go unrecorded.
Additionally, trucking companies that have implemented driver-facing cameras often overstep their bounds when it comes to trucker discipline. A truck driver may be unfairly disciplined because of constant surveillance. In fact, truckers filed a lawsuit in California against the usage of continuous surveillance for this very reason. The court ruled in favor of the trucking companies that used continuous surveillance, but the case does raise privacy concerns regarding truck cameras.
Only employers are allowed to see and use trucker footage, but truck drivers typically stay in their cab even when they’re on break. They often eat and sleep in their truck cab, meaning that their company can view them even while they’re not working.
Do Truck Cameras Prevent Accidents?
Cameras often make truckers’ lives harder, but they’re likely making the roads safer for both truckers and passenger-vehicle drivers. Cameras cut down on risky driving behaviors which reduces the likelihood of truckers becoming involved in fatal accidents.
Although many truckers are against truck cameras, these cameras have also been used to prove that truck drivers were not liable for wrecks and stolen freight.
Using Truck Cameras as Evidence
Truck cameras are invaluable when it comes to proving claims. Video evidence is typically viewed as an objective account of the events that occurred because it shows the trucker’s perspective leading up to the wreck as well as the wreck itself. Additionally, driver-facing footage can show whether a truck driver was engaged in a dangerous activity at the time of the wreck.
Unfortunately, insurance companies often go to great lengths to keep footage from being used in court when it provides evidence against their clients. Insurance companies want to avoid paying out expensive settlements at all costs, and some companies will even delete video footage before it’s submitted.
Contact an Indiana Truck Injury Lawyer
Whether you’re a truck driver or a standard driver who was involved in a wreck with a trucker, you need expert legal support to help you with your case. Insurance companies will do everything in their power to avoid paying out claims, so you need a legal team on your side that will help you get paid for your wreck.
Here at Crossen Law Firm, we’ve helped countless Indiana residents receive the money they deserved for car and truck accidents. We’ll help you hold the liable driver responsible so that you can recover compensation for vehicle damages, medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Call our office today at 317-401-8626, or you can contact us online here.
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