Recent advances in wearable technology may provide a number of safety benefits for the trucking industry. By monitoring drivers’ health, providing navigation assistance without distraction, tracking hours of service, and detecting fatigue, wearable technology can help prevent truck accidents and relay valuable information back to trucking companies.
The Houston truck accident lawyers at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. can help you or your loved ones if you’ve been injured in a truck accident due to a truck driver’s fatigue or negligence. We are highly experienced with assisting clients with personal injury cases. We will help explain your options, and fight to obtain the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (281) 283-8500 to schedule a free consultation.
Specifically, wearable technology could be used to improve safety in the following areas:
- Monitoring Truck Driver Fatigue- Driver fatigue is a major safety concern in the trucking industry, largely due to long work hours, stressful conditions, and a high incidence of sleep apnea. Studies estimate that as many as 44 percent of truck drivers rarely get an adequate amount of sleep. Driver fatigue is a factor in at least 13 percent of truck accidents. Headsets and hats that are equipped with biometric sensors can monitor the driver for signs of fatigue. One example of wearable technology that can combat driver fatigue is The Alert Band, device that is attached to a driver’s forehead and triggers an alarm when fatigue levels are too high.
- Driving Alerts and Navigation Assistance- Smartwatches like the Apple Watch can track driver behavior and provide navigation assistance. For example, the smartwatch could deploy physical sensations (known as haptic feedback) or sound notifications when a driver exceeds speed limits, a vehicle enters their truck’s blind spots, or to alert them to an upcoming turn. These alerts are delivered without the driver having to take their eyes off the road, so they limit the potential for distraction.
- Detecting Health Problems- Truck drivers are a high-risk group for health problems, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, and stress. Fitness-related sensors in smartwatches, wristbands, and headbands can collect psychological data such as a driver’s heart rate, vital signs, sleep patterns, breathing rate, and overall activity levels. This technology can detect signs of cardiac arrest or the need for medical attention.
- Hours-of-Service Compliance- Smartwatches can display the remaining hours of service and remind drivers when they need take a break from the road. This information can help drivers determine whether they are too tired to drive, and it can guarantee compliance with federal safety regulations.
How Our Houston Trucking Accident Lawyers Can Help
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a trucking accident through no fault of your own, The Krist Law Firm, P.C. can help. Our Houston trucking accident lawyers have over four decades of experience helping truck crush victims obtain the compensation they deserve. With the help of one of our skilled attorneys, you may be able to recover compensation for past and future:
- Medical costs
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish
- Physical limitations
- Disfigurement
- Loss of earning capacity
At The Krist Law Firm, P.C., we have a successful track record of securing the maximum compensation possible for our clients, including the largest verdict in a Texas commercial trucking case in 2014.
Contact us today at (281) 283-8500 or online to schedule a free consultation.