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Regulators, Truck Companies Debate Anti-Rollover Systems

Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook

Safety regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have recommended that all new trucks be manufactured with rollover prevention devices.

Rollover truck accidents cause about 700 fatalities every year, according to statistics gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Despite this, truck manufacturers are still pushing back against use of the devices that would prevent many if not all of these fatalities.

Even in a truck accident where there are no deaths, the injuries are often more serious than those in accidents involving cars and SUVs. The weight and speed of a truck on the highway can result in severe injuries and permanent disabilities for accident victims.

The stability devices work by using engine torque and computer breaking that targets individual wheels. The system is designed to help drivers maintain control of the truck during emergency situations by keeping all of the wheels on the ground and preventing the trailer from swinging.

One element of controversy for these systems is that the regulation's requirements will likely force truck manufacturers to use a device made by a specific company, and the prices can vary significantly. Truck industry lobbyists have emphasized the large amounts of money at stake in the language of the regulation.

People who are injured in rollover truck accidents may be able to pursue a civil action against the driver or the truck company, especially if either is found to have been out of compliance with relevant safety regulations. More information on truck accident lawsuits is available on our law firm's website.

Source: The Detroit News, "Truck makers push back on U.S. rollover-technology rule" Jeff Plungis, July 26, 2012

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