Navigation systems have become essential tools for long-haul drivers, but their limitations can sometimes turn helpful guidance into a serious hazard. As a truck accident lawyer can share, GPS errors have led to a surprising number of crashes especially when trucks are routed down roads not suited for their size or load. In many of these cases, the navigation system didn’t account for height restrictions, weight limits, or road design, placing both drivers and nearby motorists at risk.
GPS In Trucks
Commercial GPS devices are supposed to route trucks differently than those designed for personal vehicles. However, not all trucking companies invest in the right equipment, and drivers may use consumer-grade apps that lack important safety features. Or, they may use out of date software that leads to a crash. Even with the right hardware, software glitches or outdated mapping data can mislead a truck into a neighborhood street or under a low-clearance bridge. When collisions occur because of these misdirections, victims often face a tangle of liability involving multiple parties.
Determining fault in GPS-related truck accidents can be especially challenging. A driver may be held responsible for ignoring posted signage or for following directions blindly. Yet trucking companies also have a duty to train drivers to verify routes and avoid prohibited roads. In some situations, the GPS manufacturer could be drawn into the case if the software was defective or failed to issue proper warnings. Sorting through these layers requires careful investigation and a strong legal strategy.
A personal injury lawyer can help identify and preserve evidence that might otherwise be overlooked. For example, most trucks are equipped with telematics systems that track route history, speed, and driving behavior. That data, along with logs from the GPS unit, can be crucial for reconstructing the path the driver followed and determining whether the route was unsafe from the outset. Expert witnesses may be needed to explain how a system failure contributed to the crash. They can analyze the data records and disseminate that information so that everyone can understand how the accident happened.
For injured motorists, collecting this information quickly is critical. Trucking companies may have limited retention policies for telematics data, and physical damage to the GPS device can complicate recovery efforts. Legal counsel is often required to send formal preservation letters and initiate discovery before key evidence disappears. Medical documentation is equally important, especially when showing how the impact of the crash lines up with the route the truck should not have taken.
As our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC can share, many GPS-related truck accidents happen in areas where the driver should not have been routed in the first place. These incidents highlight the need for stricter industry standards, regular software updates, and improved driver training. They also illustrate how technology, when used improperly or without oversight, can lead to avoidable harm.
Victims should also be aware that these cases often involve more than one insurance carrier. The truck may be covered separately from the fleet, the GPS system may have its own liability exposure, and other third parties such as dispatchers or route planners might share some responsibility. Building a claim that includes all these angles requires thorough documentation and coordinated legal efforts. A lawyer can handle multiple overlapping claims that affect more than one party on your behalf.
If you’ve been injured in a crash where GPS guidance appears to have played a role, speak with an attorney as soon as possible. These cases often hinge on early access to technical data and clear communication about how the crash occurred.