What Are The Dangers of Poor Truck Maintenance?
Last updated Tuesday, July 25th, 2023
Some of the dangers of poor truck maintenance include:
- Parts of the truck may decay and become faulty without regular replacement or maintenance.
- Truck drivers who don’t keep up with maintenance may be unaware of any defective parts inside their vehicles, which increases their chances of getting into an accident.
- Sudden vehicle malfunctions due to poor truck maintenance are one of the leading causes of truck accidents.
If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident caused by poor truck maintenance, you may be able to hold the truck driver, trucking company, and/or maintenance company accountable for their negligence. A truck accident lawyer from Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers can manage your case and help you pursue compensation for your damages.
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Trucks That Don’t Undergo Routine Maintenance May Have Faulty Parts
Semi-trucks often undergo heavy wear and tear due to long road trips, driving through inclement weather, driving for extended periods of time, and carrying heavy loads. Over time, the demands of a truck will exhaust the lifespan of certain parts, which require routine maintenance to replace system parts or repair defects in the vehicle.
Truck drivers and the companies that employ them must regularly maintain their trucks so that they remain safe for operation. Otherwise, without proper maintenance, trucks may develop the following vehicle defects:
- Faulty brakes
- Broken headlights and taillights, including turn signal lights
- Grime in the diesel engine due to dirty oil, which can cause damage
- Worn-out tires, which can lead to tire blowouts while driving
- Suspension errors
In some cases, lack of maintenance can leave truck drivers unaware of problems developing inside their vehicles, such as leaks coming from the fuel tank. Drivers might not notice symptoms of an impending vehicle failure without having their vehicle inspected throughout the year, which leaves them vulnerable to accidents.
Brake Systems That Are Poorly Maintained Are More Likely to Cause Accidents
The weight of large trucks creates even greater demand for their brake systems, yet one of the major causal factors in truck accidents is poorly maintained brakes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Trucks require longer stopping distances in order to brake safely. However, during emergency situations, the brakes must also be in good condition to bring the truck to a full stop. If a driver does not regularly maintain their truck’s brake system, they may:
- Be unable to stop when someone cuts them off or in general
- Find difficulty coming to stop if the road is slippery or wet
- Require even longer stopping distances in order to come to a full stop
New Advancements in Brake Systems Can Help Prevent Accidents
According to the Journal of Safety Research, trucks must operate with new forms of braking systems in order to maintain safety on the roads, such as:
- Antilock brakes, which prevent trucks from hard braking
- Automatic brake adjusters
- Visible brake adjustment indicators
With these systems, truck drivers can reduce their crash risk by as high as 65 percent.
Truck Accidents Caused by Poor Maintenance Can Be Fatal
The IIHS reported over four thousand fatalities caused by truck accidents in 2020. Perhaps one of the largest dangers of poorly maintained trucks is that accidents involving large trucks can cause death.
If a truck driver is unaware of vehicle errors, they will not be able to anticipate an accident and may swerve when a tire blows out, their brakes fail, or their engine gives out unexpectedly. Swerving can lead to jackknife accidents, which occur when the truck’s trailer swerves to one side past the front cabin.
If you lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident, you may be able to recover damages related to their death, such as funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and pain and suffering. One of our lawyers can manage your case while you grieve so that you do not lose your opportunity to pursue compensation in your time of need.
A Lawyer from Our Firm Can Help You Hold the Trucking Company Accountable
Hiring a lawyer to represent your truck accident case can be useful if you are overwhelmed by the claims process, are still recovering from your injuries, or are processing the death of a loved one. At Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers, we help clients build their cases by:
- Researching the federal regulations trucking companies and drivers must abide by, including maintenance mandates
- Investigate the accident to determine if a vehicle malfunction caused the accident
- File legal motions to request information and data records from trucking companies, which can be used as evidence
- Handle communications with all involved parties and work toward negotiating a potential settlement deal
- Prepare clients’ cases for trial if necessary
You’ll want to call our trusted lawyers today to get legal help right away. Depending on your state there may be a limited time to pursue legal action. This is called the statutes of limitations and they determine how long you have to file a court case. A lawyer can assess your evidence and will be able to help guide you along the way so you don’t miss any deadlines to
Call Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers to Work on Your Accident Case
Trucking companies must adhere to strict federal regulations in order to transport goods in the United States. These regulations mandate that trucking companies regularly maintain their vehicles to ensure better safety on the road. Failure to comply with these rules puts people’s lives in danger, both for the truck drivers and surrounding road occupants.
If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident because the driver or the trucking company failed to properly maintain the truck, you may qualify for compensation. Call Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers to receive a free consultation and learn more about how one of our truck accident lawyers can build your case.
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