The Importance of Proper Truck Maintenance in Preventing Accidents

Although tractor-trailers and commercial vehicles play a vital role in our national economy, the importance of proper truck maintenance in preventing accidents cannot be understated. On a daily basis, these vehicles are traveling cross-country delivering shipments of critical supplies needed to sustain our lifestyles.

Unfortunately, sometimes commercial vehicle accidents happen, and when they do, they can be especially dangerous and deadly. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a total of 4,714 people died in large truck crashes across the United States in 2021. The reasons that a commercial truck crash is more serious should seem fairly obvious. A large truck with a trailer weighs more than 25,000 pounds. All of that weight can create a great amount of momentum that can be disastrous when the truck collides with another vehicle.

Although the accident itself is a key legal event, the cause of the crash is even more important. Police will closely investigate the cause of every accident in order to determine who should be held responsible. Some common causes of commercial vehicle accidents include:

  • Drunk driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Reckless driving
  • Poor decision making
  • Faulty Maintenance and Repair

Although it is not normally considered as a main cause, negligent or poor truck maintenance cases can be a key culprit in commercial vehicle crashes. If you or a loved one were hurt in a crash that you believe was caused by faulty maintenance, you should contact one of our national truck accident lawyers right away.

The Laws Governing Truck Maintenance

Under federal law, the United States government prescribes a set of rules regarding truck maintenance. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates maintenance and sets out an entire list of what items must be done in order to maintain a truck in good working order. The FMCSA standards include:

  • Systematic safety inspections of the truck and its component parts
  • Maintaining detailed records of past truck inspections
  • Requiring drivers to complete notes and logs regarding any accidents or incidents with the truck

If a truck is well-maintained, it is far less likely to experience a mechanical defect that can cause a serious crash. However, not having proper preventive or regular maintenance makes the truck a ticking time bomb and can lead to bigger problems down the road.

When a truck is not maintained according to federal standards and a crash happens, legal liability is an issue. If you or a family member were hurt in a commercial truck accident, you should contact our United States truck crash attorneys at Burg Simpson right away.

Who is Responsible for Faulty Maintenance?  The Importance of Proper Truck Maintenance in Preventing Accidents

Once you establish that a lack of maintenance or poor maintenance services caused a truck crash, the next important step is to determine who should be held responsible. In a truck crash case, as with other personal injury claims, the defendant usually has an insurance policy.

Holding a mechanic or maintenance technician responsible for a truck accident requires showing the following things:

  • That the mechanic owed the eventual victim a duty of care. Under the law in the United States, a duty of care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual not to cause foreseeable harm to other third parties. This includes engaging in activities that are reckless or dangerous. The duty of care for mechanics and other professional positions is based on a local standard. The particular standard can be established by bringing in an outside expert to testify about how the mechanic’s work was not up to the standard.
  • That the mechanic breached the duty of care. This can involve any type of activity or action on behalf of the mechanic that did not live up to the applicable standard of care.
  • The breach led to injuries. If the mechanic failed to act appropriately during the course of their truck repairs or maintenance and their actions led to injuries against you, you could be entitled to a recovery.

Once these three elements are met, it is generally possible to maintain a claim against a mechanic or automotive technician for negligent work on a commercial vehicle. However, these claims may have important and critical deadlines. Missing a deadline can mean that your case can no longer be filed or considered. Further, information may be lost the longer you wait. It is important to make sure that you have a lawyer on your side who is ready to fight for your legal rights.

Poor Maintenance Truck Accidents

When a truck that is traveling down the highway suddenly loses control, the result can be catastrophic. This is exactly what can happen when there is little to no routine maintenance done on a truck. Some common examples of poor maintenance include:

  • Broken or cracked lights
  • A worn-out clutch
  • Poor or failing brake system
  • Poorly conditioned wheels and tires.
  • Unsafe frames, joints, axles, and other structural components

United States truck accidents caused by lack of maintenance are serious in nature. Victims commonly suffer major injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, amputation, and even death. If you are injured due to a truck accident, you should contact an attorney for help immediately.

At Burg Simpson, we are just a phone call away. The stakes are high. Contact us now to avoid losing your legal rights.

National Truck Accident Attorney

When you have been affected by a truck crash, your entire world can be threatened. If you were the victim, you likely have a long road to recovery ahead of you. If your family member was seriously hurt or killed, you may be feeling an overwhelming sense of pain and grief. During this time, it is best to allow a skilled professional to handle the legal matter.

At Burg Simpson, we have what it takes to get the job done. Our team of experienced truck accident lawyers in the United States can help during your time of need.

We are just a phone call away. Our firm provides a free consultation and case evaluation for all potential and prospective clients. To schedule your appointment with a national truck crash attorney, reach out to us as soon as possible by utilizing our contact link or by giving us a call at (888) 895-2080.

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