Trucking Companies That Neglect Maintenance Cause Accidents
Truckers are vital in helping transport goods and ensuring that our essential needs can be met when we go to the store. Without truckers, shelves would be bare, and it would be far more challenging to get supplies and items for our home needs. There are truckers on the road all the time, and unfortunately, there are many accidents that involve semi trucks.
While trucking companies are vital, many companies are lax about ensuring their drivers are not overworked and the trucks are properly maintained. All too often, collisions occur because of a lack of maintenance or because a driver is pushed past their limit and unable to respond quickly in an urgent situation.
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a truck or commercial vehicle, work with an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer to learn more about your options and seek compensation for your injuries.
Maintenance Neglect by Trucking Companies
Did you know that approximately 10% of commercial vehicle accidents are traced back to vehicle issues? That means a good number of incidents could potentially have been avoided if proper maintenance and care had been provided by the trucking company – or the party responsible for truck maintenance.
While it does require a small bit of downtime to take care of maintenance needs, these can be done when a driver is off or resting. In addition, it is far better to have the truck down for a day for maintenance than to be the cause of an accident.
These are the most commonly neglected maintenance needs.
Tires
Semi-trucks carry heavy loads, and they have a lot of tires. They put tons of miles on those tires, which is all the more reason to ensure tires are in proper working condition. Bald and underinflated tires are one of the most common causes of trucking accidents.
The driver could deal with a blowout, in which case they may not be able to stop or respond quickly, and the truck won’t be as responsive to commands. Drivers can lose control, collide with others, or be the cause of an accident. In a year’s time, nearly 8,000 truck accidents are caused by bald or underinflated tires.
Brakes
Another common issue is brakes. Remember that semi trucks are often carrying heavy loads. Their brakes need to be effective and quick to respond. The most common type of braking system in semis is a hydraulic system. But hydraulic systems require care and maintenance to work effectively.
Faulty and worn brakes are responsible for nearly 30% of big truck accidents.
Trailer Hitches
The Federal Department of Transportation has very specific guidelines and statutes for ensuring a trailer is safely and adequately hitched to the truck. The statutes include properly coupling the trailer to the vehicle and using at least one safety device as well.
These are in place to make sure that a trailer will remain attached to its towing vehicle as hitch failure can lead to major problems. Safety devices and hitch connections must be maintained. This includes cables, chains, and any other connecting pieces.
How Often Should Semi Trucks Be Maintained?
Trucks put a lot of miles on every single day. They also carry heavy loads. Both of these factors lead to more extensive wear and tear than an average vehicle typically sees. That means that trucks need more frequent maintenance as well. How often maintenance should be performed really depends on the mileage and age of the truck.
There are certain standards for maintenance, care, and inspections that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has established. These safety standards exist for a reason. The FMCSA requires at least annual inspections that include critical components like steering, tire, brakes, and more.
Apart from that annual inspection, companies should also perform routine maintenance based on miles driven, cargo, type of vehicle, and the age of the vehicle.
Trucking Accidents and Liability
When is a trucking company liable for a collision? If an accident occurs because of negligence and failed maintenance, then it becomes the responsibility of the trucking company to also be held accountable for the accident.
The challenge in settling liability is that it will be necessary to prove that a company failed to maintain their vehicle appropriately and this led to the accident. Proving that is a challenge, but an experienced lawyer will know how to help you build a case.
Conclusion
Working with a truck accident lawyer in Indianapolis is the best way to determine whether you have a case and to have help coming up with the required proof for your case. Use a lawyer who is experienced with these types of accidents to help you get the compensation you deserve.
