When sharing the road with an 18-wheeler truck, you may feel anxious due to its massive size. According to research, more than 400,000 truck drivers are involved in crashes each year. That said many people wrongly believe that truck accidents are solely due to driver negligence. However, sometimes maintenance issues can contribute to the cause of a collision. Keep reading to learn how often maintenance issues lead to truck accidents and discover how our dedicated New York City Truck Accident Attorneys can help you.
Are maintenance issues a contributing factor in truck accidents?
Driving and maintaining an 18-wheeler truck can be challenging due to its complex design and numerous parts. The fact remains, however, that routine maintenance is crucial to preventing truck accidents caused by defective or malfunctioning components. That being said, failed brakes are among the most common maintenance issues contributing to truck accidents. When brakes fail, truck drivers are more likely to collide with another vehicle with significant force as they cannot slow down. This often results in catastrophic injuries. Tire problems are another critical maintenance issue that can cause truck accidents. Defective tires can detach or rupture, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. This can lead to the driver swerving into different lanes or off the road. Nevertheless, regardless of the maintenance problem that arises, serious accidents can occur when proper maintenance is not conducted.
Who is liable for this type of accident?
When poor maintenance is a contributing factor to the cause of an 18-wheeler truck accident, the trucking company and the truck driver can be held responsible for the collision. Truck drivers are held to a higher standard than other drivers on the road. Operating a large truck is extremely difficult and requires proper training which is why truck drivers must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Alongside obtaining a CDL, truck drivers must conduct routine inspections of their vehicles before getting behind the wheel. This is to ensure there are no maintenance issues. They must examine every inch of their truck to ensure no issues remain undetected and cause a crash. If the truck driver fails to analyze their truck before getting on the road or fails to report a mechanical issue, they can be held responsible for any damages that occur as a direct result of their negligence. Similarly, the trucking company that employs the truck driver can be held liable as they are responsible for making sure the vehicles they send off have been inspected and any maintenance issues have been remedied.
Proving that a truck accident was caused by negligent maintenance can be difficult. Therefore, it is critical to contact a seasoned New York City truck accident attorney as soon as possible. With years of experience, our firm can help you seek reasonable compensation for your damages. Our firm is committed to helping our clients secure the fair compensation they deserve.
