Skip to content

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.

$3,250,000

Settlement to a barista who slipped and fell on a defective stairwell while working for Starbucks who sustained back injuries requiring multiple surgeries in 2012.

$3,000,000

Settlement to a woman who was assaulted and sustained back/hip injuries in 2015.

$1,415,000

Verdict to a high school student who was assaulted by a school dean during her lunch period dislocating her hip in 2014.

$995,000

Settlement to a man who was run over by a dump truck on a Brooklyn street causing him to sustain multiple injuries, including but not limited to a broken leg and detached urethra in 2019.

$850,000

Settlement to a woman who slipped and fell down a wet stairwell in a New York City Housing Authority building requiring a back surgery in 2018.

View More Results

Read Our Latest Blog Posts

 
How can I prove a property owner was aware of a safety hazard?

In New York, property owners have a legal obligation that requires adherence to a standard of reasonable care to prevent accidents and injuries arising from negligence. Essentially, they must take appropriate measures to discover and fix unsafe property conditions to maintain a safe environment for everyone and anyone on their…

Read More
 
Who is responsible for injuries caused by dangerous road conditions in New York?

While negligent drivers cause most car accidents, they can also arise due to poor road conditions. In such cases, injuries individuals often wonder who is liable for their injuries. Government entities are responsible for maintaining roads, meaning they must fix hazardous situations to prevent accidents and injuries. Failure to do…

Read More