Hello, my name is Susan Farris and my hobby is learning about the law. I have an uncle who is an attorney and I've always looked up to him and that's why I find subjects on law very interesting. Through speaking with my uncle and doing research on my own, I've learned about all the different fields of law. Each field of law centers on its own subject and most attorneys specialize in a certain area of law. These include criminal, personal injury, family, bankruptcy, criminal, immigration and business. I find each one of these fields very interesting and I have the utmost admiration for lawyers because they help people through their legal struggles. I wanted to share this information with others who have questions about the different types of attorneys and the law.
There are numerous causes of truck accidents, and one of them is the poor maintenance of the trucks. Below are some of the specific ways in which poor maintenance can lead to truck accidents and a need for an auto accident attorney.
Damaged or Worn Tires
A commercial truck can have a gross vehicle weight rating (maximum of weight of loaded truck) in the region of thousands of pounds. This is a considerable amount of weight to put on a tire, which is why large trucks are fitted with multiple of them. However, failure of even one of these tires may mean the rest of the tires cannot handle the load, and this can lead to an accident.
Not only that, but defective tires can blow out and cause a truck driver to lose control of their vehicle. Worn tires, cracked tires, expired tires, and improperly inflated tires are all problematic. Such defects can lead to blowouts, which can be dangerous at high speeds. A trucking company may be liable for a tire-related accident if it turns out that the tire was defective before the trip commenced.
Brake Malfunction
The braking force of a vehicle depends on the momentum of the truck, and momentum is a factor of weight and speed. A truck has a pretty huge momentum, even at relatively low speeds because of its weight. Therefore, a loaded truck requires a considerable braking force to stop safely, and even a little loss of this braking force can lead to an accident.
That is why brake malfunctions or wear are extremely dangerous for trucks. Typical causes of brake malfunctions include overheating, extreme wear, leaking air supply, and automatic adjustment errors, among others. Truck companies are required to inspect and maintain all parts of their vehicles, including brake systems, to prevent such failures that might lead to accidents.
Defective Coupling Devices
A typical truck is made up of different parts, such as the cab and the trailer. These parts are joined together with coupling devices (moving joints) to increase the truck's maneuverability on the road. A failure of any of these coupling devices can lead to an accident because it will hinder the movement of some part of the truck.
For example, failure of a coupling device can lead to a jackknife accident, where the cab and trailer folds on itself. Again, if the coupling device was defective and the truck owner didn't repair it on time, then the truck owner will be liable for the jackknife accident.
Trucking companies have the responsibility of keeping maintaining their vehicles. If negligent maintenance leads to an accident, then the trucking company may be liable for the damages. If you are the victim of such an accident, consult an auto accident attorney to help you pursue damages.
Share7 November 2019
