When Faulty Equipment Leads to Truck Accidents
As the driver of a passenger vehicle, do you ever shudder just a little bit when a big, commercial truck whizzes past you on the highway? You can feel the sheer power of that massive machine and you don’t even want to contemplate what it might feel like to get into an accident with a tractor trailer truck. Truck accidents do a lot of damage when they crash into passenger vehicles, and while driver error and hazardous road conditions are common causes of truck accidents, sometimes defective equipment can cause a truck accident.
According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts, there were 4,183 lives lost in 3,702 crashes involving large trucks or buses. Only 4 percent of vehicles registered in the U.S. were large trucks and buses, yet they account for 12 percent of the traffic fatalities.
The FMCSA of the U.S. Department of Transportation has regulations that govern large, commercial trucks with which we share our nation’s highways and roadways. According to FMCSA regulations, commercial motor carriers are required to inspect, repair and maintain all of the motor vehicles under their control. All of the parts of every truck must be in safe and proper condition at all times. They are required to keep logs of every inspection. Under FMCSA regulation Part 396.7, Unsafe Operations: “Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) must not be operated in such a condition as to likely cause an accident or a breakdown of the vehicle.” If a commercial truck causes an accident that can be proven to be caused by faulty or defective equipment, the trucking company, the driver and possibly the equipment manufacturer may be held responsible for the accident.
Truck accidents caused by defective or faulty equipment
Eighteen wheeler trucks that transport goods around the country can weigh more than 80,000 pounds and travel thousands of miles, putting significant wear and tear on equipment such as axles, wheels, tires, transmission and brakes. If the carrier and the driver do not pay close attention to how every one of these components is holding up, they put themselves and everyone who shares the road with them at risk for a terrible and sometimes deadly accident.
Truck accidents that are caused by defective equipment can also be attributed to human error, which is the cause of most motor vehicle accidents. When motor carriers and truck drivers fail to follow FMCSA regulations and skip inspections, allow a defect to escape their notice, or fail to repair equipment on the truck it can lead to an accident that can cost lives and cause serious injuries.
The trusted West Tennessee legal team at Bailey & Greer PLLC believes that you deserve to be heard when you have been wronged due to the negligence of another. We are here to hold those responsible for your losses accountable and to make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve when you have been injured in a truck accident. Please contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers in Memphis or Jackson.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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