At Montlick and Associates, we appreciate the hard work and dedication of the countless truck drivers who safely deliver goods throughout the United States. However, we recognize that trucking accidents can and do occur, sometimes warranting a personal injury lawsuit against the truck driver and likely, the trucking company that employs him or her. In having handled thousands of trucking accident cases, we routinely come across several that were caused by equipment failures stemming from a lack of routine truck maintenance.
It is important to realize that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has an extensive list of regulations that truckers must follow to ensure that all those are safe around large commercial trucks. However, as mentioned, some truckers fail to adhere to these regulations, resulting in serious and sometimes fatal accidents. If you were injured in a trucking accident due to equipment failure, contact the Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys at Montlick and Associates now to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Truckers and Trucking Companies Can Be Responsible for Equipment Failures
Although trucks are enormous and perhaps even a bit tank-like, they are actually more delicate than you would think. In transporting heavy cargo for extended distances, commercial trucks can experience a significant amount of wear and tear, which truck drivers and trucking companies are supposed to keep on top of and regularly address. In fact, the FMCSA regulations require truckers to log when they conduct maintenance on their trucks. However, some fail to do so or they falsify records to avoid having to follow the law. Moreover, sometimes truckers or trucking companies will use substandard parts or parts that are already too worn to be safe when performing maintenance. Others will try to cut corners in regard to safety inspections of their fleet. Whatever the reason for not keeping a truck properly maintained, it can lead to disaster.
Common Types of Equipment Failures
Forms of failure that most commonly occur with commercial trucks are as follows:
- Tire blowouts
- Airbrake failures
- Snapped axles
- Loose or overly worn cargo restraints
Unfortunately, any of these issues can lead to serious and sometimes fatal accidents. If you were injured in a trucking accident, you need a truck accident attorney at Montlick and Associates to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
