According to the Department of Energy, the average commercial semi-truck/tractor-trailer travels over 60,000 miles annually, which means the average truck needs a lot of maintenance to stay in safe operating condition. Trucks are extremely complex vehicles, so maintaining them is similarly complex. Unfortunately, it is all too easy for truck drivers and companies to neglect maintaining their vehicles, which drastically raises the chances of accidents.
If a trucking company’s negligent maintenance practices have caused your injury, contact Parker Trial Law today. The law holds trucking companies to a high standard when it comes to fleet maintenance. Companies can be financially liable if maintenance issues cause truck accidents. We can investigate your Georgia truck accident case and pursue compensation from the responsible parties for your medical bills, lost income, and more.
Call our law office or contact us online today to speak to a poor truck maintenance accident lawyer in Albany.
How Does Poor Truck Maintenance Cause Truck Accidents?
Improper maintenance contributes to accidents by increasing the likelihood that critical truck parts or systems will fail during operation. For instance, if a company neglects brake inspections, it might miss a critical defect that causes the brakes to fail the next time the truck is in transit. Defects and failures from poor truck maintenance that can cause truck crashes include:
- Tire blowouts
- Axle damage
- Brake failures
- Steering column defects
- Oil leaks
- Broken suspension
- Transmission malfunctions
- Electrical failures
- Fuel tank issues
- Improper windshield wipers
- Tractor hitch problems
- Hydraulic system leaks
- Lighting malfunctions
How an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help with a Poor Maintenance Crash
Commercial truck accidents are much more complex than typical car accidents due to shared employer liability and federal and state regulations pertaining to the trucking industry. Moreover, proving that a truck accident due to negligent maintenance occurred is difficult and requires a deep investigation into the trucking company’s maintenance practices and industry standards.
Our GA truck accident lawyers at Parker Trial Law have extensive experience working with accident victims and have an established track record of successful settlements and verdicts, including a $1.46 million result from a truck accident case. We understand how to investigate truck accident claims and are not afraid to take trucking companies to court, if necessary. Here is what one satisfied client had to say about our work:
“Reliable and courteous. Cares about you and goes the extra mile to see that your case is getting the attention it needs so you can have the justice you deserve.” – Christina Recor
More specifically, a truck accident lawyer in Albany can:
- Investigate the accident scene for evidence
- Gather police reports and medical documentation
- Obtain eyewitness accounts
- Solicit expert testimony
- Send spoliation letters to preserve evidence
- Request trucking company maintenance logs
- Secure electronic logging device (ELD) data
- Send insurance demand letters
- Negotiate claim settlements
- Take your case to trial, if necessary
We are relentless in our pursuit of justice and will not rest until we have exhausted every available legal avenue to recover compensation for you.
Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection Requirements
The DOT has specific regulations for truck maintenance and repair. CFR 396.3 states that every motor carrier must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain its fleet and ensure that all parts and accessories are safe and operational. CFR 396.17 further clarifies that all commercial vehicles must undergo routine inspections of all required parts every twelve months.
Trucking companies are not permitted to deploy vehicles that have not had an inspection within the past twelve months. Appendix A of CFR Part 369 lays out a complete list of truck parts requiring inspection and specific defects that would cause a truck to fail inspection.
Record-Keeping Requirements for Truck Maintenance
One of the most challenging parts of pursuing these types of negligent maintenance claims is proving that the truck wreck was caused by poor truck maintenance and that proper maintenance would have prevented it.
To that end, a crucial aspect of these types of cases is obtaining the trucking companies’ fleet maintenance and inspection logs and seeing if they have been shirking maintenance obligations.
The federal government requires trucking companies to keep very precise records of any maintenance and inspections. The DOT requires records on the following features for trucks that have been controlled for more than 30 consecutive days:
- Company number
- Vehicle make
- Serial number
- Tire size
- Maintenance schedule
- Previous inspection, repair, and maintenance records
- Test records for pushout windows and emergency doors/door lights
The trucking company must retain these reports for at least six months after the truck leaves its control.
In addition to these general inspection requirements, individual drivers must make daily inspection reports at the end of each driving day (CFR 396.11). The report must identify any defects or issues with core vehicle systems. The trucking company must repair any noted deficiencies before a driver can operate the truck again. Truck companies must keep driver reports and repair records for three months.
These records are a powerful source of evidence that can prove a tractor-trailer accident was likely due to negligent maintenance. For instance, your personal injury attorney in Albany might uncover that the trucking company did not fix a defect noted on a daily report before they used the truck again.
Records might also show that the trucking company neglected routine inspections or did not perform required emergency system testing.
Contact Our Albany Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Truck accidents routinely cause catastrophic injuries that can permanently alter someone’s life. When trucking companies are negligent in their safety practices, the law can hold them responsible for injuries they cause. The attorneys at Parker Trial Law stand resolute in our dedication to protecting clients and won’t back down as we pursue maximum financial compensation.
Trucking companies might have deep pockets to pay a fleet of attorneys, but we can match them in settlement negotiations and any potential litigation. Trucking companies might try to hide evidence of their negligent maintenance practices, but we can uncover the truth and pursue justice for you.
Contact our office online or reach out by phone today for a case consultation with an improper truck maintenance lawyer in Albany, Georgia.
