Commercial Trucking Accidents - Poor Truck Maintenance
Commercial trucking accidents typically result in serious personal injury or death for those involved. Commercial truck drivers and their employers have a responsibility to ensure that their rig abides by the regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Poor truck maintenance is often a contributing factor to commercial trucking accidents. Commercial trucks spend a great deal of time on the road towing large and heavy loads. As such, "wear-and-tear" often tends to take its toll on the vehicles, requiring the continual maintenance and monitoring of parts that play an essential role in the safety and functionality of the vehicle.
Before a commercial truck is deemed road worthy by FMCSA standards, it must first undergo a series of inspections designed to ensure vehicle safety. The following parts should always be in good working order:
- Service brakes (including trailer brake connections)
- Parking brake
- Lighting devices / reflectors
- Steering mechanism
- Tires
- Horn
- Windshield wipers
- Mirrors
- Coupling devices
Commercial trucking accidents that are caused by poor truck maintenance make the owner / operator of the vehicle liable for any injuries or property damage.
Defective trucking parts typically reflect poor truck maintenance. Vehicles are required by the FMCSA to undergo routine inspections so as to ensure that all parts are functioning properly. Pre-trip inspections must be utilized to ensure that towbar / saddle mount connections are properly secured to the towed and towing vehicle. Post-trip inspections must also be utilized in order to ensure that no parts have become worn or damaged during the trip.
Although continual inspections might be viewed by some truck owners to be excessive, they are an essential component in ensuring that all commercial trucks are road-safe so as to limit the potential for commercial trucking accidents.
If you are injured or a loved one is killed by a defect in a commercial vehicle or the negligence of a driver of a commercial vehicle you need our expertise. The south Texas area is one of the busiest commercial trucking corridors in the nation. Unfortunately, not all drivers are correctly trained and not all commercial vehicles are well maintained. If a driver's negligence or a defective commercial vehicle causes serious injury or death, the attorneys of the Law Office of Pat Maloney have the proven experience to help obtain compensation for the injuries.
The attorneys of the Law Offices of Pat Maloney are specialists in helping victims of accidents and injuries caused by negligence of others. Our offices are in San Antonio. We represent persons for San Antonio, around Texas and across the country. Contact our offices at 800 247 7694 or locally at 210 226 8888.
The attorneys of the law offices of Pat Maloney are personal injury lawyers in San Antonio Texas who protect victims of defective products, commercial trucking accidents, auto accidents, and medical malpractice. They can also help with crashworthiness issues related to defective automobiles including SUV rollover, roof crush, defective airbags and defective seat belts.