What Happens When a Mechanical Failure Causes a Truck Accident in West Palm Beach?
A truck accident can bring devastating consequences and irreparable damage regardless of what caused it. Commercial trucks, 18-wheelers, big rigs, tractor-trailers, and semi-trucks have one thing in common: their massive size and weight.
Due to its enormous size and weight, a truck can destroy lives when it crashes into passenger cars, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, buses, or others. In Florida alone, there are a total of 32,000 truck accidents per year.
Although there are strict federal truck regulations in place to prevent truck crashes in Florida and across the country, collisions with 18-wheelers, big rigs, and semi-trucks are still quite widespread. Often, truck accidents occur as a result of mechanical failures. When this happens, who can be held responsible?
That is the question you should ask a West Palm Beach truck accident attorney at Pike & Lustig, LLP, to discuss liability in your particular case.
4 Types of Mechanical Failures in Truck Accidents
Although causes of truck accidents vary, there are quite a few types of mechanical failures that increase the risk of a truck collision.
- Brake Failure
Brakes can fail when they are not properly inspected and maintained. The company servicing the brakes and the trucking company that owns and maintains the vehicle must conduct a proper inspection to prevent brake failure. When brake failure causes a truck crash, multiple parties can be held responsible for the resulting injuries and damages.
- Steering System Failure
When a trucking company fails to service its trucks regularly and correctly, it can result in issues with the steering system. Mechanical errors in the steering system can cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, people could get injured or lose their lives.
- Transmission Failure
When a truck is overloaded or overweight, a transmission failure can occur. Transmissions are designed to carry a limited amount of cargo, which is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration imposes weight limits for trucks’ cargo. Overloading a vehicle can lead to issues with the transmission, which, as a result, can result in auto accidents in West Palm Beach or other parts of Florida.
- Tire Failure
Although it might seem that issues with just one tire in a truck will not do much harm, it is crucial to understand that all tires serve a vital purpose of keeping the vehicle in safe operating condition.
Overloading the truck, failing to ensure proper air pressure, inability to inspect and maintain the tires correctly, and other factors can cause tires to blow out. The party that had a duty to service the vehicle is typically to blame for a truck accident caused by tire failure.
What and Who Caused Mechanical Failures in a Truck Crash?
Determining the cause of mechanical failures in your truck crash is critical when it comes to seeking compensation for your injury.
In the event of a truck crash caused by driver fatigue, the truck driver – and, in some cases, his or her employer – can be held responsible for the resulting damages. But what about truck collisions caused by mechanical failures?
When a mechanical failure led to a truck crash, multiple parties can be held accountable for your injuries. These parties include the auto mechanic, the company inspecting and maintaining the vehicle, the trucking company, the manufacturer, and others.
Contact a West Palm Beach trucking accident attorney at Pike & Lustig, LLP, to access inspection and maintenance records, investigate the truck logs, and look at other factors to determine liability in your case. Call at 561-291-8298 for a confidential consultation.
Resource:
flhsmv.gov/pdf/crashreports/crash_facts_2017.pdf
https://www.turnpikelaw.com/wide-right-turns-a-big-road-hazard/
