Any time a trucking accident occurs, there can be multiple parties to blame, including the truck driver, the trucking company, and even the truck manufacturer. The truck manufacturer may be found negligent for selling a truck with dangerous or defective parts or equipment. The manufacturer of the specific truck parts—such as brakes or tires—may also be “on the hook” for placing a defective product on the roadways. Manufacturing mistakes or design errors include the following:
- Brake defects leading to failure or malfunction;
- Tire defects causing tread separation and blowouts;
- Defective hydraulic hoses;
- Defects in the steering controls;
- Defective coupling devices between truck and trailer;
- Defective tie downs which allow cargo to shift or fall off the trailer;
- Defective side or rear lighting, leading to an accident;
- Defective ABS braking systems, causing truck jackknifes, and
- Transmission failure.
Almost any piece of equipment on a large commercial truck can malfunction. Proper inspection and maintenance by the maintenance provider and the truck driver can significantly cut down on the possibility of equipment failure or malfunction. In some instances, trucking companies—in an effort to cut costs—may fail to replace old, worn out brake pads, later leading to an accident when the brakes fail. If this is the case, the trucking company or maintenance provider is at fault, rather than the truck manufacturer or brake manufacturer.
Braking Systems of Large Commercial Trucks
The braking system on a large commercial truck is extremely complex, unlike the average passenger vehicle. There are multiple components comprising the braking system of a large commercial truck which require extensive assembly. Brake failure on a large truck can be related to improper air pressure, excessive condensation, overheating of the braking systems, worn out tires, worn brake parts, unadjusted brake components, or brakes which were faulty from the time they left the manufacturer and were installed on the truck.
Defective Tires Leading to Trucking Accidents
Tires are a fairly common cause of commercial trucking accidents; under-inflated tires are at risk for separation and blowout, burnt treads and bent rims. Improperly maintained tires or tires which are defective when they leave the factory can cause an 18-wheeler to lose control and cause a potentially fatal trucking accident.
When Equipment Failure is the Cause of Your Accident
When equipment failure or defective parts are found to be the cause of a trucking accident, it is imperative that the manufacturer of the truck parts—or the truck—be held responsible for damages. Your truck accident attorney will ensure that all the parts of the truck are examined closely, in order to determine if equipment failure or defective truck parts were responsible for your accident.
Contact Knowledgeable Trucking Accident Lawyers
If you have been injured in a trucking accident in the Washington, DC metro area, Virginia, and throughout the State of Maryland, the trucking accident attorneys at Patrick Malone & Associates can help. We know that truck manufacturers are often to blame for the catastrophic trucking accidents that occur on our highways and interstates. As such, we work diligently from the very start to build a case that is designed to prove liability and maximize compensation for our clients. Call us at 1-202-742-1500 or 1-888-625-6635 or fill out our confidential contact form for a FREE Consultation and review of your case.
The trucking accident attorneys at Patrick Malone & Associates have successfully represented injured individuals in Washington, DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Annapolis, Rockville, Baltimore, Richmond, Fairfax, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and other locations throughout Maryland and Virginia.
