It is always frightening when motor vehicles malfunction while driving, especially at high speeds. Whether a tire blows out or brakes suddenly fail, defective parts often result in accidents. Malfunctions are even more dangerous when they happen to large semi-trucks traveling on the highway. When trucks suddenly become out of control, they can cause serious injuries to other drivers and passengers on the road. Truck companies and drivers have certain responsibilities when it comes to truck maintenance to avoid sudden malfunctions and resulting truck accidents. If you have been injured in an accident due to improper truck maintenance, contact a Coweta County trucking lawyer to help you get compensated for your injuries.
The trucking company or owner of the truck must perform regular maintenance on every truck in the fleet. Furthermore, they must employ experienced maintenance crews who are adequately trained and familiar with truck repair. Because of the safety risks of large trucks, truck maintenance crews must be extremely thorough. Furthermore, truck drivers themselves are responsible to perform basic inspections of their trucks prior to driving every single time. These inspections may seem time consuming and repetitive, however they are very important to prevent accidents and injuries. Inspections are part of a driver’s job and cannot be skipped. Parts of the truck that must be inspected before every drive include:
- Brakes, including parking brakes
- Lights, including headlights, taillights, brake lights, and blinkers
- Tires and air pressure
- Horn
- Emergency equipment
- Windshield wipers and fluid levels
- Mirrors
- Cargo doors
If any of the above parts are defective or require maintenance, a driver must address the problem at the truck stop prior to hitting the road. If he does not, and an accident occurs, he may be held liable for the resulting injuries and property damage.
There is no excuse for improper truck maintenance. If you have been injured in an avoidable truck accident because a maintenance crew or driver did not thoroughly do their jobs, you should contact Shane Smith Law as soon as possible. Call (980) 246-2656 to schedule a consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney today.