How To Prove Negligent Maintenance in Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are almost always catastrophic and involve multiple variables and victims. Trucking companies are required by the law to adhere to transportation and road safety guidelines more than any other transport entity in part due to the dangerous nature of these vehicles and the havoc they can wreak in the event of a truck accident.
Are you looking for a truck accident attorney? Call us NOW at 1 (773) 825-3547 for more information about filing a truck accident lawsuit as well as whether you have a valid claim. Our team of attorneys brings to the table over 70 years of combined legal experience, and we give every case the attention that it duly deserves. The call is free, and you’re not obligated to have us take on your case after the consultation, so call 1 (773) 825-3547 NOW to speak with a truck accident lawyer.
In order to recover compensation for truck accidents, you must prove, via your truck accident attorney that the truck driver and/or the company they work for were negligent in their operations, leading to the accident.
Truck Maintenance and Trucking Accidents
Truck maintenance is a very sensitive issue given the fact that a small accident between two sedans becomes catastrophic and more often than not involves multiple vehicles if a truck is involved. To this end, trucking companies are required to carry out regular truck maintenance as well as keep reliable records of the same as stipulated by the Department of Transportation.
Truck Maintenance Records are Vital – Truck Accident Lawyers
When working with you to determine if your truck accident lawsuit is valid, we will ask to see records of maintenance from the company as well as subpoena them for any information we deem necessary to the case such as records going back years in order to see if there was a lapse in maintenance, or the company policy regarding the same is lax in comparison to what is deemed reasonable maintenance in the trucking industry. We may also ask to speak with individuals employed by the trucking company to get an idea of what kind of maintenance is carried out on a regular basis.
Here are some of the issues that may arise out of poor maintenance of trucks:
- Suspension failure
- Tire blow out on account of low tread
- Steering wheel issues
- Bad or worn out brakes
FMCSA Trucking Laws – Trucking Accidents
The FMCSA requires that trucking companies have in hand truck maintenance records for up to a year, or 6 months if the vehicle isn’t under the control of the trucking company. Drivers, on the other hand, are required to write a report which details how it was like to operate the vehicle as well as the working order of said vehicle, with up to 10 aspects of the truck listed on these reports. These reports must, according to the law, be kept for 3 months.
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Were you injured by a truck anywhere in the country? Call our trucking accident lawyers NOW at 1 (773) 825-3547 and we’ll get to work to discover what really caused your accident. We look forward to hearing from you.