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There is no question that a big rig or a tractor–trailer takes much longer to stop than a passenger car or pickup truck. In fact, at highway speeds, an 18-wheeler takes approximately 1/3 longer to come to a complete stop than a typical car.
Variables such as the load and composition of the roadway can affect braking efficiency. In some truck wrecks, where the big rig strikes another vehicle from the rear, the condition of the brakes at the time of the accident can be a very important factor.
A big rig with bad brakes endangers not only the truck driver but the community. The motor carrier or company that employs the truck driver has a legal responsibility to ensure that the truck it places on the highway is in a safe operating condition. This includes the brakes on the truck.
Additionally, the professional driver is required to ensure, through inspection, that the truck and trailer he is driving are in proper operating condition both before the trip begins and after the trip ends. It is through a combination of daily inspections and routine and ongoing maintenance that motor carriers ensure their trucks are safe for everyone to be on the highways.
When safety procedures are violated or a company lacks an adequate safety and inspection program, adverse consequences can occur. Improperly adjusted or out-of-adjustment truck and trailer brakes can be one of those items that slip through the cracks.
Because the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require certain minimum standards to ensure the safety of the vehicle, a vehicle inspection should be considered after a serious injury or fatal truck accident where the condition of the vehicle may have been a cause.
Trucking companies and insurance carriers for trucking companies have recently started to push for repairs to be conducted on commercial vehicles involved in an accident very early on after the accident, as a litigation strategy to prevent an injury victim or their family from having an effective inspection of the condition of the tractor-trailer just after the accident.
Whether the truck or the trailer was in proper operating condition can be very powerful evidence in front of a jury. Rule violations by trucking companies for professional drivers are not well received if the impact of the violations involves someone else’s trauma. Safety violations can lead to sizable results.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a tractor-trailer accident, and the condition of the truck itself may have been a factor, contact the best truck accident lawyer you can locate as soon as possible after the accident.
Our truck accident attorneys in Texas have handled commercial vehicle injury accidents since 1985. We are undefeated and offer a complimentary consultation to discuss your rights and options.
Related Resources:
Does Truck Driver Inexperience Cause Accidents?
Who is Responsible for an 18-Wheeler Wreck?
