How Delivery Truck Maintenance Issues Contribute to Truck Accidents in Texas
While many people associate delivery truck accidents with issues like drunk driving, the real cause is often far more mundane. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that one of the top five reasons for truck crashes is some sort of mechanical failure. This typically happens due to poor or missing maintenance. Delivery trucks are very large and complex pieces of machinery, and any error in maintenance can quickly lead to a crash. If you or a loved one has been in a delivery truck collision lately, it’s important to understand the connection between poor maintenance and truck accidents.
Ways Maintenance Issues Can Lead to Truck Accidents
Improper truck maintenance can range from minor problems like not seeing a blown lightbulb to major issues like skipping brake pad replacements. Whether it’s big or small, a maintenance issue can quickly turn deadly once the delivery truck gets on the road. Here are some of the many ways that a lack of maintenance can cause you to need help from a delivery truck accidents attorney.
Worn Out Brakes
Brake failures are one of the leading causes of delivery truck crashes. In a well-maintained vehicle, brake components are regularly replaced before they reach the end of their lifespan. Typically, delivery trucks stick to a regular schedule of brake replacements. Drivers or fleet maintenance technicians also need to measure their brake surfaces frequently and replace them if they are ever less than a quarter inch thick. If this essential maintenance is skipped, a truck may not be able to slow down in time. This can cause them to rear-end other vehicles or get in other types of dangerous wrecks.
Poorly Maintained Tires
Tires are another factor that your delivery truck crash lawyer will consider for your case. There are many different factors that go into tire maintenance. Not only do drivers need to have the appropriate amount of air in their tires for the weight they carry, but they also need to check their tires regularly. Worn treads reduce friction, so they make it much harder for a truck to stop promptly. Most well-maintained truck fleets replace all their tires every three years, but some trucks that are driven frequently may require tire changes as often as every few months. A responsible driver will need to regularly examine their tires and see whether or not they need new ones.
Defective Lighting
Lighting is such an essential part of vehicle safety that it’s one of the few types of maintenance failures that can immediately get a driver pulled over by a law enforcement officer. Without proper lighting, it can be impossible for a driver to see on dark roads or signal their intentions to drivers around them. Lights are so important that many responsible drivers will check them each day. Unfortunately, some negligent drivers may fail to notice a broken light or ignore a broken light. This can lead to issues like a car running into a truck because its braking lights were out or a truck sideswiping a car it didn’t see in the dark.
Failing Windshield Wipers
Even the smallest car part can cause huge truck accidents. Windshield wiper blades are simple strips of a rubbery material that need to be replaced every six months or so. If a delivery truck driver misses this step, they can end up with wipers that smear water and debris around without removing it. This can easily lead to impaired visibility which may contribute to crashes.
Unbalanced Cargo
Delivery truck drivers also have some additional maintenance requirements that regular drivers do not have. When a driver is managing large quantities of goods, they have to take into account how those goods are stored. If cargo is not properly secured in the truck, it can slide around and throw the truck off balance. Cargo that is stored with too much weight in one area can also lead to issues like tipping or slow stopping.
Worn Steering Components
If a delivery truck is older, it might also encounter issues with steering. All the joints, bearings, and seals within a complex steering mechanism wear out over time. Typically, a truck driver will replace these items on a schedule or notice when their vehicle is showing signs of wear and tear. However, if a driver neglects warning signs like strange noises when they steer, they can end up with a major steering failure. These are often some of the most disastrous cases delivery truck wreck attorneys see because a truck without steering can easily plow through other cars, buildings, or pedestrians.
Low Fluids
Delivery trucks rely on a lot of various fluids to keep them running smoothly. Things like brake fluid, transmission fluid, and engine oil are all essential to maintaining a large vehicle. Without these fluids, engine components and other parts tend to get more wear and tear. If a company isn’t properly maintaining its vehicles, they’re more likely to get sudden and disastrous mechanical failures. This can lead to serious issues when a driver is on the road. If their truck has gone for years without oil, they can easily break down and become a road hazard for other drivers.
Electrical Failures
Part of a driver’s responsibility is simply making sure their truck is in good working order. Things like a turn signal that doesn’t work might seem easy to ignore. However, a good driver will always check their electrical systems and quickly seek repairs for problems. If a negligent driver overlooks electrical failures, they can end up getting into wrecks. Modern delivery trucks rely on electrical systems for everything from running safety systems to maintaining other vehicle parts, so any negligence here can become very serious.
Texas Laws Forbid Driving a Delivery Truck Without Proper Maintenance
Driving a truck without maintenance is certainly dangerous, but is it illegal? In most cases, the answer to this question is yes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has regulations for how businesses are supposed to manage their delivery trucks. If a company fails to systematically maintain its trucks but is still operating, it may be in violation of the FMCSA. Furthermore, the Texas Transportation Code says it’s a misdemeanor to knowingly operate a vehicle that is unsafe or noncompliant with industry standards.
Ultimately, this means that some types of maintenance issues can lead to criminal trials, fines, and jail time. Even in cases where a driver hasn’t broken any laws, poor maintenance is still very problematic. Though only an egregious lack of maintenance turns into a criminal trial, even minor maintenance problems can be brought up in a civil lawsuit. Any time you suspect that poor maintenance led to a crash, it’s relevant to your delivery truck crash lawyer. This information can be used to hold the company financially liable and get compensation for your injuries.
In the state of Texas, you can sue someone anytime you believe their negligence has caused you physical, emotional, or financial harm. To do this, you’ll need to work with a delivery truck collision attorney and file a personal injury lawsuit. If your lawyer can show the court that the delivery company failed to maintain their vehicle, the court may choose to award you compensation for the accident. This compensation can include reimbursement for medical fees, payments to make up for lost wages, and even punitive damages meant to punish the company for its misbehavior.
What You Should Do If You Suspect Poor Maintenance Caused Your Truck Accidents
In any wreck, it’s important to speak to a delivery truck collision lawyer as soon as possible. Proof of improper maintenance can help you hold the delivery company responsible for your injuries. However, it can take some time and effort to get the sort of proof that will hold up in a court of law. Here are some ways you and your lawyer can use poor maintenance claims to help you win a personal injury lawsuit.
Collect Evidence From Witnesses
If possible, try to make sure you get the contact information of anyone who witnessed the truck accidents. This can be a great way of getting confirmation about what happened in the moments right before the accident. For example, if a witness can confirm that the delivery truck driver didn’t use their turn signal, your delivery truck accident lawyer can use this information to show a faulty turn signal led to your accident.
Get Video Footage
In modern times, there can be a lot of useful video footage for your delivery truck crash attorney to incorporate into their case. However, many video cameras delete footage every 24 to 72 hours, so it’s important to act fast. In many cases, people who have a video camera near the scene of the accident are happy to assist you. However, you might need to go through the police to get some evidence. The legal process is especially useful if the delivery truck driver has a security camera because they most likely will not be willing to share this evidence with you.
Request Maintenance Records From the Company
Responsible delivery truck companies keep records of all maintenance. They should have a clear routine for when maintenance is done, and they should track which truck gets maintenance and when. Though this isn’t information most companies will turn over to random individuals, they are often required to disclose it in a lawsuit. Your delivery truck wreck lawyer can use the discovery stage to get these details and see whether or not the truck you got into truck accidents with was properly maintained.
Present Expert Testimony
Another useful thing your lawyer can do for you is to help you find an expert witness. If you suspect poor maintenance caused the crash but cannot prove it, a professional can help. You can do things like get a mechanic to examine the truck or have a technician provide documentation on how the accident could’ve only occurred if certain types of maintenance were skipped.
Find a Delivery Truck Accidents Attorney You Can Trust
If you or a loved one has been in a delivery truck accident and suspects poor maintenance caused it, we can help. Our team has plenty of experience assisting people with these sorts of complex crashes. We can present your case to the court and explain how a lack of maintenance caused your injuries.
With the right representation, it may be possible for you to get compensation for your injuries. We’ve helped residents recover funds for medical bills, vehicle replacements, lost wages, and more. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation about your case.