Trucking companies and owner-operators have a legal and ethical obligation to ensure their vehicles are in good working condition before sending them out on the highway. This means regularly inspecting brakes, tires, lights, and other critical components and promptly repairing any issues. When trucking companies neglect maintenance to cut costs or meet deadlines, they put lives at risk.
If you’ve been injured in a crash due to a poorly maintained truck, a Milwaukee truck accident lawyer can help you hold negligent trucking companies accountable.
FMCSA Regulations Require Regular Truck Maintenance
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces strict maintenance regulations for commercial vehicles. These rules require trucking companies to implement systematic inspection and repair programs for all vehicles under their control.
Under FMCSA regulations, commercial truck owners must maintain detailed records of all maintenance activities, including regular inspections, repairs, and component replacements. These documents must be available for review during compliance audits. When an accident happens, maintenance records can become vital evidence.
Drivers must also perform daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections, documenting any mechanical issues they discover. When these inspection protocols are ignored or performed inadequately, dangerous mechanical failures become much more likely.
What Can Happen If a Truck Is Not Properly Maintained?
Improper truck maintenance can lead to catastrophic consequences. These massive vehicles are made of hundreds of complex parts that are essential for safe operation. When these critical components fail due to neglect, drivers can lose control of their vehicles in seconds. Mechanical failures often result in multi-vehicle crashes causing severe injuries or fatalities.
For example, brake failures can prevent an 80,000-pound vehicle from stopping in time to avoid a collision. Worn tires can blow out and cause the driver to lose control, which can be extremely dangerous at highway speeds. Faulty steering systems can make a truck completely unresponsive during emergency maneuvers.
Other common maintenance-related failures include:
- Broken headlights or taillights reducing visibility
- Malfunctioning turn signals that prevent proper communication with other drivers
- Damaged mirrors, which limit a driver’s ability to monitor their surroundings
- Worn suspension components, causing a vehicle to become unstable
- Faulty coupling devices that cause a trailer to detach while the truck is in motionÂ
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident Caused by Improper Maintenance?
In Wisconsin, anyone who causes a road accident is financially responsible for the victims’ damages. Multiple parties may share liability for truck accidents caused by poor maintenance:
- The trucking company is responsible for making sure that its fleet meets safety standards. Companies that delay repairs or perform substandard maintenance can be held accountable for resulting accidents.
- Owner-operators who neglect their maintenance obligations face similar liability. As independent business owners, they must comply with the same FMCSA regulations as larger companies.
- Maintenance contractors who perform inadequate repairs or skip important safety checks may share responsibility if their negligence contributes to an accident.
- Parts manufacturers can be liable if they produce and distribute defective components that fail even with proper maintenance.
Trust Cannon & Dunphy S.C. to Fight for You
When trucking companies cut corners on maintenance, they put everyone on the road at risk. If you or a family member has been severely injured in a crash caused by a poorly maintained truck, you may be able to hold the negligent parties accountable.Â
The attorneys at Cannon & Dunphy S.C. have extensive experience investigating truck accidents, uncovering evidence of improper maintenance, and building strong cases for maximum compensation. Let us help you seek justice and prevent future tragedies. Contact us at (262) 668-8884 now for a free, no-obligation consultation.