Brake Failure Causes Many Semi Truck Wrecks
Semi trucks help to keep America moving. They’re essential to transporting goods around the country, so that when we hit up our favorite stores, the products are on the shelves.
But when negligence is involved, these trucks become deadly. Their size and weight can lead to devastating wrecks. This is why truck drivers, and the owners of those rigs, are held to a higher standard than the average motorist.
Today we’ll look at who is liable if brake failure leads to a devastating semi truck wreck.
How common are Brake Failure Semi Truck Wrecks?
When looking at all of the causes of wrecks, from mechanical failure to driver error, we can see disturbing trends on where the proverbial “weak links” happen to be.
Driver error makes up the bulk of all accidents out there. In fact, if we had “perfect” drivers for all vehicles everywhere, our accident rate would plummet so far that there would hardly be any accidents at all.
But that’s not the case. And there are still mechanical issues to consider. The biggest issue: brake failure. This brake failure does have some overlap into driver error, and accounts for around 20-25% of all big rig wrecks out there.
Who Might be Liable for a Brake Failure Wreck?
Not all brake failure is the same. Different causes are linked back to different liable parties. When it comes to semi truck wrecks, it might be one of the following parties that failed to do their job properly:
Drivers – Those driving the semi are responsible for inspecting the brakes before, and often during, every trip. They are the last to see if there are issues that could arise, and are required to know when things are wearing out or not working properly.
Owner/Operators – If the driver isn’t the owner of the big rig, the owner and operating company may be the responsible party. If they have adjusted the brakes, so they aren’t operating optimally (often done as a way to save money) they could be responsible.
Loading Crew – There are specific ways to load semi trucks. Without following guidelines, the loading crew or company may overload the wrong area of the truck. This can put more strain on one set of brakes, causing them to overheat, malfunction, and ultimately fail.
Parts Manufacturers – When a part isn’t designed properly, but that part has already gone to the market, manufacturers are required to recall the defective part and replace it. If the manufacturer fails to recall the part, or recalls it after the semi truck wreck, they could be found liable.
As you can see, there often isn’t just one liable party. Often it’s a combination that leads up to brake failure causing the semi truck wreck.
This is why you need a personal injury lawyer on your side if you have been the victim of a one of these crashes.
How does Herbert Law Group Help Victims?
Herbert Law Group has helped a lot of victims after their wrecks. We know exactly what should be looked at after a semi truck accident. We know who to speak to, what to look for, and how to find the liable party.
These crashes cause a lot of pain and suffering. The last thing you need to be doing when you’re trying to heal, is out there investigating the cause of the wreck.
Instead, let us do the hard work. You focus on getting better, and we’ll find the way to ensure you’re fully compensated for your injuries.
Let’s talk about it. Give us a call at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site to get things started.