Negligent Truck Maintenance
Large trucks can pose a threat to road safety, even when they’re in perfect operating condition. The danger they pose is significantly greater when they suffer from defects, mechanical issues, and problems related to everyday wear and tear. The threat is so significant that Illinois state and federal trucking regulations have strict vehicle inspection and maintenance requirements in place.
Specifically, trucking services have a legal obligation under 49 CFR Part 396 to conduct regular inspections and maintenance to ensure that a truck’s “parts and accessories shall be in safe and proper operating condition at all times.”
Regular inspections include:
- Periodic inspections: thorough, in-depth vehicle checks at least once every 12 months
- Driver inspections: truck drivers have to conduct pre-and-post-trip inspections of their rig before and after every trip
This includes checking the:
- Brakes
- Tires
- Wheels
- Rims
- Horn
- Windshield wipers
- Mirrors
- Coupling devices
- Lights
- Reflectors
- Emergency equipment
If a problem with a vehicle is discovered, the trucking company must pull the vehicle from service until it can be repaired. The sooner a vehicle defect or issue is identified, the more likely it is that the fix will be quick and relatively inexpensive. The longer it takes to identify a problem, the worse it can get – which can lead to longer times out of service and higher repair costs.
Records of all inspections, maintenance, and repairs must be maintained for at least one year while a vehicle is in service, along with details of relevant maintenance and repairs.
Regular audits of these records can help to ensure that trucking companies are complying with state and FMCSA trucking regulations and doing their part to make trucking operations as safe as possible.
How Can Negligent Truck Maintenance Cause Truck Accidents?
Regular truck inspections and maintenance can be costly and time-consuming, especially when they’re done properly. However, skipping inspections, taking shortcuts during vehicle checks, or foregoing regular maintenance all run the risk of allowing unsafe vehicles to operate on our roads and highways.
Negligent truck maintenance can lead to:
- Engine failure
- Steering problems
- Blowouts caused by worn-out or underinflated tires
- Brake failure
- Hitch failures
- Limited visibility due to burnt-out headlights, taillights, and turn signals
- Transmission failure
- Spilled cargo related to worn-out or broken tie-downs and straps
All of these issues can potentially cause a truck driver to lose control of their rig, which can lead to devastating jackknife accidents, rollovers, rear-end collisions, and other costly truck accidents.
Are Trucking Companies Liable For Negligent Truck Maintenance?
Yes. Trucking services can be considered negligent when a vehicle defect or mechanical issue contributes to a traffic accident.
So can truck drivers, mechanics, and company supervisors. Ultimately, anyone who’s involved with the upkeep of a company’s fleet of vehicles can be responsible if maintenance falls to the wayside and a truck is allowed to fall into disrepair.
Trucking companies won’t rush to admit that they’ve ignored important truck maintenance. You’ll have to force them to take accountability and step up to make things right. That’s where Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC can help.
Our Chicago truck accident lawyers are top-rated litigators with a multi-million-dollar track record of success. We fight for individuals, not corporations, and have a proven ability to help our clients win life-changing monetary awards.
Contact our Chicago law office to schedule a free consultation if you’ve been hurt in a crash because of negligent truck maintenance.