Manassas, VA Truck Accident Attorneys for Negligent Maintenance

Lawyers Assisting With Truck Accidents Caused by Equipment Breakdowns in Manassas, Virginia

Commercial trucks are complex machines that operate under demanding conditions. They carry heavy loads and travel long distances, and constant use places stress on their mechanical systems. When those systems are properly maintained, trucks can operate safely alongside passenger vehicles. However, when maintenance is neglected or performed incorrectly, the results can be catastrophic. A breakdown while a truck is in motion can turn it into an uncontrollable hazard for everyone nearby.

Locklin & Coleman, PLLC represents truck accident victims in Manassas. Our legal team can perform investigations to identify mechanical issues that led to an accident, determine who was responsible for maintenance failures, and secure full compensation for injury victims.

Maintenance Obligations for Carriers and Drivers

Commercial motor carriers have legal requirements related to inspections, repairs, and maintenance programs for the vehicles in their fleets. Trucking companies must inspect all vehicles they operate, keep detailed maintenance records, and ensure that any defects or other issues that could affect the safe operation of a truck are corrected before the vehicle returns to service.

Truck drivers also have legal obligations. Pre-trip and post-trip inspections are required, and drivers must document any defects they discover and report them to a trucking company to ensure that the proper repairs are made. When carriers and drivers fail to meet their obligations, and a mechanical failure causes a truck accident, victims can hold these parties liable for the harm they have suffered due to negligent maintenance.

Truck Parts That Can Fail Due to Neglected Maintenance

Maintenance failures can affect virtually any system on a commercial truck. However, certain components are critical to ensure that a truck can operate safely. When these parts fail, truck accidents will be more likely to occur.

Brake System Failures

Brake failure can lead to catastrophic truck accidents. A fully loaded truck will require a great deal of stopping distance even under ideal conditions. When brakes are worn or do not function correctly due to poor maintenance, the stopping distance will increase. When a truck driver does not have enough time and space to come to a complete stop, they may be unable to avoid a collision with a vehicle ahead of them.

Brake components require regular inspections, and parts will need to be replaced when necessary. Brake pads and shoes can wear down with use, air brake systems will require proper adjustment, and brake drums and rotors must be kept within the proper limits to function correctly. Trucking companies that fail to perform brake maintenance can put everyone on the road at risk of being seriously injured in a truck accident.

Tire Failures and Blowouts

Commercial truck tires are subjected to enormous levels of stress due to heavy loads, high speeds, and long distances. Tires may fail if they are not properly maintained and replaced according to specific schedules. Underinflated tires can build up excessive heat that can lead to tread separation and sudden blowouts. Tires that are worn can present some of the same risks.

A tire blowout on a commercial truck traveling at highway speeds can cause the driver to lose control. This may result in a truck driver straying out of their lane, or jackknife or rollover accidents may occur. The shredded tire material itself can also become a hazard for other vehicles. Proper tire inflation, regular inspections of tread depth, and timely replacement of tires are crucial parts of truck maintenance, and when neglected, these issues can lead to serious consequences.

Steering System Defects

Precise steering control is crucial for a truck driver as they navigate highway interchanges, curves, and congested roadways. Steering components like tie rods, ball joints, power steering systems, and steering gear assemblies can wear down over time. Regular inspections and maintenance must be performed to ensure that these parts are functioning correctly.

A steering failure that causes a driver to lose control of a truck can have devastating results. The driver may be unable to avoid hazards, maintain lane position, and navigate curves correctly. When worn or damaged steering components are not identified and replaced during routine maintenance, a truck can become dangerous, and accidents will be more likely.

Lighting and Visibility Failures

Commercial trucks are required to maintain functioning headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and marker lights that make them visible to other drivers under all conditions. Lighting failures that are not addressed correctly when performing maintenance on a truck can lead to serious hazards, especially when a truck is operating at night or in adverse weather.

Another driver may be unable to see a truck's brake lights, and they may have no warning that the truck is slowing down. If a truck has non-functioning turn signals, other drivers may have no way to know when it is changing lanes. These issues may affect people's ability to avoid collisions with commercial trucks.

Coupling and Trailer Connection Failures

The connection between a commercial truck's cab and its trailer must be properly maintained to ensure that the trailer will stay securely attached. Defects in fifth wheel assemblies and trailer coupling components can cause a trailer to separate from the cab. This can send an uncontrolled trailer into traffic with no ability for the driver to stop it. A trailer separation on a busy highway or local road can cause catastrophic damage to every vehicle in the trailer's path.

Suspension System Problems

A truck's suspension system supports its load and helps the vehicle maintain stability. Worn or broken suspension components can affect a truck driver's control of the vehicle. A truck with poor suspension may handle unpredictably, and it may be more likely to roll over on curves or when a driver needs to make sudden movements.

Establishing Liability for Maintenance-Related Truck Accidents

When a mechanical failure contributes to a truck accident, it will be important to identify every responsible party so that victims will be able to recover full compensation. Responsibility for maintenance failures can extend to multiple parties depending on the specific circumstances of the crash.

A trucking company will have the primary responsibility for establishing and implementing an adequate maintenance program. It must ensure that vehicles are in compliance with federal regulations. Any identified defects must be corrected before a truck returns to service. A carrier that fails to perform maintenance in an attempt to minimize costs, has not put a systematic inspection program in place, or ignores defects reported by drivers may be responsible when these forms of negligence lead to a truck accident.

A truck driver will be responsible for conducting required inspections and reporting defects or potential safety concerns. A driver who identifies a mechanical problem and continues operating their vehicle rather than taking it out of service may be liable for an accident that occurs as a result.

Third-party maintenance companies that provide service on commercial trucks can be held liable when improper repairs or negligent inspections do not address dangerous conditions or safety concerns. Parts manufacturers may be held liable when defects in equipment lead to breakdowns and truck accidents.

Our legal team will take steps to obtain maintenance logs, inspection records, and other information related to repairs. We can work with experts to identify mechanical problems that caused truck accidents. By identifying the liable parties, we can help ensure that our clients will be able to recover financial compensation.

Contact Our Manassas Defective Equipment Truck Accident Lawyers

At Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, our lawyers work to hold negligent trucking companies or other liable parties accountable for the harm caused by preventable mechanical failures. We work to ensure that our clients will receive the full compensation they deserve. Contact our Manassas, VA negligent maintenance truck accident attorneys at 703-392-6686 to schedule a free consultation.