Commercial Semi-trucks routinely carry up to 80,000 pounds or more of load. As you can imagine, this puts tremendous strain on the truck’s braking system. Brake failure is a major cause of semi-truck accidents in the United States. If you suspect semi-truck brake failure has caused you or your family injuries, please call or email us today. The highly skilled attorneys of the Kaudy Law Firm are experts in handling semi-truck cases and are here to help.
There may be many reasons why a truck accident occurs. Some of the most common causes of trucking accidents include:
- Lack of Training (on the part of vehicle operator)
- Overloaded Trucks
- Oversized Trucks
- Poorly Maintained Brakes
- Driving in conditions of poor visibility due to smoke fog, snow, or rain
- Fatigued, sleepy or tired driver driving too long and too many hours without rest
- Speeding over the limit or driving at speeds or beyond the road and weather conditions
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Aggressive driving behavior
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Truck drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol while driving
When brake failure is a cause of an accident, many potential legal issues arise. If you suspect semi-truck brake failure has caused an accident, you should consult an attorney immediately. An experienced semi-truck attorney will send notice to the semi-truck carrier requiring them to preserve all evidence related to the crash including maintenance records which could show a lack of proper brake maintenance. Also, by contacting an experienced attorney shortly after the accident, critical evidence including the brake system itself can be preserved and/or inspected by experts who are able to determine the true cause of the crash.
Bear in mind that the trucking company will almost always send its own “expert” to the crash scene in an effort to minimize its potential liability. In this respect, the trucking company is already ahead in the game. Thus, it is very important to retain a competent attorney as quickly as possible.
As discussed in detail on our elements of a claim page, proving liability is the first step in bringing a successful claim. If there has been a brake failure and/or system failure, liability against the semi-truck driver and/or company may not be easily established. In this situation, the driver may argue he or she is not at fault because it is impossible to predict this type of system failure. The trucking company may also argue it is not at fault because it “complied with all federal rules and regulations.” If this occurs, the negligence on the part of the driver or trucking company is often found after a careful and thorough review of the trucking company’s documents.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi-trucking case, please call or email us today. The highly skilled attorneys of the Kaudy Law Firm are experts in handling semi-truck cases and are here to help.
| Trucking Accidents |
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 Driver Fatigue |
| Brake Failure |
| Alcohol & Drug Usage |
| Overloaded Trucks |