Hundreds of thousands of commercial motor vehicles travel on roadways throughout the United States on a yearly basis. Many of these vehicles travel throughout the state of Georgia transporting goods to their intended destination. While both Federal laws and Georgia laws were created to ensure that these commercial motor vehicles are safe for travel, accidents that could have been avoided inevitably happen each year. In fact, many of these accidents occur as a result of a truck’s mechanical failure. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident or incident in the state of Georgia, contact Persons Firm today for a risk free initial consultation.
Brake Failure
Brake failure is one of the leading causes of accidents involving trucks. While the ability to bring a vehicle to a complete stop is a major safety component in all motor vehicles, there are added federal regulations with which all commercial trucks must comply. For example, these regulations dictate the timeframe in which a truck must come to a complete stop, which is dependent on the distance and speed the commercial motor vehicle is traveling.
Brake failure is sometimes the result of manufacturer or human error. When a braking system fails as a result of a manufacturer error, there are usually recalls issued so that services can be completed to protect all individuals traveling on the roadway. However, human errors are the typical reason for brake failure.
- Failure to maintain brakes: Trucks should be inspected regularly to ensure that the brakes are functioning properly. This includes checking the brakes to determine if the pads are worn or need to be replaced, checking the amount of pressure in the braking system, and inspecting the lines and hoses.
- Improper Loading: Improperly loading a truck is another cause of brake failure. When the weight distribution of a truck load is not evenly dispersed, the braking system sometimes becomes compromised, which leads to difficulty braking.
Steering Failure
Steering failure is the inability of a truck operator to turn the wheel of the truck in the direction in which the vehicle should travel. When a truck is traveling at high speeds, steering failure can have disastrous consequences that impacts all individuals traveling nearby. Steering failure can also occur as a result of a manufacturer defect or due to improper maintenance. If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident or incident related to steering failure, you need an experienced attorney who can thoroughly investigate to get you the answers you deserve.
Tire Maintenance
Tire blowouts and other issues related to tire maintenance on trucks result in thousands of accidents each year. When flat tires or blowouts occur at high speeds, they create dangerous situations which have caused nearby vehicles to swerve to avoid hitting the vehicle or striking a tire or have caused some to lose control of their vehicle after being struck by the tire. Accidents with trucks that stem from tire blowouts are usually the result of negligence. Some of the leading causes of tire related issues included improper mounting of tires, lack of air, or insufficient tire tread.
Contact Persons Firm for Assistance
If you have been injured by a commercial motor vehicle that experienced a mechanical failure, contact the Persons Firm for assistance with your personal injury matter today.