Commercial trucks log thousands of miles every week on Tennessee’s highways, putting substantial wear and tear on critical vehicle components like brakes and tires. When a trucking company fails to keep up with routine maintenance, mechanical failures can happen without warning and can lead to catastrophic accidents.
Both federal and state laws require trucking companies to maintain their fleets to certain safety standards. If you were hurt in a truck accident caused by a poorly maintained vehicle, you may have the right to pursue compensation. Read on to learn more about how negligent maintenance claims work and how our big rig accident attorney in Nashville, TN can help.
Federal Maintenance Requirements for Commercial Trucks
The FMCSA requires every trucking company to systematically maintain all of its commercial vehicles. Among the key requirements to keep in mind are:
- Every truck must undergo a thorough annual inspection performed by a qualified inspector
- Drivers must complete a written pre-trip and post-trip inspection report for each day they’re on the road
- Any defects or mechanical issues found during an inspection must be repaired before the truck is allowed to operate again
- Trucking companies must keep detailed maintenance records for every vehicle in their fleet, and those records must be available for review
Carriers that cut corners on any of these obligations are creating conditions that make a serious accident far more likely. It can also lead to liability for any economic and non-economic damages that are caused as a result. Our car accident lawyers in Nashville have assisted victims of similar claims for decades.
What Are Some Common Warning Signs That Go Ignored?
Many maintenance-related truck accidents don’t come out of nowhere. More often, there are warning signs that the trucking company or driver either missed or chose to overlook. Worn brake pads, for instance, don’t fail all at once. They gradually lose stopping power over time, and a driver who files daily inspection reports should catch the problem well before it becomes dangerous.
The same is true for tire issues, as things like bald tread and sidewall cracks are all visible problems that regular inspections should catch early. A tire blowout on a fully loaded truck traveling at highway speed can cause the driver to lose control in an instant.
Steering and suspension problems follow a similar pattern. For instance, loose components and leaking fluid get worse over time, not better. A trucking company that waits until something breaks instead of fixing it when the first signs appear is putting other drivers in danger.
Contact Woodard Injury Law for Help After a Truck Accident in Tennessee
If you believe a poorly maintained vehicle played a role in your Tennessee truck accident, maintenance records and inspection reports can be powerful evidence for your personal injury case. Woodard Injury Law can help you obtain those records and build a compelling claim against the responsible parties from there.
Contact us online or call (615) 314-4626 today to get started with a free consultation. We’ll immediately prioritize your case and aim to put as much money into your pocket if you decide to hire us for help.