A driver was killed when his tractor-trailer smashed into a bridge abutment, collided with a box truck, caught fire and crashed into a guardrail before finally coming to a stop. The flames engulfed the truck’s cab and the driver died. Police believe the truck accident may have been caused by a mechanical error.
Not all truck accidents are caused by driver error. Sometimes the cause of a crash can come down to the truck. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, roughly 20 percent of all truck accidents occur due to a mechanical error, such as the following:
- Bad tires
- Faulty signal or brake lights
- Brake failure
- Defective steering
- Transmission failure
Who Can I Hold Responsible for a Truck Accident Caused By Mechanical Error?
The government has strict regulations in place on truck braking systems. However, it is not uncommon for truck companies to ignore those regulations by failing to maintain the brakes or overloading it with cargo. When this happens the brakes on a truck can overheat and fail. Additionally, the company may skimp on tire maintenance, which can cause the truck tires to blow out. In either instance, it may be possible to hold the truck driving company responsible for any injuries sustained.
While it is the truck company’s responsibility to provide a well maintained and safe truck, it is the driver’s responsibility to perform regular inspections on the truck’s brakes, lighting and tires before hitting the road. If the driver fails to do so, he or she can also be held liable for injuries sustained in a truck accident.
The designers of mechanical truck parts are also expected to employ federal safety standards. When these standards are ignored, it can lead to defective products being installed on the trucks. This means, anyone injured in a truck accident could hold the company who designed the truck parts responsible. On that same note, if a truck’s design is not defective, but the manufacturer installs a part incorrectly, the manufacturer can be held liable.
Spevack Law Firm is a New Jersey personal injury law firm that fights for those who sustain injuries in truck accidents in the Iselin, New Brunswick and Teaneck areas of New Jersey.
