Every vehicle operator on the road owes a duty of care to other commuters that the vehicle they are driving is in good working order and mechanically sound. A Virginia truck accident attorney knows that failure to regularly maintain and repair your vehicle not only increases your risk of causing serious mechanical damage to it, but it also creates a dangerous – and deadly – risk for yourself and those you share the roads with.
This is especially true for commercial trucks, which often spend thousands of miles on the roads each week. If a trucking company allows a poorly-maintained vehicle on the road, they are liable for any damages victims can suffer in truck accidents that occur as a result of that vehicle’s mechanical failures.
Responsibility to Inspect
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the government agency that is in charge of regulating and oversight of commercial vehicle owners. The FMCSA requires owners and operators to regularly inspect and maintain their vehicles, as well as keep well-documented records of these inspections and repairs. Truck drivers are required to keep daily logs citing which systems are in good working order and where there were issues or problems. The FMCSA requires regular inspections of vehicles:
- Brakes
- Exhaust system
- Fuel system
- Steering system
- Suspension system
- Tires
Improper Maintenance of Commercial Truck
When a trucking accident occurs because of improper maintenance of the vehicle, this FMCSA violation is a liability that the victim could use to receive financial compensation for any losses the crash has caused them to incur. If this failure was done knowingly by the trucking company, the victim may even be entitled to punitive damages. A Virginia truck accident attorney will be able to determine which types of losses you may be entitled to be compensated for.
Some of the evidence that can be used to prove this breach of duty includes the truck’s inspection logs, maintenance records, and any signs of wear and tear present on the vehicle. Some examples of these failures include:
- Failure to maintain proper tire pressure
- Failure to replace burnt-out bulbs
- Failure to replace or repair suspension
- Failure to replace vehicle lubricants
- Failure to replace worn tires
- Failure to replace worn-out brakes
- Failure to replace worn-out or torn windshield wipers
- Failure to secure trailers
- Failure to use safety devices to secure cargo
Contact Shapiro & Appleton Today
If you have been injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer, contact a skilled Virginia truck accident attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have against the truck driver and any other parties who may be held responsible for your injuries. The legal team from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has successfully advocated for many truck accident victims and their families, including a $2.4 million wrongful death settlement for one family whose loved one died in a rear-end collision caused by a tractor-trailer operator.
Our Va. personal injury firm also offers a free truck accident injury guide for accident victims. The guide covers topics such as the tactics used by truck companies to deny or reduce injury claims, common violations of trucking companies, and the difference between commercial truck insurance and other types of vehicle insurance.
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