Of the over 14,000 traffic collisions in 2020 across Indiana, 90% involved large trucks. While most of these cases often result from driver errors or poor road conditions, another common contributor can be mechanical failures.
Even when cautious drivers are behind the wheel or no imminent threats are present in the environment, devastating consequences may still occur when specific components of a truck fail to function.
Examples of mechanical failures
Per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 10% of all truck accidents stem from vehicular issues.
Reasons why parts of massive trucks disintegrate vary. Sometimes, trucks may be aging and are due for an upgrade. In other cases, employers do not conduct routine maintenance, repair or servicing to check for potential hazards. They may also fail to train their workers about safe driving behaviors.
When negligence prevails, the following malfunctions can happen:
- Faulty brakes
- Tire blowouts
- Inadequate brake fluids
- Damaged steering systems
- Missing or broken headlights, turn signals, mirrors or windshield wipers
A range of catastrophic scenarios can result from these mechanical defects. For example, a truck carrying flammable substances can catch fire and the driver cannot stop in time due to defective brakes. Fatal injuries, such as burns, loss of limbs or permanent nerve damage, are likely.
Correcting failures
Truck collisions require thorough investigation due to multiple parties involved. Injured victims must seek legal counsel to guide them in identifying who is liable for the mechanical failure causing their tragic circumstances. They must establish whether manufacturers are accountable for their unsafe products or trucking companies skip inspection duties. Thus, pursuing a claim can be a corrective measure to make roads safer.