Semi-trucks are critical to daily life in Middle America. From the groceries we buy to the clothes we wear, we count on semi-trucks to deliver our essentials. According to American Trucking Associations, in 2022, semi-trucks moved more than 11 billion tons of freight across the country.
These giants of the highway help keep things moving, but their sheer size can make them dangerous if the truck is not maintained correctly. Semi-truck crashes can lead to devastating results, especially for those outside the truck’s cab.
A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report revealed approximately 5,900 fatalities and 160,600 injuries in crashes with large trucks in 2022. In fatal crashes, 81% of fatalities occurred to occupants of other vehicles or nonoccupants.
If you were injured in a semi-truck accident or lost a loved one due to a collision with a tractor-trailer, you may be wondering where you can go to pick up the pieces and recover from this difficult situation.
The attorneys at Eng & Woods frequently help semi-truck accident victims obtain the compensation they need to overcome their injuries or losses. When we help our clients after these accidents, we typically request an inspection of the trucks for potential malfunctions or faulty maintenance.
A truck malfunction can cause a truck to become hazardous to everyone on the road. Drivers and transportation companies must be held accountable for poor or mismanaged truck maintenance. Read on to learn more about some of the most common semi-truck maintenance problems we’ve observed.
Jump to:
- Semi-truck brake malfunctions
- Old or defective tires on semi-trucks
- Semi-truck suspension failures
- Insufficient illumination on semi-trucks
Four Common Semi-truck Malfunctions
Brake Malfunctions
Brake malfunctions are among the most common malfunctions we have seen in our semi-truck cases. We always ask our expert witnesses to examine a truck’s brakes when reviewing a semi-truck accident.
A truck’s braking system has an immense workload. Air braking systems require complex engineering to help the vehicle properly slow down and stop. This complexity and their long length mean they can be more exposed to general wear and tear than more compact hydraulic systems found in passenger vehicles.
A truck driver and their company should inspect truck brakes regularly. If they aren’t, a lapse in the braking system can cause a truck to veer or not be able to stop.
Old or Defective Tires
Old or defective tires are dangerous for any vehicle, but especially so for semi-trucks. A blowout, skid or hydroplane may cause a truck driver to overcorrect. The sudden or sharp movements from overcorrections lead to particularly dangerous accidents like jackknives or rollovers.
Suspension Failure
A trailer’s suspension is critical to stabilizing the truck’s load when on the road. If the trailer is improperly loaded, it can completely destroy the truck’s ability to handle cargo properly. A suspension failure can lead to swaying or bouncing, which can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Insufficient Illumination
Finally, tractors and trailers require a strong, stable electrical connection to maintain proper illumination along the length of the trailer. Reflectors are also critical to maintaining visibility for other drivers. Without proper illumination, it can be difficult for other drivers to see the length of the truck at night or in other low-visibility conditions.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Injured in a Semi-truck Accident?
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a semi-truck accident, don’t settle for what the insurance company offers. Find the right representation to get fair compensation. The team at Eng & Woods Attorneys at Law has helped countless clients get the compensation they deserve.
Get in touch with us by visiting our contact page or head to our verdicts and settlements page to learn more about our previous cases.
