It is common to see massive commercial trucks on the highway carrying goods across long distances, weighing thousands of pounds. Due to their size and weight, even a small mistake can cause serious injuries or worse. That’s why truck maintenance matters. Things can go wrong quickly when companies or drivers cut corners on repairs or inspections. In fact, many crashes occur because someone failed to fix or inspect the truck in time, rather than because of weather or road conditions. If you are hurt in an accident, it is crucial to understand how poor maintenance causes crashes, what to watch for, and how victims of a truck maintenance negligence accident can hold those responsible accountable.
How Poor Maintenance Causes Truck Accidents
Multiple studies conducted over the past two decades found that more than 40 percent of the large truck crashes studied involved some type of mechanical issue. When a truck isn’t working as it should, drivers end up losing control, which is a big problem when a vehicle can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Mechanical failures like brake problems or steering issues can mean the difference between stopping in time or crashing into traffic.
Every truck part wears down over time. Without proper checks and timely repairs, small issues grow into dangerous ones. One missed inspection or skipped oil change can be all it takes to put other drivers in danger.
Common Maintenance Failures That Lead to Accidents
Truck maintenance involves a lot of parts, and any one of them can fail if ignored. Some of the most common problems seen after a crash include:
Brake System Failure
Brakes are one of the most important safety features on a truck. When they don’t work right, stopping becomes almost impossible. A brake failure truck accident can happen because of worn-out pads, air brake system leaks, or broken lines. It’s one of the leading causes of runaway trucks.
Tire Issues
A tire blowout semi-truck crash can send rubber flying into nearby cars or cause the truck to lose balance. Bald tires, poor alignment, and wrong tire pressure all make a blowout more likely. Driving for long hours on worn tires increases the chance of sudden failure, especially in hot weather. Even one underinflated tire can throw off the balance of a heavy trailer.
Steering and Suspension Problems
Loose steering parts or worn suspension can cause the truck to veer into other lanes. These problems often don’t show up until it’s too late, especially if there’s inadequate truck servicing. Quick maneuvers to avoid obstacles become nearly impossible if a driver can’t control the wheel properly.
Lighting and Signals
If a truck’s brake lights or turn signals don’t work, other drivers won’t know what it’s doing. Faulty truck equipment, like broken lights, leads to confusion, especially at night. Something as simple as a burned-out taillight can contribute to a chain-reaction crash.
Engine or Transmission Failures
A semi-truck mechanical failure on a busy highway can bring traffic to a halt or lead to rear-end collisions. Engine issues may cause sudden stalling or jerky movement. Without power, a truck may be stranded in high-speed traffic, forcing others to swerve suddenly. Transmission trouble can also cause gear-shifting problems that reduce control on steep grades.
Trailer Attachment Failures
The trailer must be firmly locked to the truck. If it isn’t, it could detach while in motion, leading to a failed inspection truck crash or even a pile-up. This type of failure can send the trailer into other lanes or off the road entirely. Problems with hitches or locking pins are often missed when drivers rush through inspections.
Trucking Company Responsibilities for Vehicle Maintenance
Federal law requires trucking companies to inspect and repair their vehicles regularly. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets maintenance rules that require companies to follow strict schedules for inspections and repairs. A DOT maintenance violation means the company failed to meet these safety standards.
Trucks must have maintenance logs that show when and how repairs were done. Authorities review these records after an accident. Ignoring a needed fix or delaying service puts lives at risk and can lead to a maintenance negligence lawsuit if someone gets hurt. Even if the company knows about a broken part, some still push the truck out onto the road. That kind of trucking company negligence is not only wrong, but it is also illegal.
The Role of Drivers in Reporting Maintenance Issues
Drivers aren’t off the hook either. Every trucker should do a pre-trip inspection before getting behind the wheel. Skipping that step is a pre-trip inspection failure, and it can lead to a serious crash if something important is missed.
Unfortunately, some drivers feel pressure to ignore small issues to stay on schedule. They might downplay a noise or a warning light. But even small mechanical issue truck wreck situations can turn deadly if left unchecked. Drivers are the first line of defense. If they don’t report problems, the company might not know there’s anything wrong until a truck repair negligence leads to a wreck.
How Maintenance Failures Are Investigated After an Accident
When a truck crash happens, investigators dig into the truck’s history. They check the truck inspection failure records, black box data, and service logs to see if something was missed.
A full police investigation crash report may also include photos, witness statements, and driver logs. Independent mechanics may be called in to review the truck’s condition and find the cause of the problem. If a commercial vehicle defect crash hurt you, the records will often show whether someone failed to do their job.
Legal Liability in Maintenance-Related Truck Accidents
In many cases, more than one party shares responsibility for the crash. A trucking fleet maintenance oversight might be the main reason, but sometimes a third-party contractor who did faulty repairs may also be to blame.
Even a parts manufacturer could be responsible if a faulty part caused the failure. Proving these details takes time and legal knowledge, but it’s important to find out who’s at fault. Every unroadworthy truck crash deserves a closer look. Holding companies accountable helps prevent future safety violations truck accident cases from happening.
Contact Our Florida Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you are hurt because of poor truck maintenance, let our Florida truck accident attorney at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers help you understand your rights and what steps to take next. Call (619) 233-5020 to get started with a free consultation and learn how we can support you after a serious truck crash.
