- Work With Dedicated Los Angeles Injury Attorneys
- Types of Trucking Equipment Failures
- Trucking Accidents Caused by Equipment Failures
- The Importance of Maintaining and Repairing Semi-Trucks
- How to Pursue Compensation After a Collision
Back to Top
Work With Dedicated Los Angeles Injury Attorneys
Whether you call them semi-trucks, big rigs, or tractor-trailers, these powerful vehicles travel hundreds of miles every year. During that time, their parts can break down or fall into disrepair. If one vital piece of equipment fails on the road, then it will almost certainly cause a catastrophic truck accident.
If you or someone you love was injured in a trucking accident caused by equipment failure, you deserve compensation for your trauma. Truck drivers, shipping companies, and vehicle manufacturer have a duty to schedule regular maintenance and identify vehicle defects. Failing to do so can cause untold destruction.
At Aghabegian Law Group, P.C. our team of Glendale trucking accident attorneys has more than 40 years of combined experience investigating crashes throughout Los Angeles County. We can dig into the details of your case and fight to get you full compensation for your injuries. For a free consultation, call us at (818) 350-HURT (350-4878).
Types of Trucking Equipment Failures
Semi-trucks are complex vehicles that require constant care and attention. These vehicles may travel hundreds of miles across a variety of terrains and different weather conditions. Over time, parts may naturally wear down and the vehicle fall into disrepair. So long as truckers and trucking companies schedule regular maintenance, these issues can be identified quickly and fixed before an accident occurs.
Unfortunately, some drivers and companies defer repairs to save time and money. Taking these shortcuts can cause devastating truck accidents down the line. Common equipment failures that cause big rigs to crash include:
- Worn down brakes, which cause drivers to run red lights or stop signs
- Burst tires, which can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle
- Steering issues
- Engine failures
- Weak or broken suspensions due to overloading
- Broken couplings that lead to runaway trailers
- Torn straps for open-air cargo, resulting in cargo spills
- Unsecured loads and doors for trailers, also leading to cargo spills
- Loose valves on tanker trucks, which may lead to hazardous waste spilling onto the road
- Broken underride bars, allowing other vehicles to slide underneath the trailer
- Broken lights and missing reflective strips
- Missing or cracked mirrors
- Defective electrical systems that cause fires
- Software issues on newer vehicles
Any of these defects can cause a catastrophic collision.
Trucking Accidents Caused by Equipment Failures
Semi-trucks have numerous moving parts that need to work together in harmony. When these parts break down (or have defects in them), they can cause a variety of accidents, including:
- Jackknife accidents due to the driver losing control of the vehicle.
- Rollovers due to broken brakes or damaged steering systems.
- Underride accidents caused by a broken or missing underride bar.
- Tanker truck leaks and spills.
- Cargo spills on busy roads and highways.
- Runaway trailers that come loose due to worn-down hitches and damaged couplings.
The Importance of Maintaining and Repairing Semi-Trucks
Truck accidents should never occur due to an equipment failure. Drivers and trucking companies are fully aware of the risks of operating a poorly maintained or damaged vehicle. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all trucking companies to regularly inspect, maintain, and repair their vehicles, in addition to logging all repairs. These logbooks record those vehicles are up to code and free of defects. A trucking companyâs failure to identity and correct these issues can make them liable for a truck accident.
Beyond truck drivers and companies, truck manufacturers can also share liability for causing a collision. Manufacturers are responsible for producing high-quality parts and ensuring that a new vehicle is safe to operate. If a defective component caused a trucking accident, then you can hold the manufacturer liable for your injuries with an auto product liability claim.
The last group that can share liability for trucking accidents caused by equipment failures is mechanics. When a trucking company schedules a repair, it is the mechanicâs duty to ensure that all the vehicleâs components are fixed or replaced and to identity any other issues the vehicle may have. If a mechanic fails to identity a defective component, properly repair the vehicle, or damages the vehicle in another way, then the repair shop can be found liable for a truck accident.
How to Pursue Compensation After a Collision
Determining who is responsible for an equipment failure requires an in-depth investigation by a skilled lawyer. At Aghabegian Law Group, P.C. our Glendale accident attorneys understand how complex these cases can be and how devastating are for accident victims. When we investigate a trucking accident, we use all of our resources, skills, and knowledge to pin down who caused our clientsâ injuries and advocate for full compensation on their behalf. If you were injured in a trucking accident due to a defective part or equipment failure, call Aghabegian Law Group, P.C. at (818) 350-HURT (350-4878) for a free case evaluation.
Truck Accident
- Truck Accident
- Cargo Spill Accidents
- Drugged Truck Driver Accident
- Drunk Truck Driver Accidents
- Fatigued Truck Driver Accidents
- Garbage Truck Accidents
- Jackknife Accidents
- Overloaded Truck Accidents
- Rollover Truck Accidents
- Runaway Trailer Accidents
- Tanker Truck Accidents
- Truck Equipment Failures and Defects
- Underride Accidents
No Upfront Fees
Contact us today for a free consultation. We offer our services on a contingency fee basis-if we donât recover compensation for you, you donât pay. Call (818) 350-HURT (350-4878) to learn more.