Commercial trucks are a common sight across San Antonio, a major transportation hub. While this business is important for our economy, trucks that are not properly maintained pose a safety risk to the public. If you were injured in an accident caused by poor truck maintenance, you might wonder who is legally responsible. A knowledgeable San Antonio truck accident attorney from George Salinas Injury Lawyers can explain your legal rights and options for obtaining compensation after a poor truck maintenance accident.
FMCSA Truck Maintenance Guidelines
Commercial trucks can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds. They take longer to stop and have massive blind spots. These characteristics make them more dangerous than the average passenger vehicle.
As a result, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has passed guidelines for truck maintenance, which require motor carriers to do all of the following:
- Systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all motor vehicles under their control
- Keep all motor parts in safe and proper working condition at all times
- Ensure their vehicles are inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year
- Maintain records of inspections, maintenance, and repairs
- Not having any vehicles in their control while in a condition likely to cause an accident or vehicle breakdown
The FMCSA inspection and repair requirements apply to every piece of equipment that could affect the safe operation of the vehicle, including wheels, tires, axles, engine, suspension, and mechanical systems.
Truck Maintenance Problems That Can Cause Truck Crashes
Commercial trucks are comprised of thousands of moving parts, and an issue with nearly any of them could potentially compromise the vehicle’s safety. Commercial vehicles that fall into disrepair and experience the following mechanical issues can cause crashes:
- Tire blowouts
- Brake failure
- Steering issues
- Engine failure
- Suspension problems
- Electrical issues
- Lost cargo loads
These mechanical issues make it more likely for the driver to lose control of the truck and cause serious crashes.
Determining Liability for an Inadequately Maintained Truck Accident
Like many types of truck crashes, those involving inadequate truck maintenance can involve multiple parties, including the following:
- The truck driver: Truck drivers are responsible for completing inspections at the beginning of the trip and throughout the trip to ensure safety.
- The truck company: Truck companies are responsible for maintaining the vehicles in their fleet that they provide to drivers.
- The truck owner: Truck owners are responsible for maintaining the vehicles they lease to drivers or trucking companies.
- The mechanic: Trucking companies may outsource mechanical work for their vehicles to a third party. Mechanics are responsible for safely performing vehicle repairs and can be held liable when they fail to do so.
The party or parties who contributed to the poor maintenance can be held financially liable for the victim’s losses, including medical costs, property repairs, and lost wages.
Call George Salinas Injury Lawyers for a Free Case Review
After a truck accident caused by poor truck maintenance, you need an experienced San Antonio car accident attorney on your side who can gather compelling evidence, such as the vehicle’s inspection, maintenance, and repair records. George Salinas Injury Lawyers can help you through the legal process. Call us today to take advantage of a free case review.