TRUCK ACCIDENTS: BRAKE FAILURE
St. Louis, Kansas City, and Jefferson City, Missouri
Brake failure is one of the primary causes of 18-wheeler accidents in America. When the brakes fail on an 80,000 pound truck, the consequences can be tragic.
If you have been involved in a rear-end collision or jackknife truck accident, the possibility is great that brake failure contributed to it. It is important to contact an experienced truck accident attorney who can advise you on the best course of action.
How Brake Failure Occurs
An 80,000 pound load puts tremendous strain on a tractor trailer's brake system. Consequently, truck brakes must be precisely maintained, and trucking regulations mandate routine brake inspection. If a trucking company tampers with maintenance records or fails to properly maintain brakes, it is responsible for any injuries caused by brake failure.
Inadequate brake maintenance increases the time a truck takes to stop. Poor brake maintenance reduces the truck driver's ability to avoid roadway hazards and other vehicles. Poor brakes can also increase the time required to stop in adverse weather.
Truck drivers undergo extensive training. If a trucking company hires an inadequately trained driver who does not understand the proper braking method for going downhill, too much stress may overload the brake system and brake failure can occur.
Jackknife Truck Accidents and Brake Failure
The most common cause of jackknife truck accidents is a driver suddenly applying brakes. However, improperly adjusted brakes can also cause a jackknife accident.
Negligence in Brake Failure Truck Accidents
Many parties may be held accountable for truck accidents involving brake failure, including:
- Trucking companies - by engaging in cost-cutting measures and thereby failing to provide routine brake maintenance
- Maintenance contractors - by poorly inspecting a big rig's brakes
- Driver - if he/she fails to perform mandatory pre-trip brake checks
How a Truck Accident Attorney Can Help
The Missouri truck accident attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm have been successfully litigating vehicle accidents for over thirty years. We will conduct our own independent investigation of your accident and ensure you obtain full compensation for your injuries and property damage.
An experienced truck accident attorney will send a legal notice to the trucking company requiring it to preserve all related crash evidence. This includes maintenance records, which could prove inadequate brake maintenance.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a truck accident in St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City or anywhere in Missouri, please contact the Missouri truck accident attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm to schedule your free case evaluation.