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Defective brakes major issue in trucking crashes

On Behalf of | Dec 23, 2019 | Truck Accidents |

Poor truck maintenance in Texas can present a serious threat to others sharing the highway. Because of the size, mass and volume of large trucks, drivers and passengers in other vehicles are at a much higher risk of serious injury or even death in case of a collision. There are a number of factors that can contribute to crashes involving large trucks, which is one reason why these vehicles require specialized drivers. While truck drivers may actually be less likely than others to cause an accident, when they do, the results can be particularly catastrophic.

Researchers examined 120,000 truck crashes that led to fatalities or serious injuries across the country as part of a study for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The trucking industry often cites one of the findings of the study, that truck drivers were responsible for collisions only 44% of the time, causing less than half of truck accidents. However, there are other findings contained in the study that are particularly notable, especially where they point to the dangers that can result from some all-too-common industry practices. In fact, the single largest cause of trucking crashes in which the truck driver was at fault was braking problems.

In most cases, this does not mean that the truck driver used their brakes incorrectly. Instead, the brakes themselves were poorly maintained, out of date or non-functional, making it difficult or impossible for the truck to stop on time. Trucking companies may have avoided necessary maintenance in order to save money, placing lives at risk.

A truck accident can lead to severe injuries that can change a victim’s life forever. People who have been harmed in commercial vehicle collisions due to the negligence of a truck driver or company may work with a personal injury attorney to seek compensation for their losses.

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