Can Poor Truck Maintenance Cause Truck Accidents?
While truck accidents are not as common as car accidents they do tend to be more severe in terms of injuries and damage. Commercial trucks do not have the same safety equipment and are heavier in size, meaning the injuries suffered are often serious. While there are many reasons that a truck accident can occur, poor and improper truck maintenance is one of the most disastrous because it is oftentimes preventable.
Types of Poor and Improper Truck Maintenance
Both truck companies and drivers are expected to keep up with the routine maintenance of their commercial trucks. However, negligence of the following can lead to trucking accidents:
- Failure to monitor tires
- Failure to keep up with brake maintenance
- Failure to repair broken lights
- Failure to keep up with routine inspections
Frequent inspections are important in preventing truck accidents from occurring. In addition to ensuring safety, maintenance is also a requirement. Failing to keep up with maintenance requirements can not only lead to truck accidents but is also illegal.
Brake failures are one of the most common causes of truck accidents. Trucks are heavier and they already lack fast braking abilities, so when there is a problem with the brakes, it can increase the chances of an accident.
How to Determine Negligence in a Truck Accident
If you believe that poor or improper truck maintenance is to blame, then your legal team will use their investigative skills to uncover what happened. They will speak to the truck company, as well as the maintenance technicians. If needed, your personal injury attorney will call on expert witnesses to figure out what went wrong and why.
If negligence is what led to your injury, then we will uncover the details and fight for the compensation that you need to recover.
Steps to Take If You’re in a Truck Accident
If you are in a truck accident, it is important to take certain steps to protect your safety, as well as your legal rights:
- Receive immediate medical care: Because of the severity of truck accidents, immediate medical care is important, especially since some traumatic brain injuries may take time to develop.
- Collect evidence, if possible: While a lawyer can collect certain pieces of evidence as you begin to build your case, other types of evidence like photographs from the accident or witness contact information may be harder to track later on.
- Report the accident: After an accident, it’s important to contact local law enforcement so they can make a record of the accident via a police report. This is a crucial piece of evidence in determining liability for the accident when you go to file a personal injury claim.
- Reach out to a lawyer: It is best to get an experienced personal injury lawyer involved as soon as possible when dealing with a truck accident. In addition to strict statute of limitations, your legal team can also begin building your case while you focus on your recovery.
Taking these steps can help you protect your legal rights following a truck accident. It can also be helpful to work with a legal team that is familiar with New Jersey’s truck accident laws. When you choose the right legal team you can focus on your recovery and leave the investigation and communications to them.
Contact a Clifton Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Truck Accident Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a truck accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at our firm founder Law Office represent clients injured because of a truck accident in Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 445-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market St, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, as well as offices in New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Linden, Newark, Paterson, South Amboy, and Trenton.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
