Large commercial trucks and tractor-trailer rigs require special and attentive maintenance to ensure that they are safe for the road. This includes properly maintaining brakes and tires on the vehicle. Truck tires carry vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds and more many thousands of miles, meaning they undergo extensive wear and tear. Failure to change tires at the proper time can put a rig at risk for a dangerous highway blowout. Other defects in the tire — such as bumps, bulges, cracks, exposed cords and fabric tears — can be equally hazardous.
Truck brakes also require careful attention. A steep grade or even a long downward slope can trigger a blowout in tired, worn-out brakes, potentially leading to a disastrous truck accident caused by a runaway or rollover. Moreover, less complicated or obvious errors can still have deadly repercussions — including faulty windshield wipers or broken brake lights, reverse lights, reflectors or turn signals. If any of these basic upkeep obligations are not met, the truck driver risks his or her own safety as well as the safety of other drivers on the road.
Failure to properly maintain large commercial rigs is one of the leading causes of trucking accidents in the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that trucking accidents cause 114,000 injuries and 5,000 deaths every year in the United States. With over 8.5 Million trucks operating on America’s roadways, it is small wonder that more than 460,000 accidents involving big rigs occur annually. If you or a family member was hurt or killed in an accident involving a large truck, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a New York City personal injury attorney as soon as possible. If failure to maintain or another symptom of driver negligence was to blame for the incident, you could be entitled to compensatory damages for medical bills, loss of wages, and/or pain and suffering.
Injured? Schedule A Free Case Evaluation With Jaroslawicz & Jaros!
At Jaroslawicz & Jaros, we have helped many truck accident victims and their loved ones collect justly deserved restitution in the state of New York. If the accident you were involved in was caused by a truck driver or a trucking company’s failure to maintain the vehicle according to federal regulations, there is no reason why you should be forced to shoulder the financial burden of the accident in addition to the emotional and physical pain you are already coping with. Call our firm today to talk about your options. You have the right to file a claim. Set up a free case evaluation with one of our experienced and knowledgeable motor vehicle accident lawyers and learn how you can take steps to help get your life back in the wake of a devastating collision. Call us in New York at 212.227.2780.
