If you’ve recently become a victim in a St. Petersburg trucking accident, you may be wondering what your next step is. Regardless of the extent of your injuries or damage to your vehicle, it would be wise to speak with a personal injury attorney to find out what your options are and whether or not you have a case. To help you determine if filing suit would be appropriate, it’s good to have a basic understanding of brake and tire failure and how these factors can play a role in truck accidents.
Brakes
According to the Department of Transportation, brake malfunctions are responsible for nearly 30 percent of all trucking crashes. This is a significant figure, and it’s especially concerning because so many of these accidents could have been prevented with regular brake maintenance and inspections.
When brake-related accidents happen, it doesn’t take long for the parties involved to start pointing fingers, either. Blame can be assigned to a variety of individuals or organizations, including the brake manufacturer, the maintenance service provider, and even the driver. To figure out who is truly at fault for an accident, you and your attorney will need to get as much information on the brakes as possible, including who made them and who’s been maintaining them. Ask for any inspection reports before and after the truck accident as well. Also, be sure to check for any information on brake recalls, as this can pose serious consequences if recall instructions weren’t followed properly.
You and your attorney will also want to gather evidence on the driver and the trucking company to find out if they’ve committed any other errors, such as improper loading practices or de-powering the front brakes. Both of these actions can result in brake malfunction that can lead to truck accidents.
Tires
Truck tires pose an additional threat to motorists, as blowouts are more common than you might think. These can be the result of defective tires or improper maintenance, as well as negligence on the part of the trucking company. All too often companies will skip important safety steps in an effort to save a buck, although the outcome of this isn’t always as lucrative as they had hoped – especially if it results in a traffic accident.
As with brakes, big rig tires are also required to be regularly inspected. A few things inspectors will look for are adequate tire tread depth, no mixing and matching of different tire types on the same axle or using different sizes, and staying consistent with similar wear and tear on all tires. These should be noted in inspection reports, so be sure to check this information out as well.
What to Do After a Trucking Accident
A trucking accident can happen even to the most alert and cautious drivers, especially when factors out of your control, like faulty brakes or tires, are involved. If you’ve been involved in a trucking accident, the best course of action is to get help from an experienced personal injury attorney in Florida. An attorney can help you navigate the complicated aftermath of going up against those in the trucking industry, whether it’s the driver, the company, or even the brake or tire manufacturer. Whoever is at fault will be working their hardest to deflect blame and avoid paying a large settlement, but you are entitled to compensation for your injuries, damage to your vehicle, and lost wages. Let a personal injury attorney help you get what you deserve.