Bad Brakes Cause Serious Semi-Truck Accidents
Defective Truck Brake Lawyer - Call 866.840.3636 for immediate help
The brakes on a tractor-trailer are the lifeblood of the truck. When they fail, it is usually because of careless maintenance of the tractor-trailer by the truck driver and trucking company. The brakes on these massive semi-trucks are responsible for 10X the amount of stopping power of a small passenger car. Do you think the truck that hit your car had bad brakes? It could definitely be possible. However, unless you contact a personal injury lawyer immediately, chances are high that even if bad truck brakes are to blame for the crash, that the trucking company or its insurance company has removed the defective brakes and disposed of them in anticipation of a serious personal injury lawsuit.
The Missouri Trucking Association recently published concerns that "as Missouri's highways become more congested, it is very important that everyone share the road safely and ensure that the equipment they are operating is excellent condition." In 2009, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, commercial motor vehicle enforcement task force, issued the majority of its safety violations for truck brakes that were
out of adjustment and
truck brake hose and tubing problems. Over 40,000 citations for bad brakes alone were issued in 2009. This is a major, major safety issue that is currently putting Missouri residents in harms way.
The braking components of a tractor-trailer are unlike car braking systems. Truck brakes operate on a compressed pressure air system. The brakes inside the wheel must be in proper "adjustment" in order to be effective to stop a big rig. When truck brakes are out of adjustment, even by a slight amount, stopping power is greatly reduced and the potential for a serious truck crash is increased dramatically. If you suspect defective or faulty truck brakes in your case, contact a lawyer immediately by calling 866.840.3636.
Missouri Defective Truck Brake Attorneys
If you suspect that defective or out-of-adjustment truck brakes are to blame for a crash that you were involved in, it is critical to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. Your
truck accident lawyer can then act quickly and obtain a court order requiring the trucking company to preserve the truck in its current condition. Commonly referred to as "spoliation of evidence", careless trucking companies are notorious for destroying evidence that is relevant to the cause of a
serious tractor-trailer accident. If the trucking company is not put on notice by a personal injury lawyer, they may get away with destruction of evidence. If the trucking company decides to disregard a court order or spoliation letter from a personal injury lawyer, the trucking company will be subject to stiff civil and criminal penalties.
A
Missouri truck accident lawyer will assist you by immediately sending evidence preservation demands to the trucking company, truck driver, and insurance company. These demands will specifically list the brake pads, brake hoses, and air system as evidence that must be preserved. If you don't contact a personal injury lawyer, you may be throwing the towel in on your defective truck brake injury claim.
Truck drivers and trucking companies are required by Federal and State law to inspect the braking system prior to each trip out on the road. In reality, these brake safety checks are rarely done. Truck brakes are rarely replaced until they are worn to the nubs, or in the event the truck has an accident or 'close call.' A truck with bad brakes is a serious safety hazard and is in violation of numerous federal safety regulations. Contact a
Missouri defective truck brake attorney at Schultz Legal Group by calling 866.840.3636.