Improper Maintenance And Semi-Truck Accidents Article

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Improper Maintenance and Semi-Truck Accidents

The proper maintenance of semi-trucks is essential to ensure their safety out on the open road. These complex vehicles are the responsibility of the both the trucker and the company they work for. Regular inspections need to be performed on a constant basis to prevent unnecessary accidents from happening.

Author: Sara Goldstein

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires that all commercial vehicles meet very specific standards before they operate on our roadways.

Unfortunately, maintenance issues and truck accidents are often inseparable. Even the most careful and experienced driver cannot prevent a truck accident when equipment fails, and the end result is often catastrophic injuries or even death to drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles.

FMCSA Maintenance Requirements
All truckers are required to inspect their trucks at the beginning and end of each driving day. This inspection must be thorough and documented or the truck can be labeled “out of service” by the FMCSA.

The checklist for inspection includes:

• The breaking and emergency brake systems
• All tires, wheels, and rims on the cab and trailer
• The steering mechanism
• All lights and reflectors
• All mirrors
• The windshield wipers
• All couplings and connections
• The horn
• Emergency equipment

Additionally, the trucker should be supplied with a post-trip inspection report from the previous driver of the truck. If there were any maintenance issues, the trucking company must prove with certification that they have been addressed, and that the truck is safe to operate.

Who is to Blame?
Because both the driver and the company he works for are responsible for proper truck maintenance, it can be difficult to determine which party is responsible for a truck accident caused by a poorly maintained truck. This is where documentation from the driver and his company come into play. Unfortunately, blame is often passed back and forth while insurance companies battle with one another, and you are left to deal with your injuries.

An experienced truck accident attorney is necessary after any truck accident to help determine liability and ensure you are properly compensated. It is very likely that without an attorney, you will be forced to wait years for compensation and, when that compensation finally arrives, it will prove inadequate to cover all of your damages. Only an experienced truck accident attorney can investigate your accident, determine liability, and make sure you are provided with every penny you are due.

About Author

Chaikin & Sherman, P.C. focuses on seeking compensation for victims who have suffered serious personal injury or death resulting from negligence, medical malpractice, motor vehicle collisions, tractor trailer accidents, or defective products. Whatever the injury may be, we seek to obtain maximum compensation for our clients, including compensation for the emotional pain and suffering that accompanies serious injury. We also handle class action lawsuits and consumer fraud litigation. The law firm enjoys the highest rating (AV) from the Martindale-Hubbell organization. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Contact us today for more information and to schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our lawyers.

If you live in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC and have been involved in an accident with an improperly maintained truck, please visit the website of the experienced truck accident attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata& Siegel, P.C. for more information.

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Improper Maintenance and Semi-Truck Accidents