Poor Maintenance
Many commercial truck models weigh several tons, making it critical that these vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained for the safety of all other motorists on Pennsylvania roads. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all commercial truck drivers operating in interstate commerce to retain Driver-Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) that show 18-wheelers have complied with inspection, repair, and maintenance requirements.
Some of the truck parts that need to be regularly inspected and maintained include:
- Air Brakes
- Coupling Devices
- Horn
- Hydraulic Brakes
- Lights
- Mirrors
- Parking Brakes
- Reflectors
- Service Brakes
- Signals
- Steering Mechanisms
- Tires
- Trailer Connections
- Windshield Wipers
Semis and tractor-trailers travel thousands of miles on a regular basis, and any negligent maintenance can cause a devastating accident that results in catastrophic or even fatal injuries. Innocent victims in these types of crashes in Pennsylvania may be unable to return to work and can have their quality of life dramatically altered.
Careful maintenance of tires is always necessary because a blowout is extremely difficult to control in a vehicle so large. Over time, the bond between the steel and rubber can come apart, causing tread separation. If a tire is not sufficiently inflated, the tire can flex and cause a blowout. When a spare sits too long, it can begin to rot. Some trucks even have the wrong type of tire.
These types of accidents require thorough investigation, as multiple parties may bear responsibility for crashes that result from their negligence. Companies that owned the trucks may be liable for failure to maintain their vehicles, the parties that perform maintenance could be to blame if they used substandard parts or did their jobs improperly, and truck drivers or loading companies could also be held accountable if they knowingly put a vehicle on the road despite possibly dangerous issues with a tractor trailer’s safety.
Victims of semi crashes will not only have to deal with representatives from the insurance companies for these semis, but they may also have to answer several questions posed by their own insurance companies. It is an insurance adjuster’s job to limit the payouts that are made to victims of accidents, and these companies will be conducting their own investigations to construct reasons that justify paying victims as little as possible—or nothing at all.
It is in the best interest of any person who has been injured or lost a loved one in an 18-wheeler crash to make sure he or she is represented by an experienced West Chester commercial truck accident lawyer who understands the complexities of 18-wheeler accidents caused by poor truck maintenance.
Ciccarelli Law Offices utilizes a team effort to fully investigate these cases and determine any failure to properly maintain any parts of a tractor trailer. Our firm represents semi crash victims on a contingency fee basis, which means that we charge absolutely nothing unless we recover a financial award.
Contact Our PA Personal Injury Lawyers
We are a team of Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers our main offices located in West Chester, Chester County Pennsylvania and serving clients throughout the greater Philadelphia Metro Area including Lancaster County, Berks County, Bucks County, Delaware County and Montgomery County. If your family has been victimized by the negligence of another and you are seeking a free initial consult on you rights and possible claims, it is crucial you speak to an experienced Pennsylvania Injury lawyers in order to ensure your rights are protected and to review all of your legal options with you.
The Injury attorneys of Ciccarelli Law Offices have successfully represented individuals throughout the state of Pennsylvania that have been injured in accidents. Our Chester County based law firm is based at 304 North High Street, West Chester PA 19380 and serves clients throughout Pennsylvania including but not limited to in Kennett Square, Downingtown, West Chester, Coatesville, Exton, Chester Springs, Chadds Ford, Landenberg, Lancaster, Media, Harrisburg, Reading, Philadelphia, Honey Brook, Oxford, Malvern, Parkesburg, Phoenixville and Paoli. Contact us now at (610) 692-8700 or call toll free (877) 529-2422. Don’t wait—contact an attorney immediately.