Anyone who has ever owned a car or any other typeDefective or unrepaired brakes often cause damaging truck crashes of vehicle understands that they require maintenance. Vehicles are machines, and they can wear down over time or sustain damage through routine use. This is an especially important task when it comes to large trucks. Not only are periodic inspections and maintenance required by law, they help to ensure the safety of everyone who shares the road.

While the causes of these accidents vary from driver distraction to weather factors to mechanical issues, one consistent problem with large trucks remains brake problems. 

Common Causes of Brake Problems

There are many reasons trucks fail a brake inspection. In most cases, the problems and resulting accidents could have been avoided with a simple amount of care by the driver and/or carrier. These problems include:

Improper Maintenance

Drivers and carriers are required to inspect and properly maintain their vehicles. However, this does not always happen. Even when inspections are done, often the repairs are not adequate, which can lead to crashes. Experts recommend that if one brake requires maintenance, similar repairs should be made to all brakes to maintain even braking power. To save time and money, many times this is not done.
 

Uneven Cargo Loading

If cargo is loaded or secured improperly, it can shift during travel. With an uneven weight distribution to the vehicle, braking can be very difficult. Pressure is put on the brake system at different places, reducing the system’s ability to function adequately.
 

Depowering the Front Brakes

There have been instances in which an owner or operator will cut the power to the front brakes and have the vehicle rely only on the braking power from the back to stop the vehicle. While this may save wear and cost, it can be a dangerous practice when the truck is not able to generate the proper amount of power to safely stop.

Poor Brake Performance Is Especially Dangerous in Large Trucks

Commercial trucks are larger and heavier than most other vehicles on the road. Even in the best conditions, they require more stopping time and a longer stopping distance than smaller, lighter vehicles. These margins can often mean the difference between a near miss and a deadly crash. When a truck’s brakes are not functioning properly, they may need even more time and distance to stop to avoid a crash.

Additionally, poor brake functions can lead to skids and rollovers. Both these situations can be very dangerous to other vehicles on the road, as the size and weight of a large truck can carve a significant path of damage and destruction. The dangers are heightened for everyone when a truck is involved in an accident, making the need for proper brake maintenance even more important.

Brake Violations Often Cited in Roadside Inspections

Large trucks are commonly known as 18-wheelers after the large number of tires they travel on. For each of those tires, braking action must occur to slow and stop the vehicle, and each of those brakes must be in good working order to safely make that happen. During 2015 roadside inspections, the FMCSA reported that brake problems were among the top infractions, with over 477,000 total violations noted. Among the most frequently cited brake violations were:

  • Clamp/roto chamber out of adjustment
  • Air brake manufactured after the regulated date
  • Inoperative or defective brakes
  • General brake issues

The vast majority of cited brake issues could have been caught and remedied with an owner or operator inspection and appropriate repair.

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We Can Handle Your Truck Accident Case

When owners or operators take shortcuts in inspection and maintenance when it comes to brakes, it is often others on the road who suffer the consequences. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a truck accident due to bad brakes, you may be eligible to make a claim. Contact the experienced truck injury lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak to learn more about your rights and legal options in Georgia.

 

Jaret A. Spevak
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Atlanta Personal Injury & Workers’ Compensation Attorney With 20+ Years Experience