How Neglected Maintenance By Trucking Companies Causes Collisions
Neglected maintenance by trucking companies can cause collisions by compromising a truck’s performance, handling and overall safety. A poorly maintained truck can carry crash risks such as worn-out brakes, bald tires, faulty steering and other parts that may fail during a drive. Trucking companies can be held responsible for truck accidents that are caused by their negligent maintenance.
Federal Truck Maintenance Standards
The crash risks and dangers associated with a poorly maintained truck are so significant that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has minimum truck maintenance requirements in place.
According to federal law, every motor carrier in the country is required to properly inspect, repair and maintain all commercial motor vehicles within their control. All truck parts, equipment and accessories must be in safe and proper operating condition at all times.
Trucking companies have a responsibility to regularly inspect, maintain and repair their vehicles as needed. The operation of a motor vehicle that is in an unsafe condition, one that is “likely to cause an accident or a breakdown of the vehicle,” is forbidden.
What Is Neglected Maintenance?
Large commercial trucks rely on countless parts to operate safely and properly each day. If even one part is not correctly maintained, the safety of the truck is jeopardized and the risk of serious accidents increases.
Part failures and breakdowns of all types can affect the control, performance and drivability of a large truck. Examples include:
- Brake failure
- Tire blowouts
- Steering problems
- Electrical malfunctions
- Broken axles
- Detached trailer
- Fuel system failure
- Cargo securement failures
- Engine breakdown
Neglected maintenance means that a trucking company or truck owner/operator has not adhered to the required standards of truck upkeep according to federal law. This is a type of negligence that can result in liability for a related trucking accident in New Jersey.
Risks and Hazards Caused By Poor Truck Maintenance
Large trucks tend to travel thousands of miles on single jobs. They undergo a large amount of wear and tear and must therefore be regularly inspected and maintained. Skipping required inspections, trying to save money with low-quality repairs or failing to replace worn-down parts are all examples of negligent truck maintenance that increase the odds of part failures in transit.
Defective parts are also a common problem in commercial trucking. Truck parts with manufacturing or design defects may not perform as they should, contributing to part-failure accidents. In these situations, the manufacturer of the defective part could potentially be held liable in addition to the trucking company for poor maintenance.
Who Is Responsible for a Collision Caused By Neglected Maintenance?
A trucking company in New Jersey may intentionally neglect maintenance to save time or money, or unintentionally fail to meet federal standards through poor employee training or mismanagement. Either way, the trucking company could be held liable for a truck accident, injury or death that arises due to inadequate maintenance.
Although New Jersey is a no-fault state, crash victims with serious injuries can sue outside of this insurance system. Most trucking accidents meet the injury tort threshold. If an investigation of a truck accident determines that it was caused by truck part failure due to inadequate maintenance, the trucking company responsible for ensuring proper upkeep can be held responsible for paying for victims’ losses.