Lawyer Defective Truck Equipment Accidents
Large trucks need regular maintenance and top-of-the-line parts to perform optimally. It is the job of trucking companies, mechanics, and auto parts manufacturers to ensure safe trucks are on the road. If defective equipment on a truck or trailer causes an accident, any or all of these parties could be liable for any resulting injuries.
Determining liability for defective truck equipment accidents requires careful investigation. An experienced lawyer can help you pursue compensation and hold the responsible party(s) accountable for your losses.
Contact the Law Offices of Pius Joseph today for a free consultation with a skilled California truck accident lawyer.
Understanding Defective Truck Equipment Accidents
Trucks can experience various types of equipment failures. Some breakdowns occur due to design or manufacturing defects in the equipment itself.
- A design defect occurs when the inherent specifications of the equipment make it unsafe to use for its intended purpose.
- A manufacturing defect occurs when a mistake during fabrication or assembly makes an equipment failure more likely or inevitable.
In other truck accident cases, negligent maintenance or inadequate repairs can lead to critical malfunctions. Common equipment failures that lead to truck accidents include:
- Brake failure
- Tire blowouts
- Tread separation
- Suspension collapse
- Transmission failures
- Engine failures
- Malfunctioning lights
- Hitch failure
- Trailer door latch failure
- Failures of cargo-securing equipment, such as tie-downs or netting
Determining Liability in Truck Defect Claims
Several parties may bear liability for defective truck equipment accidents. The auto equipment manufacturer may be liable for a design or manufacturing defect that causes a part to fail. When maintenance is the problem, liability will likely fall on the trucking company, truck owner, or the truck’s mechanics or repair shops.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
A truck accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for your injuries and other losses after a crash. An attorney will thoroughly investigate your case, secure evidence proving the cause of the crash, and file a defective truck equipment accident claim on your behalf. A lawyer can also negotiate with the insurance company to give you the best chance for maximum compensation.
Challenges in Defective Truck Equipment Cases
Accident victims may face several challenges when seeking compensation for their losses. For example:
- Insurance companies may delay investigating or processing a claim or try to shift blame for the equipment failure onto other parties.
- If the accident involves multiple vehicles, insurers may fight over distributing liability for injuries and losses among those parties.
- The insurance company could dispute the severity of the injuries to deny the truck accident claim.
- Truck companies are only required to keep records for specific periods. Obtaining maintenance records and other accident-related evidence is crucial before it gets lost or destroyed.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Today
You deserve justice if you sustained injuries in a truck accident someone else caused. If you believe defective equipment played a role in that crash that hurt you, contact the Law Offices of Pius Joseph today. An experienced truck accident lawyer will evaluate your case and discuss your legal options in a free consultation.
