Truck accidents often involve poor maintenance
The hazards associated with poorly maintained large trucks could present fatality risks. Pedestrians and operators of other vehicles in California may face great dangers when a truck cannot stop or otherwise maintain an appropriate road safety level. Often, a truck driver faces claims of negligence after an accident. However, the driver might not be the only liable party. An employer could share responsibility for the resulting injuries and face a lawsuit as well.
An example of poor maintenance and the results
Over time, a truck’s parts could suffer from wear-and-tear and outright unexpected damage. Not fixing such problems and leaving the truck in service presents untold dangers. Imagine if the wheels and tires and their related components suffered from neglect. A wheel that comes off a truck at high speeds could cause a fatality. A tire blowout may also contribute to a collision as well.
In the aftermath of these incidents, imagine if an investigation revealed the driver and the trucking company knew about the problem and did nothing. Expect lawsuits to seeks damages from both. Besides filing a lawsuit, another option involves seeking an insurance settlement.
Wheels and tires aren’t the only components of a tractor-trailer, nor are they the only things capable of being neglected. Regardless, ignoring the fact that repairs need to be made may lead to liability claims after an accident.
Issues with negligent maintenance
Issues with improper maintenance could include more than knowing about a problem and doing nothing. A failure to fully inspect vehicles could be a problem as well. Cursory inspections might not eliminate negligence. Waiting too much time between inspections might be another issue.
Civil lawsuits and insurance claims against all negligent parties remain possible options after truck accidents. An attorney could assist clients seeking damages and negotiate on their behalf.