Negligent Truck Maintenance Attorney in Roanoke

Although many truck accidents occur due to the driver’s negligence, other crashes happen because of a mechanical failure in the truck or one of its parts. Sometimes these failures occur due to improper or negligent maintenance.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident with an 18-wheeler caused by negligent maintenance, let the team at Lichtenstein Law Group PLC fight for your rights. Our Roanoke negligent truck maintenance attorneys have nearly 100 years of combined legal experience. We have the knowledge and courtroom skills to take on big trucking corporations and insurers, demanding accountability and justice for injured truck accident victims.

To learn how a Roanoke negligent truck maintenance lawyer from our firm can help you demand the recovery you deserve, contact Lichtenstein Law Group PLC for a free consultation.

What Is Considered Improper or Negligent Truck Maintenance?

Improper or negligent truck maintenance can take many different forms. For example, improper truck maintenance might involve skipping regular truck inspections or falsifying inspection records. This can cause trucking companies to miss recommended maintenance or necessary repairs for their vehicles.

Trucking companies might also ignore recommended maintenance schedules or delay maintenance longer than a truck or auto part manufacturer recommends. In-house or third-party mechanics sometimes do poor repair work on a truck that fails to keep the vehicle in good condition. Or they may use improper or uncertified parts that eventually fail in operation. Contact our Roanoke negligent truck maintenance lawyer today.

What Proper Maintenance Should Be Done Regularly on Tractor-Trailer Trucks?

Due to their complexity, truck drivers and trucking companies should frequently inspect tractor-trailers to prevent mechanical failures that may lead to an accident.

Proper maintenance of a truck should include:

Complete pre-and post-trip inspections as required by law
Tire maintenance
Brake inspection
Oil checks, replacing or topping off motor oil as necessary
Radiator inspections, refilling coolant, or replacing damaged radiators as necessary
Battery checks
Air filter checks and replacing clogged filters
Lube moving parts
Replace worn-out parts, including tires, brakes, and transmission clutches

What Are Some Examples of Negligent Truck Maintenance That Can Cause Accidents?

Negligent or inadequate truck maintenance can cause a tractor-trailer to suffer a mechanical failure that results in a truck accident.

Common examples of negligent truck maintenance that can cause accidents include:

Worn brakes
Steering failure
Malfunctioning or broken turn signals
Worn or damaged tires
Trailer hitch failures
Delayed oil replacement and engine or transmission maintenance
Failure to replace coolant, antifreeze, or wiper fluid

What Is the Driver’s Vehicle Inspection Report?

Under federal trucking regulations, drivers must conduct a post-trip vehicle inspection at the end of the day and file a Driver’s Vehicle Inspection Report. The driver must note any damage, defects, or issues they find that may affect the vehicle’s safe operation. Before returning to the road, a truck driver must review the previous Driver’s Vehicle Inspection Report and sign off any damage or issues noted in the report. Our Roanoke negligent truck maintenance attorney can help.

Does the FMCSA Require Maintenance Logs to Be Maintained?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires trucking companies to perform annual inspections of the trucks and trailers in their fleets. A qualified trucking automotive inspector must perform these inspections. Companies must keep these annual inspection reports for at least 14 months.

Trucking companies or truck drivers must also keep a 12-month maintenance log for a truck that documents all maintenance or repair work performed on the truck. Once a trucking company no longer has the truck, it only needs to keep maintenance records for six months. Get in touch with our Roanoke negligent truck maintenance lawyer now.

What Types of Accidents Can Be Caused by Negligent Truck Maintenance?

Mechanical failure caused by inadequate maintenance can lead to collisions like the following:

Rear-end accidents – When a truck suffers a brake failure and loses its ability to stop, it might rear-end another vehicle.
Sideswipe or underride – Broken or non-functional turn signals on a truck can lead to a sideswipe or underride accident because other drivers have no warning when a truck driver intends to change lanes.
Rollover accidents – A brake failure, tire blowout, or tread separation caused by negligent maintenance can make a truck driver lose control of their vehicle and trigger a rollover accident.
Jackknife accidents – Brake problems can also cause a truck to jackknife, which occurs when a truck’s trailer swings forward towards the cab. This causes the trailer and cab to fold together like a pocketknife.
Cargo accidents – Worn-out or broken securing equipment on a truck can cause the truck to spill its cargo onto the road.
Detached trailer accidents – Negligent maintenance of the trailer hitch can cause it to break. The trailer may then detach from the tractor and become a dangerous hazard for other motorists.

How Can You Prove Negligent Maintenance?

The following evidence can help you prove that negligent maintenance led to a truck crash:

Annual truck inspection reports
Truck maintenance records
Pre-trip inspection reports
Driver’s Vehicle Inspection Reports
Post-accident truck inspections
Logs from the truck’s electronic control module and event data recorder
Reports and testimony from accident reconstruction and automotive engineering experts

What Compensation May Be Recovered in a Truck Accident Claim?

If you were hurt in a truck accident caused by negligent maintenance, you could be owed money for the following:

Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation of your injuries
Costs of long-term care or support services you need for permanent disabilities
Loss of income if you miss work or need to take lower-paying work while recovering from your injuries
Loss of future earning capacity if you become permanently disabled from your job or other work
Pain and suffering
Lost quality of life due to disabilities or disfigurement

Is There a Statute of Limitations in Virginia for Filing a Truck Accident Case?

Under Virginia’s statute of limitations for accident claims, you likely have only two years to file a lawsuit against a truck driver or trucking company for an accident caused by negligent maintenance. If you file your lawsuit after the limitations period expires on your claim, you may lose your opportunity to demand compensation from those at fault for your injuries. Roanoke truck accident lawyer.

Contact a Roanoke Negligent Truck Maintenance Lawyer

If you’ve suffered injuries in a truck accident caused by negligent truck maintenance, Lichtenstein Law Group PLC can help you hold the trucking companies accountable. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options with our firm’s experienced Roanoke negligence truck maintenance lawyers. Roanoke personal injury attorney.