South Jersey Negligent Truck Maintenance Lawyer

Motorists in South Jersey share the roads with thousands of large, unwieldy commercial trucks weighing up to 76,000 pounds more than standard cars. These trucks pose a substantial danger to motorists in an accident, often leaving accident victims with life-altering injuries and fatalities. Though we typically think of driver error as the cause of accidents, a surprising number of truck accidents occur due to inadequate or improperly performed truck maintenance.

When an accident victim faces substantial injuries and economic consequences after a truck accident in South Jersey, they don’t have to be responsible for the damages. Pursuing compensation for a crash caused by negligent truck maintenance is a different process than the typical traffic accident case involving auto insurance coverage, but it brings financial accountability and a sense of justice to injury victims after a preventable accident. Speak to a truck accident lawyer in South Jersey today. 

What Types of Mechanical Failures Cause Truck Accidents?

When a fully loaded 80,000-pound truck moves at high speed on the roadway, all parts have to be in full working order. Regular routine maintenance and prompt repairs are critically important to prevent deadly truck accidents in South Jersey and elsewhere. Common maintenance-related truck accident causes include:

• Brake failures
• Steering system failures
• Tire blowouts from worn, damaged, or over/under-inflated tires
• Coupling device or hitch failures
• Broken or missing trailer lights
• Headlight failure
• Ineffective windshield wipers
• Trailer door latch failure
• Faulty windshield wipers
• Accelerator problems
• Transmission problems
• Engine stalling
• Suspension problems
• Improperly attached rear guards

Dangerous mechanical failures such as any of the above are preventable when commercial trucks are properly maintained and drivers keep detailed records of the times, dates, and types of maintenance and repairs performed on their trucks, tires, and trailers.

The Importance of Truck Maintenance Records in a South Jersey Truck Accident Claim

There were 5,837 fatal accidents involving commercial trucks in 2022. A significant number of truck accidents result from mechanical failures due to poorly maintained trucks, trailers, and couplers. Truck owners, trucking companies, and their employees all have a legal duty to inspect their trucks and trailers and perform all necessary maintenance before entering the roadway. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires truck drivers to keep diligent records of all maintenance performed on trucks. Under FMCSA 5.2.1, the law states the following:

“Carriers must maintain records for each vehicle they control through ownership or lease for 30 consecutive days. These records must be retained for one year at the location where the vehicle is housed or maintained.”

A truck’s maintenance records must show an adequate maintenance schedule and include the truck’s identification information, dates, and types of inspections, maintenance, and repairs performed on the truck. This information is often the key to proving negligent maintenance or a failed mechanical repair 

Investigating Liability in a Negligent Truck Maintenance Case in New Jersey

After an accident caused by a large commercial truck, it takes a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident. If a mechanical fault occurred due to poor maintenance, the trucking company, a truck maintenance service, or an independent truck driver may be responsible for providing full compensation to injury victims through their liability insurance.

How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer In South Jersey Help?

The trucking company or truck owner and their insurance company always perform an investigation after an accident to dispute or undervalue an injury victim’s compensation claim. It’s critical to have an experienced attorney with resources and investigative skills to defend your rights through a thorough investigation of all aspects of the accident, including examining the truck’s maintenance records. 

After a serious truck accident, call the South Jersey accident lawyers at Grungo Law for the experienced legal representation your case deserves.