The deadly impact of a tractor-trailer collision with a passenger vehicle is a product of a combination of factors including the immense size of the truck, the weight of the truck, the speed of the truck, as well as the overall weight and weight distribution when considering the tractor-trailer cargo. These factors often form a “perfect storm” and result in a devastating impact that can completely destroy a passenger vehicle and cause permanent catastrophic injury to the occupants or all to often wrongful death. Brake failure is one of the leading causes of Mississippi tractor-trailer crashes. Brake failures or other problems associated with brakes cause about 30 percent of truck accidents according to the National Highway Safety administration.
Other causes often contribute to brake failure accidents involving commercial vehicles, such as truck driver negligence including fatigue or driver error, as well as defects from other truck components such as tire failure. When commercial truck brakes fail, however, the massive force generated by 80,000 moving at 55 miles per hour will can wreak havoc when it is unable to stop even when the truck driver does everything right.
Collisions involving a tractor-trailer which experiences brake failure may take many forms, such as jackknife accident, rear-end collisions, intersection collision, truck under-ride crash, and fatal collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists. The issue of improperly maintained or defective brakes on tractor-trailer may be amplified by the fact that these vehicles are difficult to stop and this difficulty is compounded when conditions are less than ideal. Recently, a tractor-trailer accident in Mississippi claimed the life of a 10-year-old girl and left 10 others injured. The cause of the accident combined the variable of adverse weather with the driver’s inability to stop in time in order to avoid the accident.
A particular dangerous type of tractor-trailer accident that may be caused not be defective brakes as much as improper application or sudden emergency use of the brakes. A jackknife commercial trucking accident involves the folding of a tractor-trailer in such a way to resemble a pocketknife folding in an acute angle, which causes the trailer to swing out in front and face backwards, posing an extreme risk of harm to surrounding drivers. If the truck driver applies the brakes suddenly while the vehicle is still going at a fast rate of speed, the trailer is still in motion during the sudden braking, and physics will cause this catastrophic jackknife scenario.
Companies are required to regularly inspect trucks in order to detect mechanical problems or defects and repair these problems to avoid fatal trucking accidents. A trucking company has a obligation to keep the brakes in working condition which involves adjusting the brakes when necessary, checking the valves, air hoses and the air pressure, and other inspections in order to avoid issues involving wear and tear on brakes. A faulty brake design may also cause a brake related commercial truck accident. If you have been injured in an accident involving a commercial truck, you may be entitled to compensation for you injuries.
The attorneys of Barrett Law, PLLC have been representing those who suffer serious injury in motor vehicle accidents for over 75 years. Our experienced Mississippi trucking accident lawyers are available to assess your case. We represent truck accident clients with compassion and zeal so contact us today at (662) 834-2376.