Sharing the roads with commercial trucks is a fact of life in Mississippi. Although the trucks that travel on the roads are limited in size because Mississippi does not allow longer combination vehicles, there are still heavily laden semi-trucks that cannot stop quickly or turn suddenly even under the best of circumstances. When these vehicles are not maintained properly, the commercial tractor-trailers that are on the road can cause serious harm to passenger vehicles as the result of an accident.
Tractor-trailers spend hundreds of hours each month on the road. Driving hundreds of thousands of miles each year means that various parts of the truck wear down quickly. If the maintenance schedule is not established and followed in an effective manner, the work is not done properly, or the parts not appropriate for use in the commercial truck, then the consequences can be devastating.
There are many logistical issues that surround establishing and following a proper maintenance schedule in the commercial trucking industry. However, the ownership issue surrounding the cab and trailer involves a complex hierarchy that may impact the scheduling of maintenance to the detriment of other drivers on the road. If the truck driver does not own the cab, he may rely on the trucking company to schedule the maintenance and oversee the quality of the inspection and replacement, but it may be that the cab is leased and there is a third-party responsible for maintaining the vehicle. When the driver is an independent contractor that works for multiple trucking companies, but leases the cab from a third-party, the scheduling of routine maintenance that is amenable with the driver’s schedule may be very complicated.
Under the rules and regulations that govern commercial trucks, there must be detailed records kept about the maintenance work performed on the truck, including:
- What type of inspection, repair, or replacement was performed on the truck, including the date on which the work was done, the name and identifying information of the person performing the work, and the identification information for the truck to be certain the work matched up with the vehicle;
- A catalog of the parts that were installed in the truck when any repair or upgrade was performed pursuant to a maintenance schedule or emergency situation, including identification information for the parts; and
- Any requests from the driver, mechanic, or trucking company administrator for specific work to be done or inspections to be made.
There are many problems that can occur if this maintenance schedule is not followed, including:
- Brake failures;
- Tire blowouts;
- Malfunction of the steering system leading to collisions with vehicles in other lanes on the road;
- Failure of the coupling mechanism between the cab and the trailer resulting in a jackknife or separation of the cab and trailer; and
- Failure of the restraints that were intended to secure the load causing the items being transported to spill into the roadway.
These types of maintenance problems can lead to serious collisions that can be devastating for the occupants of the vehicles that are impacted by the tractor-trailers of the items being hauled. Commercial trucks with a full load may weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while a sedan usually has a maximum weight of 4,000 pounds. When there is an accident involving these two vehicles of very disparate sizes, the occupants of the car often suffer much more serious injuries, or death.
Barrett Law PLLC Represents Victims of Serious Truck Accidents
A truck accident involving a tractor-trailer that has been negligently maintained leads to severe injuries that may lead to a lifetime of struggles. Frequently, truck accident victims require years of intensive rehabilitation, along with in-home care, assistance with routine tasks, and modifications to the home and car. All of this requires compensation that will see a victim through the remainder of his life. The compassionate and experienced Mississippi Truck Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC are ready to hear what happened to you and develop a legal strategy that works for you and your family. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, please call us at (800) 707-9577.