Defective Brakes Can Cause Commercial Truck Accidents

How can defective brakes contribute to truck accidents? Who is liable for a truck accident? Learn more from the personal injury lawyers at Bredell & Bredell.

2012-08-24

August 24, 2012 (Press-News.org) The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that in 2011 there were 113,775 crashes involving large trucks, resulting in 3,661 fatalities. The FMCSA's "Large Truck Crash Causation Study" analyzed three years worth of data and concluded that defective brakes were a factor in 26 percent of large truck crashes. Commercial brake failure, however, was the critical reason in only one percent of truck accidents.

Because of their mass and speed, defective and failing brakes on commercial trucks can result in serious and significant injury and damage. Most large commercial trucks use an air brake system. In the simplest terms, air builds up in the brake pipes or air lines and is released when the brake pedal is depressed. The air presses the brake shoe against the brake drum, causing friction that slows the truck down.

Causes of Truck Brake Failure

Because the air system has many different parts, a number of factors can cause truck brakes to fail. Poor air pressure, condensation and worn seals are just a few of the possible culprits. With so many critical parts, constant inspection and maintenance are critical to ensuring a properly functioning air brake system.

Of course, not all commercial truck crashes can be blamed on brake failure or another mechanical factor. The FMCSCA reports that the driver's actions were the critical reason for approximately 89 percent of large truck crashes. From daydreaming or sleeping to aggressive driving and substance abuse, drivers control the trucks and their negligence can quickly cause a disaster.

Who is Responsible?

When large commercial trucks cause accidents, truck drivers and truck companies can be held liable for the resulting damage, injuries and deaths. The basis for liability could be a failure to properly maintain the truck or negligence in its operation. There are numerous possible causes of action in commercial truck accident litigation. For example, if brake failure caused the truck accident, the brake company or truck manufacturer may also be held liable for the accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a commercial trucking accident, contact an experienced trucking attorney to discuss your situation and your options.

Article provided by Bredell & Bredell, Attorneys at Law
Visit us at www.bredell.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Pool Owners and Liability

2012-08-24

Pools provide a relaxing escape from the heat and bring enjoyment to many in the summertime. It is necessary to consider, however, that these same sources of enjoyment can be a source of danger to a young child. Drowning and other pool-related injuries prove to significantly impact children under the age of 14. Necessary precautions need to be taken to protect both children from injury and property owners from liability in these circumstances. Statistics Sadly, each year approximately 390 children under the age of 14 drown in pools, and drowning proves to be the ...

Gulf War Vets Have Special Needs

2012-08-24

Veterans of the first Gulf War are defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs as men and women who served in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and other countries in the Persian Gulf. Approximately 697,000 troops were deployed to the region in the years 1990-1991. Gulf War vets have many of the same issues and disabilities as veterans of other wars. In addition, they frequently experience problems that are unique to military personnel who fought in the region. In particular, Gulf War vets are affected by a medically unexplained illness popularly called Gulf War Syndrome. ...

GWC Partner Louis Cairo Featured on WCIU TV's 'This Morning' Show

2012-08-24

The practice of personal injury law is about securing justice for people injured by the negligence of others. The attorneys at the downtown Chicago law firm of Goldberg Weisman Cairo take this duty seriously and understand that education is the first step in helping injured Chicago residents protect their rights. GWC senior partner Louis Cairo recently appeared on WCIU-TV's "This Morning" show to answer the legal questions of typical Chicago residents. Cairo spoke on a variety of topics, including workers' compensation, car accident litigation and how to deal ...

Visit Atlanta Labor Day Weekend and Enjoy Special Savings at Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter Hotel and Suites

2012-08-24

Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter Hotel North, located near Dunwoody, GA, is offering a special savings package that lets travelers' getaway to experience all of Atlanta's exciting attractions this coming Labor Day weekend. The Atlanta Summer Getaway offers a choice of two special packages: - Enjoy rates from $99 per night plus complimentary breakfast for two daily - Enjoy rates from $89, 1 in-room movie and bag of popcorn per night plus a complimentary bottle of wine OR 4 soft drinks per stay Promotion must be booked by September 3, 2012. Some restrictions and blackout dates ...

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Newberry SC Hotel Celebrates Its 3rd Anniversary

2012-08-24

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Newberry, situated in the historic town of Newberry, SC, turns 3 years old on August 24, 2012. Located at 121 Truman Avenue, this Newberry South Carolina Hotel offers 77 non-smoking guest rooms and an on-site meeting facility. The Holiday Inn Express brand is franchised by InterContinental Hotels Group, one of the world's leaders for providing affordable, contemporary accommodations. The hotel's features and amenities include: - Complimentary hot breakfast - Free super high-speed Internet access - Indoor pool and whirlpool - ...

Plusnet Boosts Broadband Proposition with New Fibre Speeds

2012-08-24

Plusnet, the UK home phone and broadband supplier, has made a host of changes to its fibre broadband products including the introduction of new Plusnet Extra Fibre offering up to 76Mb/s with a 250GB usage allowance. Following a successful customer trial in which 57 per cent of Plusnet trialists confirmed this improved fibre product made the Internet more integral to their lifestyle than it was already, Plusnet is delivering the best priced fibre broadband for the 76Mb/s download speeds on the market. Meanwhile, upload speeds have been increased to up to 19.5Mb/s. The ...

Confused.com Launches a New Mobile Phone App to Reward Good Drivers

2012-08-24

Confused.com has announced the launch of Confused.com MotorMate, a new easy-to-use driving app that shows people how good a driver they are at the touch of a button, whilst earning rewards. The app mirrors in-car telematics technology which is where a black box is fitted to a car monitoring driving performance and potentially allowing good drivers to benefit from cheaper car insurance premiums. The app also allows drivers who are interested in telematics but are unsure about installing a little black box in their car to 'try before you buy'. The app has been developed ...

Fertility Planit Launches First Consumer Tradeshow of Its Kind in USA! To be Held January 2013 at Hyatt Century Plaza in LA, Top Sponsors Include Ferring, Cryobank and LA's Top Fertility Doctors

2012-08-24

Fertility Planit is the social network for people who want to have children and create a family, and for all services that support them. The Fertility Planit Show is the first, largest and highest quality consumer expo of its kind in the USA. Confirmed sponsors include: Ferring Pharmaceuticals; California Fertility Partners; California Cryobank. The event website just launched: www.fertilityplanitshow.com. It offers information about Fertility Planit's Sponsors, Advisory Board, Event Team, the Program Agenda, Speakers and Registration. The show will be held on ...

DanceWear Corner Model Search 2012 - Now Accepting Entries

2012-08-24

DanceWear Corner (DWC) - a retailer of dancewear, shoes, accessories and dance-themed gifts based in Central Florida - announces the open call for entries to the DWC Model Search 2012. Registration is open and available online at www.dancewearcorner.com. The model search competition is broken into two age categories, child (4-12) and youth (13-25). Five lucky winners from each category will represent DWC in photography modeling dancewear by many leading brands. Models are selected based on various criteria including dance technique, body structure and how photogenic ...

The Sonoma Wine Compass Debuts at Sonoma Wine Weekend

2012-08-24

Sonoma County, CA is a wine tasters heaven, whether you are new to wine or an experienced oenophile. Intimate, relaxed, and authentic, it is dotted with hundreds of vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms scattered along major highways and tucked into valleys and hillsides off the beaten track. But tasting rooms are only open select hours, and the casual traveler can waste precious time trying to find the right one to visit. Enter The Sonoma Wine Compass (TSWC), a unique, easy-to-use guide detailing over 370 Sonoma wineries, their wines, wine clubs, and tasting rooms. ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Hidden acid imbalance in kidney disease raises red flags

No evidence to suggest medicinal cannabis is effective for depression, anxiety or PTSD: research

The Lancet Global Health: Modelling suggests climate change could drive millions globally into physical inactivity by 2050 and be linked to an estimated half a million premature deaths