Sevierville Lawyers Advocating for You When Truck Drivers and Companies Fail to Maintain or Inspect Their Vehicles
Holding the truck industry liable for Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Seymour truck accidents
Trucks are very dangerous vehicles. Their weight, size, and broad dimensions make them hard to control and likely to cause major injury on impact with cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians. Truck companies and drivers have a duty to regularly inspect and maintain their vehicles. This duty is part of federal and state law. It also common practice in the trucking industry. Unsafe vehicles should not be allowed on the highways and roads under any circumstance.
The Sevierville truck maintenance and inspection attorneys at Delius & McKenzie, PLLC hold drivers and truck companies accountable when they fail to keep their trucks in safe condition. For more 20 years, our Tennessee lawyers have been helping injured victims and families get compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and other damages.
What items should be inspected and maintained
Truck drivers and trucking companies should have a comprehensive list of items that should be routinely checked. The list should begin by meeting the requirements of federal laws, such as the rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and Tennessee law. There should be additional checks based on common trucking practice, the type of truck, and the items being shipped. Some typical items that should be routinely checked are:
- The braking system
- The steering system
- The tires
- The instructions for installing new parts and for operating and maintaining the truck
- The ability of the truck to decouple
- The front and rear lighting system and the electrical system
- The fuel lines
- The shipments
If you have been involved in an accident caused by an improperly inspected or maintained commercial truck, our Sevierville truck accident attorneys are here for you.
The responsibility for inspections and maintenance
Most federal, state, and local laws place the burden to inspect trucks on the owners of the trucks. Drivers and truck shipping companies who use the trucks may also be responsible. Trucks should be inspected annually and also at regular intervals throughout the year. In addition, a truck should be inspected before each new shipment.
Truck companies and drivers need to do more than just make a visual inspection. They need to keep records of what parts of the truck were inspected, who did the inspection, when the inspection was done, and what repairs were made to faulty items. Records of the repairs should also note all relevant details.
Truck drivers should have a valid commercial driver’s license for larger trucks and vehicles. They should be properly trained to handle problems that may arise with the trucks, such as flat tires. If the truck becomes dangerous to drive while they are on the road, the driver should know how to get help or be able to get the truck off the road without any further harm.
If a truck driver or company fails to meet the required safety standards and causes an accident, our attorneys fight to fold them accountable.
Make an appointment with a Sevierville truck maintenance accident lawyer today
Truck accidents caused by bald tires, bad axles, damaged fuel lines, or bad brakes are preventable accidents. The trucking companies and truck drivers should catch these defects through routine inspections. Companies and drivers that fail these tests should pay for the injuries and deaths they cause. If the company let the vehicle on the road even though they were aware of the faults with the truck, the Sevierville truck inspection lawyers at Delius & McKenzie, PLLC can help. Call us at 865-428-8780 or fill out or contact form for a free consultation. We represent injured clients in Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Seymour, and throughout Tennessee.
