Brake failure has the potential to cause a serious truck wreck.
Commercial truck inspectors will be sweeping North America next month to inspect the brakes on commercial trucks as part of an annual educational campaign designed to bring awareness about the dangers of defective truck brakes and how they contribute to causing serious truck accidents.
“Poorly maintained brake systems can reduce the braking capacity and stopping distance of large trucks and motorcoaches, which poses a serious risk to driver and public safety,” Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) President John Broers said in a press release quoted in Health + Safety magazine. “In those split-second emergency situations, the proper functionality of the brake systems on large commercial motor vehicles is crucial.
Defective truck brakes are the focus of the educational campaign.
The upcoming commercial truck brake inspections will be conducted from Aug. 21 to Aug. 27 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The inspections (a mixture of announced and unannounced) are part of CVSA’s annual Brake Safety Week.
As part of the inspections, inspectors will also educate truck drivers about the importance of properly maintaining the truck’s brakes. This includes brake hosing and tubing, which can contribute to truck accidents if they are not properly maintained.
During last summer’s Brake Safety Week campaign, inspectors from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the United States and inspectors in Canada and Mexico conducted 36,000 inspections. Such inspections revealed 4,300 truck brake violations, Health + Safety magazine reported.
There’s a reason why the CVSA has focused its efforts on educating truck drivers about the dangers posed by defective truck brakes. That’s because truck safety violations involving faulty truck brakes are so common.
Last year, federal inspectors from the FMCSA reported 50,613 violations for “inoperative/defective brakes” for commercial motor vehicles. In addition, FMCSA inspectors found an additional 51,486 violations for “out of service” brakes on commercial trucks in 2021.
As for Indiana, common commercial vehicle violations reported by the FMCSA for 2021 included:
- Brakes out of service – 482 violations
- Inoperative brake lamps – 459 violations
- Brake hosing or tubing chafing under the vehicle – 386 violations
- Brake hosing or brake tubing not connected to power unit – 374 violations
Remember that failure to maintain a semi-truck is a form of negligence. As a result, if you were injured or a loved one died in a truck accident due to faulty brakes or another mechanical defect with the commercial vehicle, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. However, these cases are high stakes and complex—which is why you should review your legal rights and options with a truck accident lawyer.
Talk to an Indiana truck accident attorney today.
When you have experienced legal representation on your side, you can level the playing field and ensure your rights are protected. Even if your crash is being investigated by local, state, or federal officials, it’s important to remember that they’re only focused on whether the at-fault truck driver broke any laws. Indeed, inspectors are not concerned with whether you are fairly compensated for your accident-related expenses.
That’s our job. That’s why you need a Fort Wayne truck accident lawyer from Boughter Sinak, LLC on your side, fighting for your rights. We have years of experience handling complex cases and know how to find the facts that matter.
Discover what we can do for you. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation with an experienced truck accident attorney. We have two offices conveniently located in Fort Wayne and South Bend and handle cases throughout the state. In addition, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no fees unless we secure a financial settlement or verdict for you. Call us today to learn more.