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Random nationwide inspection finds many trucks with faulty brakes

On Behalf of | Nov 19, 2019 | Truck Accidents

On May 15 of this year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) introduced Brake Safety Day. This was an unpublicized day on which the CVSA partnered with local law enforcement in 45 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces and conducted random inspections of commercial vehicles.

The goal of this event – and future such events – is to remove dangerous commercial vehicles from our roads and to improve motor vehicle brake safety across North America.

What were the issues?

The CVSA conducted more than 10,000 inspections of commercial vehicles on Brake Safety Day. Its inspections found high instances of faulty brakes. One in six truckers were cited for brake violations, and their vehicles were taken out of service until the issues were repaired.

Of the more than 16% of trucks with brake violations, the most common types of issues were:

  • Chafed rubber or thermoplastic hoses
  • Violations involving the assembly or end fitting of such parts

Recourse after an accident from brake failure

Being involved in an accident with a commercial truck can often lead to serious injuries. In contrast to lighter weight cars, which use hydraulic brakes, commercial vehicles use air brakes. These are more complex systems with multiple parts that are prone to failure.

In the event of an accident due to faulty brakes, it may be difficult to determine who is at fault – or whether multiple parties are liable. The vehicle’s brakes may not have been inspected regularly enough. The truck may have been overloaded – or improperly loaded – causing the brakes to overheat and malfunction. There may have also been errors in the way the brakes were manufactured or installed.

All of these variables can make the situation seem overwhelming for the injury victim trying to make a claim for damages. In cases like these, an experienced personal injury attorney can be especially valuable in helping you make sense of all of your options – and pursue all theories of recovery.

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