The Importance of Truck Care and How to Avoid Potential Maintenance Accidents
You don’t need to be a professional driver to understand that if you fail to keep a vehicle in good working order, it’s more prone to break down and, by extension, cause a hazard to others. The maintenance of tractor-trailer trucks is no different—except, perhaps, for the fact that they are more complex than other types of machinery and therefore require continual upkeep.
As with all motor vehicles, big rigs are only as safe as the mechanical components that enable them to function. The problem is that passenger vehicles need to be serviced roughly every three to six months. Commercial trucks need to be examined and serviced every three to six stops, due to their size, weight, complexity, and heavy use.
Maintenance for Commercial Trucks
Tractor-trailer trucks are complicated pieces of machinery that rely on many working parts to function safely. These massive vehicles travel far more than the average automobile and are under enormous stress from their weight and long distances, making them prime candidates for dangerous malfunctions.
Although complete overhauls may not be necessary, truck drivers and companies must perform routine maintenance on the following components to ensure safety.
- Wheels, tires, and axles. Tire blowouts are common for 18-wheelers as the weight of the trailer can easily cause a small puncture to rip and explode into a huge hole. Drivers must continuously check their tires for imperfections, punctures, and tears, as well as check the wheel wells and axles for dents or damage to prevent unexpected tire failure.
- Brakes. Even when a truck’s brakes are in perfect condition, a driver still may have difficulty slowing the rig down or stopping in time to prevent an accident. When the brakes are worn or malfunctioning, this risk increases exponentially.
- Engine and transmission. A truck’s engine and transmission are forced to deal with the rough duties of pulling thousands of tons’ worth of trailer and cargo over hundreds of miles without stopping. This kind of work can put serious strain on them and cause them to break faster and more easily than those on normal vehicles, thus requiring extra care.
Avoiding Truck Dangers From Poor Maintenance
When a truck malfunctions, the driver can easily lose control of the vehicle. Even if the driver maintains control, pieces of the truck can fly off and severely damage other vehicles or cause deadly accidents.
However, just because the driver or his company’s maintenance crew failed to prepare a truck for an accident, it’s still possible that you can prepare yourself to avoid one. Here are three essential tips:
- First, it is important that you always stay alert when driving so that a malfunctioning truck does not catch you off your guard. If you can react quickly, it may save your life.
- Second, when near a tractor-trailer truck stay mindful of the possible signs of danger such as swerving, loss of control, or flying debris (including escaped cargo).
- Third, always try to avoid massive trucks while on the road. Try to stay far enough away from them or pass them quickly (but safely) to avoid potential dangers.
Measures to Safeguard Your Future After a Truck Accident
When a truck malfunctions on the road, the owner of the truck can be liable for any damage it causes. When trucking companies fail to uphold their responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are in proper and safe working condition, they are liable for any dire consequences. This disregard for risk causes a considerable percentage of preventable truck accident injuries every year.
Since maintenance accidents are preventable, the law grants money damages for damaged property or personal injuries that result from accidents caused by poor maintenance. If you’ve recently been hurt in a truck accident, you may be able to file an injury claim against the owner of the truck for not taking necessary upkeep precautions that would otherwise have prevented the accident.
Ensure you’re prepared when disaster strikes by being able to contact legal representation when you need it most. Take out your phone and save our information in your contacts. By putting our number in your phone right now, you’ll have the security that comes with knowing we’re only a quick dial away. You’ll also be taking the necessary steps to preserve your financial future in case you or your family suffer a cataclysmic collision. Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but it is always better to be prepared than vulnerable. The name is Steve Lee and our number is 800-232-3711. Call any time for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.