A collision with an 80,000-pound commercial truck creates devastating consequences. When that collision stems from a trucking company’s failure to maintain its fleet, it adds another layer of injustice.
Victims often face a difficult path to recovery, complicated by questions of how to demonstrate that a company’s neglect caused an accident; establishing liability for improper truck maintenance is a complex process that demands a specific type of evidence.
A trucking company and its insurer control crucial evidence, including the truck itself and all related maintenance logs. An experienced truck accident lawyer moves swiftly to obtain and preserve this information before the company can legally destroy it.
Key Takeaways for Improper Truck Maintenance
- Federal and state laws mandate strict maintenance schedules and documentation for all commercial vehicles.
- Evidence of improper truck maintenance often includes driver logs, post-collision inspection reports, and company repair records.
- Liability can extend beyond the driver to the trucking company, a third-party mechanic, or even a parts manufacturer.
- Trucking companies and their insurers often move quickly to control the accident’s narrative and the flow of information.
- A thorough investigation into the truck’s repair history can uncover patterns of neglect that point directly to liability.
The High Stakes of Deferred Maintenance on Texas Roads
Commercial trucks are a constant presence on the highways of San Antonio, from the bustling traffic on I-10 and Loop 410 to the delivery routes through the South Texas Medical Center. These vehicles operate under demanding conditions, logging thousands of miles each year.
This heavy use places immense stress on critical components like brakes, tires, and steering systems. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes strict rules to counteract this wear and tear.
Federal truck safety regulations dictate inspection schedules, repair protocols, and record-keeping requirements for every motor carrier. Texas law incorporates these federal standards and adds its own layers of oversight to promote roadway safety.
When trucking companies cut corners on these mandates, they introduce a significant danger to every other driver. A single postponed brake job or a decision to run tires past their service life can lead directly to a catastrophic failure.
An accident caused by improper truck maintenance isn’t a random event; it’s the predictable outcome of a business decision to prioritize profits over safety. Proving this connection forms the core of a successful personal injury claim.
Common Failures That Signal Improper Truck Maintenance
A large truck has thousands of parts, but a handful of key systems are disproportionately responsible for accidents when neglected. An experienced legal team knows precisely where to look for evidence of mechanical failure and connect it back to a company’s maintenance practices.
An investigation frequently focuses on components that require regular inspection and replacement.
Brake System Failures
The brakes on a semi-truck are far more complex than those in a passenger car, relying on an intricate air-pressure system. A leak, a worn compressor, or out-of-adjustment brakes can dramatically increase the distance a truck needs to stop, making a rear-end collision almost inevitable.
Finding evidence of trucking company negligence often starts with a detailed examination of the brake system.
Examples of brake system neglect include:
- Worn Brake Pads and Shoes: Companies may fail to replace braking components at the recommended intervals, reducing their stopping power.
- Air Line Leaks: Cracks or loose fittings in the air lines can cause a loss of pressure, preventing the brakes from engaging properly.
- Improper Adjustments: A driver or mechanic might fail to correctly adjust the slack adjusters, leading to a delayed or weak braking response.
- Contaminated Air Supply: Oil or water in the air tanks can damage valves and other components, causing the brakes to fail unexpectedly.
Tire Blowouts and Defects
A tire blowout on a commercial truck can cause the driver to lose control instantly, sending the vehicle jackknifing across multiple lanes of traffic. While road debris can cause a blowout, many stem directly from poor upkeep.
Investigating a tire-related accident may involve a close look at the company’s policies and the driver’s pre-trip inspection routines. A pattern of running underinflated or excessively worn tires across a fleet can point to systemic improper truck maintenance.
Steering and Suspension Problems
The steering and suspension systems allow a truck driver to maintain control, especially when navigating turns or reacting to changing road conditions around landmarks like The Rim Shopping Center.
Worn-out tie rods, failing power steering pumps, or broken leaf springs can make a truck impossible to manage. Drivers may report these issues, but if a company delays the repairs, it knowingly puts the public at risk.
Signs of deferred steering and suspension work may appear in a driver’s vehicle inspection reports. If a driver notes a steering issue but the company doesn’t take the truck out of service for repairs, that document becomes powerful evidence.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident Caused by Mechanical Failure?
After a commercial truck wreck near Olmos Park or on a busy stretch of US 281, victims need to know who is responsible. In cases involving mechanical failure, a number of parties beyond the truck driver may carry some or all of the liability.
Potential responsible parties may include:
- The Motor Carrier: The trucking company bears the ultimate and non-delegable responsibility for the safe condition of its vehicles. Its liability stems directly from negligent policies, like pushing unrealistic schedules that discourage repairs, and vicariously from the actions of its employees, including drivers who fail to conduct proper pre-trip inspections.
- Third-Party Maintenance Facilities: When a motor carrier outsources its vehicle repairs, the independent maintenance shop can share liability for a collision if its work is substandard. If a mechanic performs a faulty repair or fails to identify a hazardous defect during an inspection, that business can be held accountable for the resulting accident.
- Parts Manufacturers: In cases where the mechanical failure stems from a defective component rather than poor upkeep, the company that made the part may be held liable under product liability principles.
How a Lawyer Proves a Truck Accident Was Due to Poor Maintenance
Building a compelling case for improper truck maintenance requires more than just pointing to a failed part. A successful claim meticulously connects that failure to a pattern of neglect by the trucking company.
Your lawyer can collect and analyze several types of information to build a strong foundation for your claim. This evidence paints a picture of a company that cut corners and demonstrates how those choices led directly to your injuries.
Common examples of trucking company negligence can be found within the following records:
- Driver Qualification File: The FMCSA requires companies to maintain this file for every driver, containing their application, driving record, and training history.
- Hours-of-Service Logs: These logs, which are now mostly electronic, show how long a driver has been on the road and can reveal if fatigue contributed to a failure to notice a mechanical issue.
- Post-Collision Inspection Reports: Authorities often conduct a detailed inspection of a commercial truck after a serious crash, and this report provides an early, independent look at the vehicle's condition.
- The Truck's Black Box Data: The Electronic Control Module (ECM) records data on speed, braking, and engine performance, which can show how the truck was operating just before impact.
- Maintenance and Repair Records: These are the most critical documents, as they show the full history of work done, or not done, on the truck.
Obtaining these records usually requires sending a spoliation letter to the trucking company immediately after the accident. This legal notice demands that they preserve the truck and all related electronic and paper records.
Without this step, a carrier may legally destroy records or repair the truck, erasing crucial evidence forever.
Analyzing the Evidence
An in-depth analysis of these documents often reveals a history of problems. For instance, a series of driver write-ups for "soft" brakes, with no corresponding work orders for repairs, shows the company was on notice of a dangerous condition but did nothing.
A lawyer uses this timeline of neglect to establish the company's liability for a collision that occurred months later.
How a Lawyer Helps With Improper Truck Maintenance Claims
Trying to file a claim and take on a massive trucking company by yourself is a difficult and confusing experience. A San Antonio truck accident lawyer can take over the entire legal process for you, allowing you to focus on your physical recovery.
An attorney provides critical support in several specific ways:
- Conducting an Investigation: Your lawyer can hire their own team of accident reconstructionists, investigators, and mechanical experts to examine the scene and the vehicles involved, developing an independent theory of the crash.
- Preserving Evidence: Your attorney can send a spoliation letter to the trucking company to ensure the truck, its maintenance logs, and electronic data aren’t altered or destroyed.
- Identifying All Responsible Parties: A thorough investigation can determine if liability rests solely with the trucking company or extends to other entities, such as a maintenance shop, a leasing company, or a parts manufacturer.
- Documenting Your Damages: Your lawyer works with medical and financial planners to calculate the full cost of your injuries, including future medical needs, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages.
- Handling All Communications With Insurers: The legal team manages all correspondence and negotiations with the multiple insurance carriers involved, protecting you from adjusters who may try to get you to settle for less.
- Fighting for Compensation: Your legal team will aggressively negotiate with the insurance companies and prepare for litigation to ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
FAQ for Improper Truck Maintenance
What if the Trucking Company Blames the Driver for the Accident?
Trucking companies often try to assign all blame to their driver to portray the accident as a case of simple human error, not systemic corporate failure. However, under the doctrine of vicarious liability, the company is still responsible for the on-duty actions of its employees.
Furthermore, an investigation can show how the company’s policies—like forcing drivers to operate unsafe trucks—directly contributed to the crash.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim for a Truck Accident in Texas?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the accident. While that may seem like a long time, building a strong improper truck maintenance case requires immediate action.
The sooner you act, the more likely it is that your lawyer can preserve critical evidence and interview key witnesses.
What Should I Do if the Trucking Company’s Insurer Contacts Me?
You have no obligation to speak with an insurance adjuster from the trucking company. Their job is to protect their company's financial interests, not to help you. Politely decline to give a recorded statement or sign any documents and direct them to your legal representative.
Who Is Responsible if an Independent Owner-Operator’s Truck Had Faulty Equipment?
Federal regulations often hold the motor carrier—the company whose authority the truck operates under—responsible for the truck's safe condition, even if the driver owns it. The law typically prevents a carrier from avoiding liability simply by hiring independent contractors.
Your attorney investigates the lease agreement between the owner-operator and the motor carrier to determine how the law assigns responsibility for maintenance and repairs.
What if I Don’t Know for Sure if a Mechanical Failure Caused My Crash?
Most accident victims aren’t certain about the exact cause of the collision, but it’s not your job to be a mechanical expert. If you suspect that something was wrong with the other truck, you need a team like Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock to launch a detailed investigation to find the answer.
Our San Antonio truck accident lawyers know how to uncover evidence of neglect that’s not apparent at the scene.
Rebuilding After the Accident
The legal process is more than just a way to address a past wrong; it’s a forward-looking tool to secure your future. Holding a negligent trucking company accountable provides the financial resources you and your family need to rebuild and move forward with your lives.
Your focus deserves to be on your recovery and well-being, so let a dedicated legal team manage the complexities of your claim. For a clear path forward, contact Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock for a free consultation about your case at (210) 941-1301.