Because of its location near interstates 40, 75 and 81, Knoxville sees its fair share of commercial trucks. You are likely to encounter a few of these vehicles every time you leave home. If a truck’s brakes fail, your life may be in danger.
Because tractor-trailers may weigh as much as 40 tons, a collision with one may result in serious injuries. Brake failure is one of the frequent contributors to trucking accidents. Here are four reasons a truck’s brakes may not work properly.
- Inadequate maintenance
Truck brakes work through friction, which wears them down over time, so truck drivers must regularly inspect brakes for signs of damage. If there are any, the driver should replace worn-out components before continuing with the trip. To save time and money, truck drivers may push back essential vehicle maintenance or skip it entirely.
- Inferior components
When working on truck brakes, mechanics must use the correct components. Still, many aftermarket parts do not have the same longevity as those from the original equipment manufacturer. If a driver installs inferior mechanical components, the truck’s brakes may not perform correctly.
- Unbalanced loads
While many commercial vehicles can carry thousands of pounds of cargo, drivers must balance loads carefully to avoid stopping interference. If a trucker proceeds with an unbalanced load, the truck’s stopping distance may increase considerably. Even worse, an improperly balanced load may cause brakes to fail altogether.
- Operator error
Stopping a semitruck is different from stopping a passenger vehicle. That is, there are a few different ways to reduce a truck’s speed. If the driver uses improper braking techniques, the truck’s brakes may go out.
If you have sustained a serious injury in a collision with a semitruck, you may be able to pursue compensation from the driver who caused the accident. While a few factors may have contributed to the crash, you probably want to investigate whether brake failure was to blame.