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5001 SW 9th St
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
Iowa Defective Truck Parts Attorney — Brake / Mechanical Failure
One of the most common causes of collisions with commercial vehicles is the failure of a truck's braking system. Our Iowa defective truck parts attorney can help determine if brake failure or other mechanical failure contributed to your accident. Attorney Fredd J. Haas will get to the truth of a trucking company's compliance with maintenance and safety regulations if an accident has occurred. Malfunctioning or improperly-used braking systems are preventable byproducts of negligence, and our attorney will work diligently to see that responsible parties are held to account if that negligence contributed to a collision with a large truck.
Defective Truck Parts
Defective truck parts can lead to tragic accidents by affecting the driver's ability to control and maneuver a vehicle whose massive nature is already challenging to handle. Also, if certain safety products designed for trucks are not in proper working order, such as warning lights, an oncoming driver may not see the truck and ultimately collide with it or another vehicle nearby. Inspection and maintenance of tires, lights, and braking systems is vital to ensure the safety of large trucks on our roadways.
Certain federal laws are also in place to regulate the use of functional hazard lights and warning lights for trucks that have pulled off to the side of the road. Even the most minor problem with a part or product on large trucks can cause an accident, making maintenance and upkeep of large trucks essential in reducing the risk of collision with big rigs on the road.
Truck Brake Failure
Truck brake failure is a common cause of serious accidents, particularly when a large truck's brakes overheat and malfunction. This can be caused by negligent maintenance and even improper loading of cargo onto the vehicle. A traditional system of air brakes is generally used on large trucks. If the temperature of the brake drum increases to dangerous levels, then adequate braking may be affected.
Also, when navigating steep inclines, improper downhill braking by a truck driver can result in a serious crash. In order to avoid this, the trucking industry recommends that drivers repeatedly apply the brakes for a brief amount of time, gradually reducing speed. However, inadequately-trained or inexperienced drivers, faulty brakes, or a combination of those factors increases the risk of collision when trying to navigate steep hills.
Trucking companies are responsible for proper maintenance of braking systems on every large vehicle in the fleet. Contact our Iowa truck brake failure attorney at Haas Law Offices, P.C. for more information.
Laws on Truck Braking Systems
The federal government has imposed strict regulations on the safety of truck braking systems. A truck must be able to:
- Develop a braking force at least equal to the percentage of its weight
- Decelerate to a stop from 20 miles per hour at a rate specific to its size
- Meet the automatic brake adjustment system requirements if the truck is equipped with hydraulic brake systems (applicable to the vehicle at the time of manufacture)
- Meet the automatic brake adjustment system requirements if the truck is equipped with air brake systems (applicable to the vehicle at the time of manufacture)
Although there are a few exceptions, most commercial vehicles that are equipped with a hydraulic brake system must also meet federal requirements for anti-lock braking systems. Our Iowa defective truck parts attorney is familiar with these requirements and can offer sound legal advice on accidents that have been caused by faulty truck brakes.
Determining Responsibility
For cases involving defective truck parts, similar laws regarding product liability generally apply when determining who is responsible. The three main areas taken into consideration are the product’s design, manufacturing, and marketing.
Design
Designers and creators of truck parts and braking systems are bound by certain safety standards. When safety conditions are ignored or forgotten, it can lead to faulty products being installed on the vehicle.
Manufacturing
If the original design of a truck part is calculated according to safety standards, but not built correctly, the manufacturer of the part could be held liable for negligence.
Marketing
Those in charge of marketing and promoting a vehicle or line of vehicles to the public are responsible for warning consumers of any design features or potential risks that may deem the product hazardous if not properly used.
These areas apply to the trucking industry as they do to any product sold to consumers. Our Iowa truck brake failure and defective truck parts attorney is committed to going after large industries that may be responsible for allowing dangerous products to be sold to the general public.
Contact Our Iowa Defective Truck Parts Attorney
Fredd J. Haas, based in Des Moines, Iowa, is a defective truck parts attorney dedicated to holding those responsible for serious truck accidents to account. Many trucking accidents in Iowa and throughout the nation are caused by truck brake failure. Companies responsible for vehicle maintenance can be held liable for damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and more. Contact Fredd J. Haas today for a consultation.