As any motorist knows, when the brakes fail on a vehicle everyone around it can easily be affected. Your life can change in an instant and because of its sheer size and weight, the impact can be all the more devastating when it is a truck or semi tractor-trailer that encounters brake failure. Your injuries may be permanent or it may be fatal to a family member. The Law Offices of Gretchen Myers. P.C. will help you find the truth and hold the negligent person or corporation accountable. You do not have to face this tragedy alone.
Throughout Missouri, people injured in a truck brake failure accident or who have lost a loved one, seek out The Law Offices of Gretchen Myers, P.C., because of our thorough knowledge when it comes to handling truck accident claims and lawsuits. We have a passion for justice and a commitment to pursue the maximum amount of compensation allowed under the law for our clients. To schedule a free initial consultation contact us online today or call (314) 621-5454.
Causes of Brake FailureThere are many ways that a truck brake failure accident may occur. One of the causes is when a driver and the company fail to maintain the truck's brakes in proper operating order. Drivers have a duty to routinely inspect their rig for visible defects or problems before they put it on the road. The employee's company is also bound by federal regulation to subject the brakes to periodic maintenance and inspection.
Even an unloaded 18-wheeler is over 10,000 pounds and must be able to stop safely before hitting anything. Highways in mountainous areas often have built-in steep inclines or ramps that look like exits to help stop runaway trucks that are having problems stopping because of sudden braking issues. You might have also seen highways with special lanes designated for trucks only. All this is in recognition of the serious danger posed by a semi tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler that is out of control.
If an employee is not diligent in attending to his or her truck or a company puts profits over the costs of safely maintaining their fleet, you should not have to pay the price for their negligent maintenance practices. The Law Offices of Gretchen Myers, P.C. and Attorney Gretchen Myers are here to help you attain justice and the compensation you deserve by exposing these flagrant acts.
Sometimes though, a trucking company and their employees do maintain the truck correctly, but there is a deeper problem. There may be an inherent design flaw or a product defect in the braking system itself. Defective ABS brakes (anti-lock braking system) are not as uncommon as you may think. ABS brakes are designed to prevent the wheels from locking up during an emergency braking maneuver. They are particularly important in maintaining lateral control of a semi tractor-trailer on a wet or slippery surface while braking. This system has only been required on all truck tractors since 1997 and it has taken mechanics a while to learn how to maintain and repair these intricate systems. Moreover, these systems have evolved over the years and some of the older models, with inherent problems, are still on the road today.
While ABS is one of the most important safety advances in automotive history, the system must be properly designed, installed, maintained and repaired to work effectively. When there is a breakdown in even one of these areas, the consequences can be devastating. However, all the maintenance and repairs in the world can't overcome a faultily designed ABS system. For the system to work properly, wheel sensors must detect potential wheel lock up by sensing excessive deceleration and substantial differences in wheel speeds. The ECU (electronic control unit) will then signal the modulator valves to decrease brake pressure to the wheels in danger of wheel lock up. ABS can work far faster than any driver can respond to this potentially dangerous situation. Consequently, fully functional and properly operational ABS brakes on a semi tractor-trailer truck are essential to the safety of every person on the road. It is critical that this unit be designed correctly.
If the brakes do lock up this can cause the semi tractor-trailer to jack-knife when trying to stop on a wet or slippery road. If the ABS fails it can cause the trailer to swing or even roll over. The injuries may be catastrophic to anyone in the path of the truck. Gretchen is intimately familiar with product liability and maintenance defect lawsuits involving truck brake failure accidents. She is not afraid to take on big trucking companies or the corporations who manufacture defectively dangerous products or systems. She is committed to helping families who have been affected by these types of horrible incidents. She handles all truck accident personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. Contact us today to discuss your legal options during a free initial consultation.