Truck Brake Inspections Help Prevent Serious Truck Accidents

Officials plan blitz in August to find semi-truck brake inspection violations.

An upcoming nationwide truck brake inspection campaign highlights the role that defective truck brakes often play in truck accidents, according to a recent Health + Safety article about the annual commercial truck brake inspection event.

“Poorly maintained brake systems can reduce the braking capacity and stopping distance of large trucks and motorcoaches, which poses a serious risk to driver and public safety,” Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) President John Broers said in a press release shared with Health + Safety magazine. “In those split-second emergency situations, the proper functionality of the brake systems on large commercial motor vehicles is crucial.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) inspectors in the United States and respective inspectors in Canada and Mexico will conduct the unannounced brake inspections from Aug. 21 to Aug. 27 as part of the CVSA’s Brake Safety Week.

Last year’s Brake Safety Week inspection campaign resulted in nearly 36,000 commercial truck brake inspections throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Those inspections identified 4,300 commercial trucks (12 percent) with defective brakes.

Defective brakes are a common inspection violation.

The annual Brake Safety Week inspections highlight a common problem with commercial trucks – defective brakes. Inoperative or defective brakes are consistently one of the most common commercial vehicle violations nationwide and in Florida.

Last year, federal inspectors recorded 50,613 violations for “inoperative/defective brakes” for commercial motor vehicles, according to FMCSA inspection statistics. Brakes that were “out of service” resulted in an additional 51,486 violations.

In Florida, similar violations were also common last year. Specifically, inspectors reported 1,400 violations for “inoperative/defective brakes” last year in Florida. “Brakes out of service” accounted for an additional 1,102 violations in Florida that year, according to FMCSA inspection statistics.

Knowing what to do after a serious semi-truck accident can be confusing. However, it’s important to act right away for your well-being and to protect your rights. If you were in an accident with a tractor-trailer:

• Call the police and tell them you have been in an accident with a commercial truck.
• Ask the police to respond to your crash so they can conduct an initial investigation.
• If someone saw your accident, ask for their name and phone number. That way, investigators can interview any eyewitnesses who saw your crash.
• Get the truck driver’s information (name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, and insurance information) and the name and address of the trucking company the driver works for, if applicable.
• Get the law enforcement official’s name and badge number. That way, you can reach the officer later if necessary.
• Seek immediate medical attention, even if you feel fine. You could have a life-threatening injury and not even realize it.
• Call a lawyer as soon as possible after your truck accident.

Talk to a Florida truck accident attorney today.

You might think you don’t need a lawyer if your truck accident is already being investigated by officials. Along with local police, an investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) might also investigate your commercial truck accident, especially if it was serious or there was a fatality.

However, it’s important to understand that those officials are simply searching for evidence of wrongdoing or determining if the truck driver violated any state or federal trucking law. They’re not focused on whether you’re fairly compensated for your losses.

At Pajcic & Pajcic, our highly skilled legal team can conduct a thorough, independent investigation of your crash to determine if defective brakes or another contributing factor caused your collision. We can then demand the maximum financial compensation you deserve.

Our law firm consistently obtains sizable settlements and verdicts, including a historic $1 billion fatal truck accident verdict we secured for a Florida family. Contact us to learn how we can help you and schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Florida truck accident attorney. Our office is in Jacksonville, Florida, and we proudly serve clients nationwide.