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Injured in Charleston Truck Accident Caused by Truck Equipment Failure?

If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident and suspect this was due to an equipment failure or improper maintenance in Charleston or South Carolina, Allen Law can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Our skilled Charleston truck accident attorneys will ensure a proper independent investigation is performed to determine liability, can establish how a given party is responsible for the incident using legal principles, and will fight aggressively for your right to compensation.

As a former insurance defense lawyer, Attorney Allen knows the tactics used by insurance providers to reduce or deny your claims, and therefore how to counter them. Call Allen Law today at (843) 882-5005.

I represent clients the way I would want to be treated: with respect, honesty, and a commitment toward great results.”
- Julian Allen
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Truck Equipment and Maintenance Obligations

Large trucks have many intricate components. A design or manufacturing flaw, or improper maintenance of just one small part of a truck, can have deadly consequences.

Trucking companies in Charleston, South Carolina, are under strict regulations at both the state and federal levels to thoroughly inspect and maintain their fleets. Where a failure to inspect or maintain equipment or parts leads to a collision, the trucking company can be liable to pay compensation to anyone injured as a result. If the collision were caused by faulty equipment, the manufacturer or distributor may be held liable.

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When Things Go Wrong

Although theoretically any part of a truck may be faulty or poorly maintained causing an accident, certain parts of large trucks are more subject to failure, including:

  • Brakes/Brake Systems: The pressure put on the braking system of a truck is immensely greater than that of a smaller vehicle. This makes wear and tear occur at faster rates. When brakes are not properly checked or maintained, or there is a fault in the braking system, the truck may be unable to stop in time to prevent a collision, resulting in disastrous consequences.
  • Tires: A truck’s tires are also prone to “blowouts” either due to faulty or old tires, or hitting objects on the road. Despite trucks having multiple wheels, a blowout of just one wheel can cause the driver to lose control of the truck.
  • Steering Systems: The steering components of a truck have many interrelated parts. Manufacturing flaws or improper maintenance of these parts can cause malfunctions in the steering system, leading to collision.
  • Trailer Couplings: Trailer couplings connect the trailer to the cab and its electrical systems. Where these are faulty, poorly maintained, or improperly secured, the trailer can separate from the cab and collide with other road users.
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Liability for Charleston Truck Accidents

Determining who is liable for an accident generally requires a thorough independent investigation. The investigation should establish whether the accident was another road user’s fault, the truck driver’s fault, or caused by improperly maintained or faulty equipment.

Manufacturers have a duty to ensure that their products are safe. If a truck component is found faulty and this caused an accident, the manufacturer can be held liable to pay compensation to any injured parties. Distributors of products can also be held liable if they fail to stop selling or distributing a product they reasonably should have known was faulty or recalled.

A trucking company can attract liability in a number of ways. They may have failed to remove or return a part that was recalled, failed to identify a manufacturing fault that would have been noticed upon routine inspection, or failed to properly maintain or inspect their vehicles to ensure these were functioning properly. Trucking companies are generally liable for any acts of their employees, for example, where a driver knew about an issue with the truck and failed to report this.

If you are the victim of injuries caused by poor trucking equipment, call our Charleston truck equipment failure accident lawyers today at (843) 882-5005 for a free consultation.

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