truck maintenance

From June 8-10, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducted its 2010 Roadcheck, inspecting approximately 65,327 trucks and buses at 2,482 locations throughout North America. According to the CVSA, over 9,856 certified inspectors participated in the 72-hour Roadcheck examination of commercial vehicle brakes, tires, lights, and every other major truck or bus component. Drivers’ commercial driver’s licenses, medical examiner’s certificates, and records of duty status were also examined.

Although this commercial vehicle safety campaign has occurred every year since 1988, roadside inspections take place every day throughout the United States to help prevent serious injury or fatal auto accidents. In 2009, over 3.8 million inspections were conducted to help enforce truck and bus safety standards and regulations.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator, Anne S. Ferro, stated, “Roadcheck has once again successfully reinforced the critical importance of safety, compliance, and crash prevention – lives depend on both safe and well maintained trucks and safe and well trained drivers.”

With Brake Safety Week scheduled for September 12-18, the CVSA hopes that more commercial drivers, governments, industry associations, owner-operators, and motor carriers will take part in actively maintaining and inspecting brakes for potential defects. In the 2010 Roadcheck, brake-related defects accounted for half of all out-of-service violations, which was consistent with the results from prior years.

While manufacturing defects and maintenance issues pose serious risks for occupants of any vehicle, defective or faulty vehicle components in large commercial trucks and buses are especially dangerous. Cases involving auto product liability or commercial vehicles are often highly complex and require significant experience to litigate. At Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, our aggressive and skilled California auto product liability lawyers and commercial vehicle accident attorneys have obtained numerous successful jury verdicts and settlements for injury victims and family members of wrongful death victims. As a nationally recognized Plaintiffs’ law firm, we have the necessary legal resources to develop a strong and effective case on your behalf. Contact our firm today for a free consultation by calling 877-800-1700.

According to a recent www.10news.com report, a San Diego trucker has been killed in Nevada after his 18-wheeler went airborne, crashed into a home and caught fire. Fortunately, a woman inside the home was able to escape safely, and no other fatalities or injuries were reported. The 41-year-old man was reportedly driving over 100 miles per hour while transporting a load of lumber. The article suggests that the truck driver was not speeding intentionally, and that he reached 100 mph as a result of his brakes failing.

The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating the truck’s maintenance records as well as the condition of the runaway truck ramp, which failed to slow down the speeding truck. While trucking companies are responsible for enforcing brake maintenance and repair, if a truck’s brakes fail, either because of improper maintenance or a defect, loose gravel on a runaway ramp is supposed to slow the truck down. One report of the Nevada wrongful death truck accident noted that the gravel along the runaway truck ramp was piled up instead of spread out. Even when truck drivers have decades of experience on the road, serious accidents resulting in injuries and death can still take place. These crashes not only put the truck driver at risk, but also place the lives of pedestrians and other motorists in danger.

The commercial truck accident lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP are recognized nationally for their success in obtaining full and just compensation for family members of wrongful death truck accident victims, as well as for those catastrophically injured. Named as one of the top Plaintiffs’ firms in the country by the National Law Journal, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP can be relied upon to guide you through this challenging time. Call 877-800-1700 for a free consultation today.