Vehicle maintenance is one of the most important factors that truckers in Tennessee must consider as they travel our roads and highways for days on end. In many commercial trucking accidents, a poorly maintained rig is a leading cause of the crash. Commercial truck maintenance should follow a regular preventive maintenance schedule in order to decrease the likelihood of an accident.
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety, Knox County saw 691 large commercial trucking accidents in 2008, while 296 heavy truck accidents occurred nationally in 2009. While maintenance manuals should be provided and carriers should follow up with their vehicles to ensure that proper maintenance is being done, truck drivers are individually responsible for their own rigs and any lapse in maintenance could cause a serious accident.
Have you or someone you love been injured in an accident that resulted from poor truck maintenance? If so, you may be eligible for compensation because of the physical pain and emotional anguish you experienced. The attorneys at Greg Coleman Law stand behind the victims of negligent trucking accidents and we feel that drivers who do not properly maintain their vehicles should be held accountable.
To find out how we can help, simply fill out the Free Case Evaluation form located on the right side of this page, at the top. There is no obligation to proceed and the details of your case will always remain completely confidential. It is 100% FREE.
Preventive Maintenance Schedule
If a quarterly scheduled maintenance plan is followed, many of the issues that crop up over time can be spotted and fixed before they become too bad. The following tips can help drivers stay safe on the roads and lessen the chance of accidents on Tennessee highways:
- Maintain proper levels of engine oil
- Inspect the engine
- Check the coolant system for leaks
- Ensure hitch connections are secure
- Check windshield wipers and fluid
- Make sure all lights are in working order
- Inspect tire sidewalls for dry rot, chafing or splitting
- Monitor tire tread depth
- Check power steering fluid
- Check hydraulic lines for leaks
- Inspect the HVAC belts and hoses
- and others
It is crucial to ensure that your vehicle follows all required maintenance as set forth by the Federal Department of Transportation. FDOT will set up roadside checkpoints along Tennessee highways to ensure that rigs are properly maintained, carrying only loads for which they have permits, and to check compliance with driver regulations. Additionally, commercial vehicles will undergo routine annual inspections.
What Can Go Wrong without Maintenance
Some of the most disastrous trucking accidents can be caused by defective or improperly maintained equipment and vehicle parts. When not regularly maintained, commercial trucks can experience the following issues:
- Brake failure
- Front or rear light failure
- Tire blowouts
- Transmission failure
- to name a few.
In addition to proper maintenance of mechanical parts, conducting a pre-trip inspection can help ensure that no last minute issues are going to be a problem before the driver sets out on their journey. Making sure the proper load weight and size is adhered to is another way to help avoid unnecessary accidents, as many commercial vehicle crashes are attributed to improperly secured loads or loads that are simply too heavy.
Due to their size and shape, commercial trucks are given to jackknife and rollover accidents, and can cause serious, life-threatening injuries to the driver and any other motorists involved if a collision does occur.
If you are suffering from the pain and frustration of truck accident injuries, contact a skilled litigator for help with your claim. Our atttorneys, with their knowledge of truck crash cases, can guide you toward receiving the MAXIMUM amount of compensation due to you for your injuries.
Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers in Knoxville Can Help
Here at Greg Coleman Law, we believe that injured victims of truck accidents deserve the right to obtain justice in the court of law. Our attorneys believe that truck drivers, who performed negligent actions, injuring innocent individuals, must be held accountable for their actions in the court of law.
Being headquartered in Knoxville, we are licensed to serve the entire state of Tennessee.
Some locations we serve include:
- Crossville
- Dayton
- Harriman
- Lincolnton
- McMinnville
- Morganton
- Morristown
- Sevierville
- and most other surrounding towns and suburbs of these areas.
For more information on how our truck accident lawyers can help you, we invite you to contact our firm at (865) 247-0080 to speak with a member of our intake staff. Here we will gather information about your accident and quickly connect you with one of our truck accident lawyers ready to fight for you in a court of law. In addition, our attorneys all operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning, we do not charge our clients unless we obtain a favorable verdict or settlement.
For more information, fill out the Free Case Review on this page Its 100% FREE!
