Some of the most dangerous accidents on Louisiana roads begin weeks or months before, when someone decides a repair or maintenance can wait. Brakes, tires, lights, and steering components wear out, and when a trucking company lets those problems slide, a routine trip can turn deadly in seconds.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in an accident involving a poorly maintained truck, a Baton Rouge truck accident lawyer at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys can look beyond the driver to find out what really went wrong. We’ll hold all at-fault parties accountable and help you recover maximum compensation for your damages.
Call our truck accident attorneys today at (225) 999-1111 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your truck accident claim.
Truck Maintenance Is a Legal Duty
Trucking companies can’t treat maintenance as optional. Federal safety rules in 49 C.F.R. § 396 require carriers to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain every vehicle under their control, and to keep records of that work.
The rules also place responsibility on drivers. Before a trip, a driver must be satisfied that the truck is in safe operating condition. After the workday, the driver must report any defect that could affect safety or lead to a breakdown. Every commercial truck must also pass a thorough inspection at least once a year.
Here in Louisiana, state troopers conduct roadside inspections of commercial vehicles and can place unsafe trucks out of service on the spot. Still, a roadside check only catches what is visible at that moment. A carrier must take maintenance seriously every single day.
Consulting a dedicated truck accident lawyer in Baton Rouge can help clarify how these maintenance regulations apply to your case.
Maintenance Failures That Commonly Cause Crashes
A tractor-trailer has thousands of parts, and many of them are critical to keeping an 80,000-pound vehicle under control. The problems that most often contribute to crashes include:
- Brakes: Air brakes that need adjustment, worn linings, leaking air lines, or disabled trailer brakes can add many feet to the distance a truck needs to stop.
- Tires: Underinflated, overloaded, or badly worn tires build up heat. Blowouts are especially likely on long summer runs across Louisiana’s hot pavement.
- Lights and reflectors: Burned-out brake lights, turn signals, or marker lamps make it hard for other drivers to see a truck or predict what it will do, especially at night or in heavy rain.
- Steering and suspension: Worn steering linkages or broken suspension parts can make a truck wander between lanes or react unpredictably in an emergency.
- Coupling equipment: A worn fifth wheel, faulty locking jaws, or missing safety chains can cause a trailer to separate from the truck at highway speed.
Any one of these failures can cause a serious crash. When several are neglected at once, the danger multiplies. Proving which mechanical breakdown caused a collision often requires guidance from an experienced truck accident attorney.
Signs That Maintenance Failures May Have Played a Role in a Crash
People hurt in a truck crash don’t always realize a mechanical failure was involved. Some clues that point toward a maintenance issue include:
- Shredded tire tread on the road near the crash scene
- A truck that couldn’t stop or slow down in time, even when the driver appeared to be braking
- Brake lights or turn signals that didn’t work before the collision
- A trailer that swayed, jackknifed, or broke loose
- Smoke, fluid leaks, or loud grinding noises coming from the truck before impact
Even when none of these signs are obvious, a careful investigation of the truck and its records can uncover problems no one could see from the outside. A skilled Baton Rouge truck accident lawyer will know how to subpoena maintenance logs and inspection reports to uncover critical evidence.
Potentially Liable Parties in an Improper Truck Maintenance Accident
When maintenance failures cause an accident, multiple parties may be responsible. Some potentially liable parties include:
- The trucking company. A carrier can be responsible for its own failure to maintain its fleet. Under La. C.C. Art. 2320, it can also be responsible for the negligence of drivers and mechanics who work for it.
- The owner of the truck or trailer. Louisiana law holds the owner or custodian of a defective thing responsible for damage it causes if the owner knew or should have known about the defect and failed to use reasonable care to fix it (La. C.C. Art. 2317.1).
- Outside maintenance contractors. Repair shops that perform careless work or sign off on unsafe equipment may share the blame.
- Parts manufacturers. When a component fails because of a design or manufacturing defect, the manufacturer may be responsible under the Louisiana Products Liability Act.
- The driver. A driver who notices a defect and keeps driving anyway may also bear some responsibility.
Identifying every responsible party affects how much insurance coverage is available to pay for your medical care and other losses. At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, our truck accident attorneys will carefully investigate your accident to identify all potentially liable parties and help you recover maximum compensation.
How Louisiana Comparative Fault Laws Affect a Claim
Trucking companies and their insurers rarely admit that a maintenance failure caused a crash. More often, they argue that the other driver was speeding, following too closely, or not paying attention.
Under Louisiana’s modified comparative fault rule in La. C.C. Art. 2323, your compensation is reduced by any percentage of fault assigned to you. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, our truck accident lawyers in Baton Rouge know how to combat these fault-shifting tactics. We’ll fight tirelessly to avoid or minimize any fault assignment to you so you can recover every dollar you are entitled to.
Talk to a Baton Rouge Truck Accident Attorney for Help With Your Claim
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, you need help from an experienced truck accident lawyer to protect your rights and help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, our team of Baton Rouge truck accident attorneys has the experience, skills, and resources to fully investigate your accident, identify when a maintenance failure or violation contributed to the crash, and build your strongest case. We’re committed to helping you secure maximum compensation for your damages.
Call our dedicated truck accident lawyers in Baton Rouge today at (225) 999-1111 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.