No, brake failures are not the most common cause of truck accidents. Driver-related factors like speeding and fatigue are far more common. It would be easy to blame mechanical failures for the cause of these accidents, but so many are preventable.
How do our Indianapolis truck accident lawyers know this? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) did a study called the Large Truck Crash Causation Study to find out the most common causes of truck accidents. Here’s what they discovered.
The Large Truck Crash Causation Study
The Large Truck Crash Causation Study analyzed thousands of accidents to identify the most common causes of truck crashes. The research team examined mechanical failures and human factors to determine crash causation.
The study’s findings revealed that while brake problems were a significant factor in about 29% of crashes, they were often secondary to driver-related issues. Understanding these distinctions is crucial because they affect how liability is determined in accident cases.
Multiple factors often combine to cause serious truck accidents, making it essential to investigate all potential contributing causes. Even in cases where a mechanical problem does cause a complete brake failure, there are actions that the driver can take to reduce the severity of a crash.
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Brake Systems in Commercial Trucks
Commercial trucks rely on complex air brake systems that function differently from passenger vehicle brakes. These systems activate the brakes using compressed air rather than hydraulic fluid.
Air brake systems have multiple components that must work together perfectly to ensure safe operation. These include air compressors, storage tanks, foot valves, relay valves, brake chambers, and other components. When any single component fails, it can create a cascade of problems that may lead to complete system failure.
Moreover, trucks have multiple brake systems, including service, parking, and emergency brakes. Each system serves as a backup to the others, but they all require proper maintenance and testing to function correctly.
Other Mechanical Issues in Truck Accidents
While brake failures are not the most common cause of truck accidents, they are among the most common mechanical failures. Poor maintenance, defective parts, and improper repairs can all lead to dangerous mechanical failures on the road.
Tire defects, steering system failures, and cargo securement problems are also frequent mechanical contributors to accidents. Regular inspection requirements exist specifically to prevent mechanical issues before they cause a crash.
Driver-Related Causes of Truck Accidents
Driver behavior and decision-making represent the most critical factors in truck accident causation. The FMCSA study found that recognition errors, decision errors, and performance errors by drivers were the leading critical reasons for crashes. These human factors often intersect with mechanical issues to create dangerous situations.
Fatigue, distraction, and inadequate training frequently contribute to serious accidents. Industry pressures and tight delivery schedules can lead drivers to make poor decisions or continue driving when they should stop. These circumstances often create the conditions where mechanical issues become most dangerous.
Understanding the relationship between driver behavior and mechanical problems helps build stronger cases for our clients.
Industry Standards and Regulations for Truck Brakes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict brake system maintenance and inspection regulations. These regulations require daily pre-trip inspections, regular maintenance intervals, and detailed documentation of all brake system work.
Trucking companies must maintain detailed records of all brake system maintenance, repairs, and inspections. The FMCSA requires these records to be kept for specific periods and made available during compliance reviews.
Violations of these regulations can result in significant penalties for trucking companies, and more importantly, they can help establish liability in accident cases. When companies fail to follow these requirements, they create conditions that make accidents more likely.
Legal Implications of Accident Causation
When mechanical failures contribute to accidents, multiple parties may share liability for damages. Trucking companies, maintenance providers, and parts manufacturers could all bear responsibility for your injuries. Identifying all responsible parties is crucial for maximizing your potential compensation.
Maintenance records, inspection reports, and repair histories become valuable evidence in establishing liability. A thorough investigation of both mechanical and human factors will benefit your case because they help identify all parties that share fault.
The more parties involved, the greater the possibility of getting full compensation without trial. Each party should have their own insurance policy. By making a claim with all of them, they can split the cost of your damages, making it more likely to get the full amount you’re owed.
It may not be the Brakes
Brake failures are not the most common cause of truck accidents. The fault often lies in the driver, but brake problems are the most common mechanical problem causing commercial truck accidents.
Evidence of mechanical failures and other contributing factors can disappear quickly if not properly preserved. Early intervention helps ensure crucial evidence remains available to support your case.
Contact our lawyers and staff today to schedule a free consultation about your truck accident case. We work on contingency, which means you pay no fees unless we recover compensation for your injuries.
