Both state and federal laws impose various safety obligations on motor carriers. A trucking company’s responsibilities include maintaining its vehicle fleets, hiring safe drivers, and ensuring that those drivers receive adequate training.
When a trucking company breaches its safety responsibilities, it may be liable for an accident arising from its safety lapses. In other words, if you have been hurt in an accident caused by a safety violation, you may be entitled to bring a claim against the motor carrier and not just the commercial driver.
Required Truck Inspections and Maintenance Procedures in South Carolina
Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, trucking companies must have each of their trucks and trailers inspected at least every 12 months by a qualified inspector who has received certification or training to inspect and maintain commercial motor vehicles. A trucking company may not use any vehicle unless every component on the vehicle has passed inspection at least once during the past 12 months.
In addition to meeting federal regulations, trucking companies should also follow the truck manufacturer’s recommended routine maintenance schedule. The truck’s owner or operator should take a vehicle out of service when a truck driver, inspector, or mechanic has identified a broken, defective, or worn component on a truck. The vehicle must remain out of service until the company can service or replace the component.
Trucking companies must maintain records of their vehicle inspections, maintenance, and repairs.
How Negligent Truck Maintenance Leads to South Carolina Truck Accidents
Deferred or careless truck maintenance can lead to preventable truck accidents. For example, poor workmanship during maintenance and repairs can leave broken, defective, or worn truck components in place, increasing the risk of catastrophic failure. Furthermore, delaying recommended maintenance may allow serious mechanical issues to go unnoticed, increasing the risk of mechanical failure and a crash.
Some examples of common mechanical problems made worse by deferred or negligent maintenance work on commercial trucks include:
- Brake failures
- Tire failures, including blowouts and tread separations
- Suspension and steering failures
- Malfunctioning turn indicators, brake lights, and headlights
- Engine or transmission failures
What Are Common Safety Violations by South Carolina Trucking Companies?
Some of the safety violations that most frequently lead to truck accidents include:
- Not having fleet vehicles inspected at least every 12 months
- Not withdrawing vehicles with identified mechanical or safety issues from service
- Not performing manufacturer-recommended preventative maintenance
- Disregarding truckers’ post-trip inspection reports
- Using inadequate cargo securing devices
- Using non-OEM-recommended replacement parts during service and repairs
- Failing to keep maintenance and repair records
Compassionate Legal Support for Victims of Negligent Trucking Companies
Have you been in a truck crash caused by a mechanical failure on a commercial motor vehicle? If so, you may have the right to hold the trucking company responsible if the crash occurred because it failed to comply with state and federal safety regulations.
Contact Jebaily Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a trucking company liability lawyer to learn more about how safety regulations can affect your truck accident case. Our legal team is ready to discuss your options for holding CDL drivers and trucking companies liable for the harm you have suffered.
