Truck maintenance failures cause thousands of accidents every year across the United States. When commercial truck operators and trucking companies neglect proper maintenance, they put everyone on the road at serious risk. In Augusta, Georgia, poor truck maintenance leads to devastating collisions that result in severe injuries, permanent disabilities, and even fatalities. Understanding how maintenance failures cause accidents helps you recognize when negligence played a role in your injury.

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Why Choose Chris Hudson Law Group

Chris Hudson Law Group has spent over 20 years representing truck accident victims in Augusta and throughout Georgia. Christopher Hudson, the firm’s owner and managing member, brings a unique perspective to truck accident cases. Before becoming a plaintiff’s attorney, he worked as an insurance defense attorney, giving him insider knowledge of how insurance companies evaluate truck maintenance claims. This background allows him to anticipate defense strategies and build stronger cases for his clients.

The firm has recovered millions of dollars for accident victims, including a $10,000,000 settlement in an Augusta tractor-trailer accident. Christopher Hudson holds bar admissions in Georgia and South Carolina, and he works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless he recovers compensation for you. Every case receives a free consultation with a truck accident attorney to evaluate your legal options. You can view Chris Hudson Law Group‘s case results to see how the firm has helped other accident victims.

Common Truck Maintenance Failures That Cause Accidents

Several truck maintenance failures can create dangerous conditions that lead to serious accidents. Commercial trucks require regular inspections and repairs to operate safely. When trucking companies cut corners on maintenance to save money, they create hazards that endanger other drivers. Understanding the leading causes of truck accidents helps victims identify negligence in their cases.

Brake System Failures

Brakes represent the most critical safety component on any truck. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and stopping such a massive vehicle requires properly functioning brakes. When brake systems fail due to poor maintenance, drivers lose the ability to slow down or stop their vehicles.

Brake failures cause rear-end collisions, jackknife accidents, and multi-vehicle pileups. Federal regulations require trucking companies to inspect brakes regularly and maintain them according to FMCSA Part 396 standards. Worn brake pads, damaged brake lines, and faulty brake drums all represent maintenance failures that create liability for trucking companies. Understanding how to hold a trucking company liable in these cases is essential for accident victims seeking compensation.

Tire Blowouts and Tread Separation

Tires on commercial trucks endure extreme stress from heavy loads and constant highway driving. Worn tires with insufficient tread depth fail suddenly at highway speeds, causing blowouts that send debris across multiple lanes. When a tire blows out, the driver loses control of the vehicle, leading to rollovers, jackknife accidents, and multi-vehicle collisions.

Trucking companies must maintain proper tire pressure and monitor tread depth regularly. Tires with less than 2/32 inch of tread depth (or 4/32 inch for steer tires) violate federal regulations per 49 CFR § 393.75 and create dangerous conditions. Tire blowout accidents represent one of the most dangerous maintenance failures. Tread separation occurs when the rubber layer separates from the tire’s steel belts, causing sudden failure even on relatively new tires if maintenance was neglected. These incidents frequently result in rollover accidents that cause catastrophic injuries.

Steering and Suspension System Defects

The steering and suspension systems allow drivers to control their vehicles and maintain stability on the road. Poor maintenance of these systems leads to loss of vehicle control, making it impossible for drivers to maneuver safely or respond to emergency situations.

Worn steering components, damaged suspension parts, and improperly maintained linkages all represent maintenance failures. When these systems fail, trucks may drift across lanes, jackknife, or roll over. Federal regulations require regular inspections of steering and suspension components to ensure they meet safety standards. These defects often lead to jackknife accidents that endanger multiple vehicles on the roadway.

How Truck Maintenance Failures Lead to Serious Injuries

Truck accidents caused by maintenance failures produce more severe injuries than typical car accidents. The massive weight and size of commercial trucks mean that collisions involve tremendous force and impact. Victims of truck maintenance accidents often suffer catastrophic injuries that change their lives forever.

Traumatic brain injuries occur when the force of impact causes the brain to move within the skull, damaging brain tissue.
Spinal cord injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, requiring lifelong medical care and assistance.
Fractures and broken bones often require multiple surgeries and extended recovery periods.
Internal organ injuries may not be immediately apparent but can prove fatal without emergency treatment.

Beyond the physical injuries, truck accident victims face long-term consequences. Chronic pain, permanent disability, and ongoing medical needs create financial burdens that extend far into the future. Many victims cannot return to work, losing income and career opportunities. The emotional trauma of surviving a serious accident can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Victims may pursue wrongful death claims when accidents prove fatal.

Federal Regulations Require Proper Truck Maintenance

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes strict maintenance requirements for commercial trucks through Part 396 regulations. These rules exist specifically to prevent accidents caused by mechanical failures. When trucking companies violate these regulations, they demonstrate negligence that caused your accident.

FMCSA Part 396 requires carriers to inspect, repair, and maintain all vehicles in safe operating condition. Drivers must complete Daily Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) documenting the condition of their trucks before each trip. These reports create a record of known defects and maintenance issues. Carriers must perform annual periodic inspections by qualified mechanics, checking every major system on the vehicle.

Violations of these regulations prove negligence in accident cases. When maintenance records show that a trucking company ignored known defects or failed to perform required inspections, it demonstrates that the company prioritized profit over safety. Insurance companies and juries recognize these violations as clear evidence of negligence. FMCSA violations often establish liability in maintenance failure cases.

Proving Truck Maintenance Negligence in Augusta

Establishing that poor maintenance caused your accident requires gathering and analyzing evidence. Chris Hudson Law Group knows how to investigate truck maintenance failures and build compelling cases that hold trucking companies accountable. Strengthening your truck accident claim with the right evidence is critical to proving maintenance negligence.

Maintenance records provide critical evidence in these cases. These documents show what repairs were performed, when inspections occurred, and what defects were identified. If records show that a known defect was not repaired before the accident, it proves negligence. Inspection reports reveal patterns of neglect and deferred maintenance.
Repair history documents demonstrate that the trucking company knew about mechanical problems but failed to address them.
Expert testimony from mechanical engineers and accident reconstruction specialists establishes the connection between the maintenance failure and the accident.
Black box data from the truck’s electronic control module can show mechanical failures at the moment of impact.
Electronic logging devices (ELDs) also provide crucial evidence of driver fatigue and maintenance schedules.

Trucking companies often repair or destroy damaged vehicles quickly to eliminate evidence. While FMCSA requires carriers to preserve accident records and documentation for specific periods, physical vehicle preservation is typically enforced through spoliation letters sent by attorneys when litigation is anticipated. Many companies fail to preserve vehicles after receiving such letters, which can result in legal sanctions. Chris Hudson Law Group acts quickly to secure evidence and prevent its destruction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common truck maintenance failures that cause accidents?

Brake system failures represent the most common maintenance-related cause of truck accidents. Tire blowouts and tread separation rank second, followed by steering and suspension system defects. Lighting violations, coupling failures, and fuel system problems also cause accidents when maintenance is neglected. Each of these failures creates dangerous conditions that lead to serious collisions. Learn more about the leading causes of truck accidents in Augusta.

How do I prove a truck accident was caused by poor maintenance?

Proving maintenance negligence requires evidence, including maintenance records, inspection reports, repair history, expert testimony, and FMCSA violation documentation. Maintenance records show what repairs were performed and what defects were identified. Inspection reports reveal patterns of neglect. Expert witnesses can establish that the maintenance failure caused the accident. FMCSA violations demonstrate that the trucking company failed to meet federal safety standards.

What compensation can I recover in a truck maintenance accident case?

Compensation in truck maintenance accident cases includes medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability benefits, and, in fatal cases, wrongful death damages. Medical expenses cover emergency treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care. Lost wages include income lost during recovery and reduced earning capacity if permanent disability prevents you from working. Pain and suffering compensation recognizes the physical and emotional trauma of your injuries.

Contact Chris Hudson Law Group for Your Free Consultation

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a truck accident in Augusta, contact Chris Hudson Law Group today. Call (706) 863-6600 to speak with an experienced team of truck accident attorneys who understand how maintenance failures cause serious accidents. The initial consultation is free, and Chris Hudson Law Group works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover fair compensation for you.

Time is critical in truck maintenance cases. Evidence must be preserved quickly before trucking companies destroy or repair damaged vehicles. Contact Chris Hudson Law Group immediately to protect your legal rights and ensure that critical evidence is preserved for your case.

How Poor Truck Maintenance Causes Serious Accidents in Augusta