Commercial trucks must be properly inspected, repaired, and maintained to operate safely on Illinois roads. Federal and state regulations require trucking companies to routinely service brakes, tires, steering components, lights, and coupling devices.
Poorly maintained trucks are far more likely to suffer brake failures, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, and trailer separations. When companies cut corners on maintenance, accidents become more likely and more dangerous.
Victims of maintenance-related truck crashes in Aurora frequently suffer severe injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Multiple fractures
- Internal injuries
- Disfigurement
- Amputations
Many individuals suffer fatal injuries leading to wrongful death claims.
Are Trucking Companies Required to Maintain Their Vehicles?
Federal law requires trucking companies to inspect, repair, and maintain their fleets on a regular schedule.
Drivers must complete pre-trip inspections, and companies must keep detailed maintenance records documenting:
- Brake system servicing
- Tire condition and replacement
- Steering and suspension repairs
- Lighting and signal functionality
- Trailer connections and safety equipment
- Annual and periodic inspections
Still, some companies fail to meet safety standards due to carelessness or out of a desire to cut costs.
Common violations include:
- Skipping required inspections
- Delaying necessary repairs to save money
- Using worn or defective replacement parts
- Falsifying maintenance logs
- Allowing unsafe trucks to remain in service
These safety violations place every motorist at risk and make roads less safe.
Who Is Liable in Negligent Maintenance Truck Accidents?
Crashes caused by mechanical failure often involve multiple responsible parties. Identifying each liable party is critical to recovering full compensation.
The Trucking Company
Employers are legally responsible for maintaining safe vehicles. When a company ignores inspection requirements or delays repairs, it may be directly liable for negligence.
Maintenance and Repair Providers
Third-party mechanics and service shops can be held responsible if they performed careless repairs, installed defective parts, or failed to identify dangerous conditions during inspections.
The Truck Driver
Drivers must report mechanical issues and refuse to operate unsafe vehicles. A driver who ignores obvious problems or continues driving a dangerous truck may share liability.
Manufacturers and Parts Suppliers
If a defective system or component contributed to the crash, the manufacturer or distributor may be liable under product liability laws.
Identifying every negligent party is an important step in the claims process. It helps maximize available insurance coverage in your claim and maximizes the potential compensation you can recover.
What Compensation Is Available to Aurora Truck Accident Victims?
Illinois law allows victims of negligent maintenance truck crashes to pursue compensation for both financial and personal losses.
A successful claim may include damages for:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship or consortium
An experienced truck accident attorney in Aurora, IL can help you track and calculate all your damages. They can even consult medical and economic experts for help assessing your future losses and non-economic damages.
Contact an Aurora Truck Accident Lawyer for Help
Negligent truck maintenance is a preventable failure. If you or a loved one was injured in a truck crash caused by mechanical failure or poor maintenance, an experienced truck accident attorney can help.
Your Aurora truck accident lawyer can secure maintenance records, inspection logs, black box data, and expert testimony to prove exactly what went wrong and who is responsible. Contact Feagans Law Group today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your rights and legal options after a serious truck accident.