Sharing the road with a 75 foot long, 80,000 pound truck can be daunting enough. While true that sometimes true accidents do happen, maintenance failures and faulty equipment issues are surprisingly common contributing factors in trucking accidents.
How Common Are These Issues?
Maintenance Issues: According to studies by the federal government, maintenance issues were a contributing factor in nearly 40% of truck accidents. This is a significant percentage that shows maintenance problems are far from rare.
Mechanical Failures: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Fatal Causation Study found that in 55% of truck accidents involving injury, the truck had at least one mechanical failure. Even more concerning, the same study discovered that 30% of trucks had at least one out-of-service equipment issue – meaning equipment that was so defective it should not have been on the road.
Key Areas Where Equipment Fails
The most common maintenance-related issues that contribute to accidents include:
- Brake system failures – Often due to poor maintenance of brake pads, brake fluid, or air brake systems
- Tire problems – Including worn treads, improper inflation, or defective tires
- Steering system defects – Problems with power steering or steering linkages
- Suspension issues – Worn or broken suspension components affecting vehicle control
- Lighting and electrical problems – Failed brake lights, turn signals, or headlights
- Cargo securement failures – Particularly relevant to accidents involving oversized loads
Why This Matters
These statistics are significant for several reasons:
- They contradict the industry narrative – While trucking companies often claim that 87% of truck accidents are caused by driver error, the maintenance statistics show that equipment failures are major contributing factors that often work in combination with other issues.
- They establish a pattern of negligence – When 40% of accidents involve maintenance issues and 30% of trucks have out-of-service violations, this suggests systemic problems with industry maintenance practices.
- They support liability arguments – These statistics help establish that maintenance failures are foreseeable and preventable, strengthening negligence claims against trucking companies.
For oversized load cases specifically, the statistics are likely even more concerning since these loads place extraordinary stress on securing equipment, brakes, and other truck systems. Very heavy loads require specialized securing equipment that demands rigorous inspection and maintenance.
These numbers demonstrate that equipment failures aren’t isolated incidents but represent a widespread problem in the trucking industry that puts other motorists at serious risk.
Your Rights After a Tragedy
If you or your family has been affected by an trucking accident, you have rights that need to be protected immediately:
- The right to a thorough investigation of what went wrong
- The right to hold all responsible parties accountable
- The right to full compensation for your losses
- The right to legal representation that will fight tirelessly on your behalf
Time is Critical
Texas law imposes strict deadlines for filing claims, and evidence in trucking accidents can disappear quickly. Maintenance records get routinely destroyed, witnesses’ memories fade, and corporate defendants and their insurance companies begin building their defense strategies immediately.
When You Need Advocates Who Understand
The families we represent are going through the worst time of their lives. They need more than legal representation—they need advocates who understand the weight of responsibility that comes with these cases and who have the experience and resources to take on powerful corporate interests.
We’ve built our practice on the principle that every family deserves justice, regardless of how powerful the defendants may be. When trucking companies and their insurers see our name on a case, they know they’re facing attorneys who have the expertise and determination to uncover the truth.
If your family has been affected by an accident involving an oversized load or any commercial vehicle, don’t face this fight alone. The road to justice in these cases is complex, but with the right legal team, accountability is possible.
Harrison Davis Morrison Jones. For the Real Fight of Your Life.
The information in this blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances.
Click here to view an additional article on 18 wheeler maintenance failures.
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By Justin Presnal, Partner, Harrison Davis Morrison Jones