Understanding how poor truck maintenance contributes to crashes in Southern California requires examining how mechanical failures affect large commercial vehicles operating on busy highways.
Trucks that are missing brake inspections and tire, steering, or lighting repairs can be unsafe long before a driver realizes he has a problem. In an area with non-stop freight traffic and high-speed roadways, deferred maintenance can quickly turn into a loss of control, serious collisions, and devastating injuries to others on the road.
Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer
Easton & Easton advocates for people hurt in major truck crashes across Southern California, including those stemming from mechanical defects and maintenance issues. Attorneys investigate maintenance logs, inspection documents, and compliance with regulations to determine if inadequate maintenance played a role in a collision.
Experienced with complex commercial vehicle cases, the firm uses detailed legal and factual analysis to evaluate liability and seek responsibility under California and federal trucking regulations.
Why Truck Maintenance Matters More in Southern California
Southern California’s highway system, including Interstates 5, 10, 15, and State Route 60, supports heavy traffic of commercial trucks heading to ports, distribution centers, or working agricultural routes.
As long-haul driving over these corridors puts extra stress on braking systems, tires, suspensions, and steering components, a vehicle overdue for maintenance can develop worn brakes, tire blowouts, or steering problems that significantly increase the risk of a collision.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 114,000 people were injured in large truck crashes across the country in 2023. In the same year, 5,472 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks.
Failed truck maintenance that prevents the vehicle from stopping reliably, losing tire traction, or blowing a tire at highway speed can make mechanical malfunction a key factor in many serious crashes throughout the region.
Common Maintenance Failures That Lead to Crashes
Numerous specific maintenance problems have been known to cause truck accidents. Worn or under-inflated tires can blow out or lose traction at high speed. Brake pad wear, neglected brake rotors, or a lack of routine brake service may leave the truck unable to stop when needed.
Steering problems and suspension wear can also result in loss of control of the vehicle, while non-functional lights or signals make the truck less visible to other drivers. The FMCSA requires carriers to inspect and maintain these systems on regular intervals; otherwise, it increases the risk of mechanical malfunction that could lead to a collision.
The Regulatory Background: Truck Maintenance Requirements
Truck carriers are legally required to follow federal law and state statutes and perform routine inspection and maintenance of their vehicles. FMCSA regulations obligate carriers to inspect vehicles, document any repairs and maintenance services, and ensure that a vehicle is free from defects before returning a truck to service. These rules apply to truck brakes, tires, lights, suspensions, steering, and other safety-critical components.
In the event of an inspection log being incomplete or inspections having been skipped, a carrier risks the violation of these regulations and may be liable for the maintenance defect that causes a collision. In the course of investigating a crash, inspection reports and repair records can help determine whether the truck was legally and safely maintained before the incident, and whether a mechanical malfunction was a substantial factor.
Maintenance Versus Driver Error: Proving the Cause
The important questions of determining whether poor maintenance caused the crash or if driver error or an external condition was to blame are a challenge in many truck accident cases. Accident reconstruction professionals may be called to examine the systems of the vehicle to determine brake performance, tire conditions, and steering performance.
The maintenance and inspection records, logs, and federal compliance documentation will be matched against the actual actions taken by the truck’s components. If the evidence in the form of witness statements, photographic evidence, or electronic logger data shows the failure to perform a maintenance issue caused or substantially contributed to the collision, liability may extend beyond the driver to the carrier, the maintenance provider, or both.
A proper investigation is essential to help rule out other factors that may have contributed to the crash.
Why Acting Early Matters After a Maintenance-Related Crash
Mechanical failures can degrade quickly following an accident if the vehicle is moved, repaired, or altered in any way. Collecting evidence early after a truck maintenance-related crash is essential for legal claims. Such evidence can include inspection logs, service records, and pre-trip reports.
Government officials may seize the truck for safety inspections, or may have already captured electronic logger data. Acting early, with legal assistance, can help preserve the evidence from being destroyed or lost. Timely evidence can also help circumvent the control the trucking company’s insurer has over much of the important electronic data, and can increase the chances of building a strong case.
FAQs
Can a Truck Be Unsafe Despite Passing a Maintenance Inspection?
Yes, a truck can be unsafe despite passing a maintenance inspection if the condition of its components has deteriorated since the last inspection or if the defects were not identified during the inspection process. Inspections only assess the condition of the vehicle at the time of the inspection, and wear and tear, or improper repairs, may occur between inspections.
Whose Responsibility Is Truck Maintenance?
Maintenance responsibility may fall on the driver, the trucking company, the owner of the trucking fleet, the maintenance company contracted to service the truck, or another party.
Under federal regulations, the carrier that employs the driver and owns or leases the truck has the primary responsibility for ensuring that the vehicle is maintained in a safe condition. Liability for a truck’s maintenance may be apportioned among parties who controlled the maintenance decisions and did not follow the required procedures.
Role of Maintenance Records in Insurance Claims
Maintenance records are typically important factors that insurance companies consider when determining whether a truck was properly maintained before a collision. Incomplete, missing, or inconsistent maintenance records may call into question a trucking company’s compliance with maintenance requirements. Insurance companies commonly review maintenance records when investigating claims and determining liability and potential exposure for truck accidents.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer
Improper truck maintenance is a problem on Southern California highways. If you’ve been in an accident, a general understanding of how mechanical failures cause crashes and how liability is determined can help in understanding what to do next. At Easton & Easton, we help the injured evaluate their maintenance-related truck accident claims. Contact us today to hire a truck accident lawyer who can fight for you. Book a consultation to get started.
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