Truck’s Brake Failure Causes Three-Vehicle Truck Accident
Ryan Bradley | January 1, 2010 | Truck Accident
A tractor trailer’s mechanical failure was the cause of a three-vehicle chain reaction truck accident in Saint Louis County. The accident occurred on Interstate Highway 270, less than a mile west of Interstate Highway 170.
The West County accident involved three vehicles – a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu, a 2000 Freightliner FLD120, and 2010 Nissan Altima. The three drivers attempted to slow down because of the morning commuter traffic on eastbound I-270. The Freightliner, however, had a mechanical failure, rendering the driver incapable of stopping it. The Freightliner crashed into the rear of the Nissan. The impact forced the Nissan to slam into the Chevrolet.
The impact of the second collision caused the Chevrolet to drive off the south side of the roadway. The Freightliner also travelled off the roadway, striking the guardrail and the Chevrolet. The driver of the Chevrolet, Tynia Mitchell of Saint Louis, was taken to DePaul Hospital after suffering moderate personal injuries.
Mechanical failures are a serious cause of major Missouri tractor trailer accidents. Mechanical failures are dangerous in smaller motor vehicles, but the sheer size of a tractor trailer makes a mechanical failure even more dangerous. When the mechanical failure impedes with a truck driver’s ability to control the tractor trailer, the public safety is at serious risk.
Several types of mechanical failure can lead to a Missouri tractor trailer accident. Brake failure is an unfortunately common cause of truck accidents. Brakes must be maintained well. Leaking brake lines, worn down brake pads, or malfunctioning ABS mechanisms may lead to an accident. Tire blowouts are also considered “mechanical failures.” Tires must be properly inflated and rotated to stay safe for public highways. If tires are not maintained, or replaced when necessary, tires can be responsible for tractor trailer accidents.
Trucking companies have a duty to maintain the quality of their fleet according to federal motor carrier regulations. Truck drivers also have legal duties in inspecting the tractor trailers that they operate. When a tractor trailer has a mechanical failure, a federal safety regulation may have been violated. Missouri tractor trailer accident lawyers understand how to wield safety violations in a lawsuit to hold negligent trucking companies and truck drivers accountable for their actions.
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