Doing regular upkeep of your vehicle is important no matter what kind of car you drive. For a massive vehicle like an 18-wheeler truck, it is even more crucial for the driver and other people’s safety. Truck maintenance is often overlooked out of ease and to avoid the costs associated with it, but improper maintenance can lead to accidents. Speak with a York County, PA truck accident attorney if you believe poor truck maintenance contributed to your accident.
How Does Poor Maintenance Lead To Hazards and Accidents?
When a truck does not go through regular maintenance, rust can build up, parts can deteriorate, and the vehicle’s functions will not operate properly. Neglected maintenance can cause the following hazards and more.
- Broken or malfunctioning headlights or taillights can become a hazard for both the truck driver and surrounding vehicles. If lights are burnt out or broken it can limit visibility for the driver. Other cars may be unable to tell when the truck is braking or where it is on the road.
- Worn or deflated tires can result in tire blowouts or inadequate traction. The truck driver could lose control of the vehicle and the truck can even tip over. If the tire does blow it can also result in debris in the road that other vehicles will have to attempt to avoid.
- Worn or defective brakes are a serious problem for drivers. If the braking system is not operating properly the truck driver may not be able to slow down or stop when traffic requires it. They could end up rear-ending a car in front of them causing serious injury or a massive pileup of vehicles.
- Unchanged oil in the car can lead to engine failure. Vehicles are supposed to get an oil change about every 5,000 miles depending on the type of car you drive and the oil you use. Truck drivers cover expansive distances every day and can go 5,000 miles in a much shorter amount of time than the average person. If oil changes are neglected it can cause serious problems.
- Engine failure can cause random losses of power. This can pose a serious risk to the truck driver because they are unable to control the speed and braking of the vehicle. If they are in heavy traffic or on a decline they could run into one or more vehicles and and severely injure several people.
- Transmission failure can make it impossible for the driver to shift gears or shifting can happen without warning. This puts the driver and others in danger of an accident.
- Malfunctions in turn signals and safety features can be an issue because other cars will not be able to tell when the truck driver intends to turn or change lanes. They might accidentally enter the truck’s blind spots and cause a collision.
- Steering issues can happen over time if there is a lack of maintenance. When the truck driver cannot control the vehicle they cannot swerve or maneuver away from oncoming traffic or other vehicles.
