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Trucking Accidents

• Speeding, Distracted Driving Among Common Causes of Serious Injury and Fatal Kansas City Trucking Accidents

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When Poor Maintenance Can Cause Serious Kansas City Big Rig Truck Crashes, Do You Have Rights?

Kansas City big rig accidents involving a collision between a commercial truck and passenger vehicle can have tragic consequences. Trucks aren't large cars; they are complex machines with a variety of integrated safety systems. A flaw in one system can cause the whole truck to crash.

Because big rig accidents are so serious, federal law requires a truck driver to inspect his 18-wheeler before operating the large truck. He must ensure that the truck is safe and properly maintained before taking it on the road. The following must be inspected:

• Tires
• Horn
• Windshield wipers
• Brakes (including the service and parking brake)
• Mirrors (including the rear-view and side-view mirrors
• Lights and reflectors
• Coupling devices
• Cargo

It is especially important that engines, lights, tires and brakes be in good running order. A malfunctioning engine can suddenly stall and cause a driver to lose control of his truck. If lights aren’t working, another car may not see the truck and hit it. This can lead to dangerous under-ride truck accidents.

Truck tires are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicle tires, and blown tires can cause serious truck accidents. If a truck tire does not look safe, it should be changed immediately.

An improperly inspected or poorly maintained braking system can cause a delay in braking. Because of their weight and size, semi trucks take time to brake. In fact, brake failure is among the most common cause of tractor-trailer accidents. Brakes on a large truck can fail because of poor vehicle maintenance or as a result of overloading a truck. Brake failure or improperly adjusted brakes are often responsible for large, multi-vehicle jackknife accidents. If the brakes don’t work, the outcome may be deadly.

Regularly scheduled maintenance is necessary for a trucking company to operate safely and meet federal and state guidelines. However, semi-truck maintenance takes time and money. The unfortunate reality is that some truck companies will skimp on proper maintenance in order to save their bottom line. Their failure to maintain the truck can result in tragic outcomes for others on the road.

If you've been injured in a Missouri truck accident, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer who specializes in truck accidents. The Kansas City trucking accident attorneys at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys will determine if the trucking company or driver is responsible for the poor maintenance that led to your truck accident. We can help you file a claim for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, therapy and long-term care. To learn more, call 1-888-348-2615 to schedule an appointment with a Missouri commercial truck wreck attorney.

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Latest News

• Posted on 5/21/2012FMSCA Releases Report Highlighting Main Causes of Fatal Trucking Accidents in KS. and MO.
• Posted on 5/15/2012Truck Driver Seriously Injured in Trucking Accident on I-70 near Bonner Springs, Kansas

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Trucking Accidents

• Why shouldn’t I use the nice attorney who helped incorporate my business for my Kansas City truck accident case?

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