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Trucking industry “Brake Safety Week” inspection pulls many trucks out of service

Trucking companies have an obligation to public safety to ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained and do not present a significant safety hazard to other motorists on the road. When an 18-wheeler is in an accident, it is especially dangerous due to the vehicle’s sheer size.

As part of its “Brake Safety Week” last month, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspected thousands of trucks across the United States and Canada. Brake Safety Week is a yearly campaign that enforces trucking regulations while also serving to raise awareness of the dangers of defective brakes.

brake defect truck accidentIt’s imperative for a commercial truck’s brakes to be in good condition because they have more momentum than smaller vehicles, making it more difficult for them to come to a complete stop. Neglected brakes can increase the chances a truck driver will be in an accident.

This year, the CVSA inspected thousands of trucks, and found a staggering amount of them had violations that were severe enough to put the vehicle out of service (OOS). The CVSA reports that as many as one in seven, or 15.3 percent, of trucks it inspected as part of Brake Safety Week had such violations.

For this year’s Brake Safety Week, the CVSA inspected 21,255 trucks. Of these, 1,993 were put out of service for simple brake adjustments and 1,664 were removed from service for bad brake components. These figures have all increased from last year’s inspections, which were higher than the previous year’s as well.

These inspections are critical for keeping trucking companies from neglecting their duty to maintain their vehicles. The program has inspected more than 2.6 million brake systems since it began 15 years ago.


City of San Diego sued by family of boy hit by trash truck

Last month in San Diego, a 9-year-old skateboarder was severely injured after he collided with a city trash truck. The truck accident caused the boy to suffer a serious leg injury. His left leg had to be amputated in order for him to fully recover.

The family of the young boy is suing the city of San Diego, claiming that the truck driver was negligent in his actions that led to the accident. The boy was riding his skateboard on the sidewalk when he turned around to see where his other friends were, and hit the side of the truck.

The truck driver was attempting to make a three-point turn at the time of the collision. The lawsuit was filed against the city as well as the truck driver responsible for the injuries.


2 killed, 1 injured in semi-truck accident on I-805

This Monday, 2 people were killed and 1 was injured in a truck accident on Interstate 805.  The accident occurred south of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard at around 10 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

Police are investigating the accident, but officials believe that a FedEx semi-truck T-boned a vehicle traveling on I-805.  The sedan involved in the accident appeared to have been hit on its passenger side.  Reports indicate that the sedan may have lost control on the highway before being hit.

The driver of the sedan and a passenger in the vehicle were killed in the accident.  Another passenger in the vehicle was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital with unspecified injuries.

Our utmost sympathies go out to the victims’ families and friends.


Victim of truck accident awarded $12.2 million

Last month, the victim of a truck accident in California was awarded $12.2 million.  $235,000 of the verdict was allotted to past medical expenses related to the injuries incurred in the accident and the remainder was awarded for future medical expenses, therapy, and lost income.

The truck accident occurred in San Diego County in January 2008 when two rear wheels fell off of a YRC, Inc. truck, causing the truck to veer into the path of a Chevy Metro.  The driver of the Metro and plaintiff in the lawsuit suffered a traumatic brain injury and spinal injury in the accident.

These injuries caused the victim to experience memory loss, personality change, difficulty concentrating, and chronic pain.  Since the accident, the driver has had multiple surgeries to treat his injuries.

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a truck accident, contact the San Diego truck accident lawyers of Ritter & Associates at 619-296-0123 to learn more about how we can help you.


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