18-Wheelers and Brake Failure

Many of us have had the hair-raising experience of driving near an 18-wheeler or other large commercial truck on the highway, when suddenly it begins to sway or show signs that it might jackknife. For most of us, that moment of fear is the worst of our encounters with these shipping giants. However, large trucks are involved in almost half a million accidents in the U.S. each year. They are also responsible for a disproportionate number of accidents on the road calculated per mile driven. One thing that is a frequent factor in these accidents is brake failure.

The Causes

Why do large trucks have more accidents involving brake failure than other types of cars? There are several factors that can cause problems with brakes, some of which are specific to large trucks:

• Design or manufacturing errors can lead to brake system failure
• Inadequate maintenance or repair work
• Weather or road conditions
• Driver error, as braking systems in large trucks are more complex and small mistakes are harder to correct
• Driver fatigue

Large commercial trucks are an important part of our country’s economy. They allow companies to ship their products to almost anywhere in the country on fairly short order. However, this should not permit truck drivers, their employers, and those they do business with to get away with any negligent behavior that results in loss and suffering in the lives of innocent motorists.

Contact Us

The Chicago truck accident attorneys of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C., understand how overwhelming and devastating it can be to be involved in an accident with a large truck. If your accident was caused by someone else, call 312-466-8200 today to speak to one of our qualified attorneys about your legal options.