A West Virginia company that fails to maintain its commercial vehicles may expose itself to liability in a car accident case. This is because the company should have known that it’s necessary to rotate a truck’s tires, change its oil and take other steps to keep it in reasonable condition. If a vehicle is owned by an individual, that person would likely be responsible for any damages that you might incur after an accident involving his or her truck.
Flying tires can cause serious damage
Data suggests that flying tires are a common cause of commercial trucking accidents. A tire might come off of a truck because it was attached to the wheel well by a defective bearing or broken axle. In some cases, problems with the tires themselves may cause them to detach from a large truck.
Signs of damage were likely apparent before an accident happened
It’s unlikely that a truck owner wouldn’t have some indication that there were issues with a tire, wheel or related part before an accident occurred. As a general rule, it’s relatively easy to see cuts, a lack of tread depth or other tire defects.
Furthermore, a broken axle, loose bearing or similar type of problem would likely result in significant cabin vibrations while the truck was in motion. There is also a chance that these issues would cause the truck to pull to one side while traveling down the highway.
Maintenance records will be critical in your case
Your attorney will likely use maintenance records to establish that the vehicle’s owner knew that it was defective in some way. These records may also prove that this party did nothing to rectify the problem before it caused an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury, property damage or both.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, it may be a good idea to hire an attorney to help with your personal injury case. He or she may be able to help you obtain compensation for your injuries through a settlement or jury award.