UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF TIRES IN YOUR TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWSUIT
We’ve all heard the phrase “where the rubber meets the road” used to describe a crucial aspect of an endeavor. That phrase holds special significance when you consider that most commercial tractor-trailers operate with 18 tires as they travel along Pennsylvania roadways.
Just like your personal vehicle, trucking company fleet managers and maintenance officials have to keep their vehicle’s tires rotated every so often in order to maintain proper alignment. Improperly aligned vehicles can produce uneven tread wear that can sometimes lead to potentially hazardous situations to other motorists.
Your Pennsylvania trucking accident attorney will look for any sign of mechanical problems in a vehicle involved in your accident. Uneven tire wear can be an indicator that responsible parties may not have observed industry standards with regards to their vehicle and tire maintenance. For example, your attorney can often review vehicle maintenance logs and determine whether truck maintenance on suspension systems components such as leaf spring or shocks may have affected the tires’ tread wear.
Your attorney can also determine whether the tires on the truck involved in your accident were unsuitable for the road’s surface. Truck tires with excessive tread wear patterns sometimes fail to provide sufficient traction for driving during adverse weather conditions. Trucks with excessive tread wear may also affect braking distance when tractor-trailers engage their brakes when traveling down steep inclines.
If you have been injured by a truck operating with bald tires you may be entitled to seek compensation from trucking companies and their insurers. Your Pennsylvania truck accident attorney can help you examine the evidence in your case and fight to recover any valid claims through civil litigation. If successful, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries and lost wages.
Source: Goodyear Truck Tires, “Factors Affecting Treadwear,” accessed March. 20, 2015