Truck Accident Brake Failure Lawyer in San Francisco
Helping Victims of Truck Accidents Caused by Brake Failure
Trucking companies must maintain their fleet and essential vehicle safety systems, such as brakes. Unfortunately, a devastating truck crash is far more likely to happen when they fail to do so.
If you or someone you love were harmed in a truck accident, an investigation will be needed to determine the cause. If brake failure was a factor, you must determine why the brakes failed. Was negligence involved? Did the braking system have a defect?
Trucking cases are complex and fact-specific, involving powerful corporations and insurance companies that want only to protect their bottom line. To level the playing field and give your case the best chance for success, you need an experienced attorney who understands what it takes to go toe to toe against trucking companies and their insurers.
Our truck accident attorneys at Wisner Baum have a decades-long track record of earning maximum compensation for clients in complex cases.
Why Choose Us?
Clients and counsel nationwide trust our firm to handle challenging claims. The reasons are clear:
- Over 4 billion won for clients, including transportation accidents
- Hundreds of truck accident victims compensated
- No fee unless we win
Call Wisner Baum today at (855) 948-5098 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our truck accident brake failure attorney in San Francisco!
What Causes Brake Failure in Commercial Trucks?
Brake failure is a common factor in significant truck crashes. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), commercial trucks carrying cargo can take 20-40 percent longer to stop than standard cars—and the difference is even more significant with poorly maintained brakes or wet roads.
Brake problems can lead to trucking accidents, including rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, and jackknifing or rollovers. Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that brake problems are involved in 30 percent of trucking accidents.
Post-accident investigations will help identify potential causes when brakes fail or substantially underperform. Some of the most common involve:
- Inadequate maintenance
- Product defects / faulty brakes
- Overloaded trucks
Inadequate Maintenance
By law, truck operators must ensure their trucks do not pose unreasonable risks to public safety and comply with regulations requiring routine inspections, vehicle maintenance, and braking systems.
Trucking companies may be held liable for brake failure crashes arising from:
- Failure to perform inspections. Routine inspections, pre-trip inspections, and Performance-Based Brake Tests (PBBT) can help operators assess the condition and performance of braking systems and identify most brake problems. Operators can be liable for crashes resulting from failures to identify and address brake issues they knew or should have known about.
- Poor vehicle maintenance. Failures to keep trucks and brake systems in proper working order can expose operators to liability for damages. Examples include failures to replace brakes that show damage or excessive wear and errors in assembling or installing brake components.
Brake Defects
In some cases, brake failures may result from defective brakes or braking system components, including brakes that are defectively designed or manufactured.
- Design defects: Though truck brake design defects are relatively rare because manufacturers typically follow established designs, some braking systems may contain defects that make them unable to stop trucks at a reasonable distance or prone to failure under certain conditions. Victims with design defect claims will need to consult experts to determine if a braking systems design made it inherently dangerous or if a safer alternative design was feasible during production.
- Manufacturing defects: Defects in truck brakes or brake components are more likely culprits for brake failure. These defects may arise from using poor-quality materials, manufacturing or assembly process errors, or other negligent acts that make brakes inherently dangerous.
When defective brakes are suspected, investigating and collaborating with experts becomes vital to identifying the underlying issue and developing arguments for a successful claim. Victims may be able to bring products liability claims against manufacturers, distributors, and/or retailers that made the braking systems or components available.
Overloaded Trucks & Brake Failure
Vehicle weight can significantly affect the stopping distance of truck tractors and place additional strain on braking components, degrading their performance, causing them to wear out prematurely, or making them more susceptible to failure. Improperly secured cargo that shifts in transit may also compromise vehicle stability and brake performance.
If vehicle weight is a suspected factor in a trucking crash, it is important to investigate whether operators negligently overloaded the truck in violation of FMCSA cargo regulations or failed to comply with FMCSA cargo regulations.
Who is Liable for a Truck Accident Caused by Brake Failure?
Liability will depend on the unique circumstances of your accident, as well as the findings of investigations. While every case is unique, here are some examples of parties that may potentially be liable for brake failure truck crashes:
- A truck driver and/or trucking company
- A product manufacturer, distributor, or retailer
- A used vehicle/truck dealer
- A third-party truck maintenance services
- A trucking broker or sub-broker
Victims of personal injury are entitled to a financial recovery for their damages, including their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our team represents victims who suffer catastrophic injuries and families pursuing wrongful death actions, and works to maximize their recoveries.
Contact Our San Francisco Truck Accident Brake Failure Attorney Today
If you or your loved one suffered losses from a truck crash caused by brake failure, our San Francisco attorneys at Wisner Baum want to help. Our firm offers FREE and confidential consultations, and can discuss your legal options for pursuing the compensation you deserve.
Contact Wisner Baum today to meet our truck accident brake failure lawyer in San Francisco!
Our Case Results
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$265 Million Settlement Fatal Train Crash
In 2016, Wisner Baum attorney Timothy A. Loranger and six other attorneys in the Plaintiffs’ Management Committee were able to secure a $265 million settlement for victims of the 2015 Amtrak 188 derailment in Philadelphia, one of the largest in the U.S. for 2016.
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$14 Million Settlement A Major US Plane Crash
Wisner Baum obtained a $14 million settlement for the death of a passenger in a major US plane crash.
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$12 Million Settlement Helicopter Crash
Wisner Baum secured a $12 million settlement for a passenger who was injured in a helicopter crash.
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$10 Million Settlement A Major Foreign Plane Crash
Wisner Baum obtained a $10 million settlement for the death of a passenger in a major foreign plane crash.
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$2.0 Billion Verdict Personal Injury
In May of 2019, the jury in the case of Pilliod et al. v, Monsanto Company ordered the agrochemical giant to pay $2.055 billion in damages to the plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a Bay Area couple in their 70s.
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$80 Million Verdict Personal Injury
Wisner Baum attorneys served on the trial team in the case of Hardeman v. Monsanto Company, which resulted in an $80 million jury verdict for the plaintiff, Edwin Hardeman.
Client-Focused Representation
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