Truck accidents can be scary experiences, but this is especially true when you are involved in an accident in which the trailer disconnected from the truck cab. If you were injured in a truck accident involving a truck hitch failure, Caruso Law Offices are here to help.
The Function of a Truck Hitch
The truck hitch is located on the back of the cab. It is a mechanical device enabling the cab to pull a trailer. Passenger vehicles have a similar function with a ball hitch that allows them to tow other vehicles, small trailers, or boats. However, a truck hitch is a critical safety component because if it malfunctions or is defective, serious truck accidents can result.
Truck hitches consist of several pieces. They include a locking mechanism that holds a pin in place to carry loads weighing several tons. If the locking mechanism loosens, the trailer can be disconnected from the cab, potentially leading to serious car accidents involving multiple vehicles.
Common Causes of Truck Hitch Failures
Fully loaded trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. This amount of weight exerts immense pressure on the pin in a truck hitch. Excessive friction and no lubrication over time can result in the coupling pin breaking down.
Factors that can lead to truck hitch failures include:
- Overloading the truck
- Improper installation
- Defectively designed or manufactured truck hitches
- Driver error or inexperience
- Lack of inspections and regular maintenance
- Brake malfunction
- Rusted components
- Speeding
- Failure to use recommended safety chains
An experienced truck accident lawyer can review your case, determine how it happened, and identify all parties who are responsible for it.
Who Is Responsible for a Hitch Failure?
One of the complexities involved in truck accident cases is that multiple parties may share responsibility for an accident. If a truck hitch failed and resulted in a severe truck accident, one or more of the parties may be at fault:
- The truck driver if they failed to properly secure the hitch, inspect it during their travel, or drove aggressively, causing the hitch to disconnect
- The trucking company for failing to conduct regular maintenance or inspecting the vehicle before trips
- The hitch manufacturer if it was a defective product
- The cargo loading company if its workers overloaded the truck or did not properly secure cargo, causing it to shift during transit and put additional strain on the hitch
- The repair shop or mechanic if it made negligent repairs to the truck hitch
Our team can conduct a thorough investigation to identify all possible parties and avenues for compensation.
Compensation for Hitch Failure Accidents
Truck accidents involving malfunctioning or disconnected truck hitches tend to cause serious damage. Through a truck accident claim, you may be able to seek financial compensation for:
- Current and past medical expenses
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Costs to repair or replace your damaged vehicle
- Impairments and disabilities
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Our team of highly dedicated lawyers can handle communications with the insurance company and demand payment for the full extent of the harm you have suffered.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation After a Truck Accident
If you were injured in a truck accident involving a disconnected or malfunctioning truck hitch, Caruso Law Offices is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your legal rights and options with an experienced truck accident lawyer.