Truck Pre-Trip Inspection Extensive
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. Drivers of big trucks are expected to perform an extensive truck pre-trip inspection before taking to the road. These pre-trip inspections are time consuming. However, failure to perform the required inspections properly can lead to an accident.
What Does the Driver Check Under the Hood?
Fluid levels have to be checked to ensure that coolants and oil levels are not low. Leaks have to be looked for also in the fuel, oil, power steering and coolants. Following that, the driver has to ensure the caps are tight and dip stick is inserted properly. Then the engine block has to be inspected for leaks, along with the fan belts and hoses. After inspecting the engine fan, the driver has to check for wear on wiring or wires that are not in their proper place. After checking the level of fluid for the windshield wipers, the driver checks tires on the steering axles, looking for signs of wear, nails or anything else that could affect their performance. Shock absorbers, king pins and ball joints also have to be checked. Rushing through the pre-inspection can result in problems being overlooked, causing an accident. Since big trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, a collision with a motor vehicle can result in devastating injuries such as brain injuries or damage to the spine.
The Trucker Isn’t Finished With the Inspection Yet
After the driver inspects the rest of the tires on the rig, he or she has to check the electrical cord and air lines. A visual inspection of the 5th wheel ensures that it is properly attached to the tractor, followed by the landing gear and crank handle. This is followed by inspection of the trailer suspension, brake pads and adjustment indicators for the brakes. Following this, the driver walks around the vehicle looking for body damage to the truck.
There’s Still More to Do
Following this extensive process, the driver gets behind the wheel and starts the engine, placing it in neutral. He or she checks the gauges to make sure everything is operating properly, eases up on the clutch and lets the truck idle, checking the gauges one more time. Then the driver turns on all the lights and gets out of the vehicle, doing another visual inspection of the engine to check for leaks and to check the belts once more. Following this the driver once again walks around the vehicle doing a visual inspection while listening for air leaks. The inspection is concluded after the driver gets back in the cab and backs up a few feet and moves forward a few feet to ensure everything is in good working order.
Checking and Rechecking Loads
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires that a driver check their load at various points along the way to ensure that it is being transported safely and hasn’t shifted, creating a danger. Drivers must check their loads before heading out on the road and again before the truck has traveled 50 miles. Failure to perform load checks can lead to unbalanced loads that result in a rollover accident or cause a serious collision with other vehicles.
Safety inspections by drivers are an important part of taking a big rig on the road. Failure to do so can lead to an accident, resulting in severe injuries or casualties. Because truck accidents can be complicated, they require the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer to gather evidence, conduct an investigation and prove fault.
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Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. One reason for truck accidents is because inspections were improperly performed. If you or your family member was injured in a collision with a large truck, call (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice. I can also be reached at (800) 404-5400 or by accessing my contact form at AutoAccident.com.
In my 35 years as an injury lawyer, it has been my privilege to have helped many residents of Sacramento and the surrounding area to obtain compensation for their traumatic injuries and loss of a loved one because of a wrongful death.
Assessments of my practice and other comments are located at Google, Avvo, and Yelp.
At Verdicts and Settlements, you can look over some of my prior cases and their outcomes.
I am a proud member of Million Dollar Advocates, a forum for trial attorneys around the nation with million dollar settlements/verdicts for their clients.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/truck-semi-truck-semi-truck-desert-1499377/
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