Tennessee Truck Defect Lawyers

Nashville Defective Truck Part Accident Lawyers

Holding truck part manufacturers liable for bad brakes, faulty tires, and other defective parts

Commercial truck drivers and the companies they work for have a responsibility to put safe, working vehicles on the road. A balding tire or worn brakes can cause a serious accident with serious repercussions. Truck manufacturers are in the best position to ensure the safety of their products. Truck drivers and the driving public have the right to expect the trucks they drive or encounter to be made of quality products. When unsafe or defective trucks take to the road, everyone’s lives are in jeopardy.

At Rocky McElhaney Law Firm here in Nashville, we’re experts at helping people and their families who’ve been injured because of a defective truck part. We always fight for the maximum amount of compensation available. We know our clients need the compensation to help pay for their recovery after a trucking accident. We stand up to local and national trucking companies and insurance companies to ensure our clients get the help they need as quickly as possible. Our lawyers work with truck part professionals who can explain why your truck accident was caused by a defective truck part. Contact us in Nashville, Hendersonville, or Clarksville today.

Cases We Handle

Injury Attorney Rocky McElhaney

Answers to Your Questions

"When I was a teenager, Dad got hurt. Insurance company wouldn't pay. We lost our house. But, Dad got a lawyer and we got justice. That's the moment I decided to become an attorney. As a lawyer, I have dedicated my life to helping injury victims."

~ Rocky

How can defective commercial truck tires cause accidents?

While a delivery truck tire may weigh only a little more than the average car tire, a big rig wheel can weigh almost a hundred pounds. When a tire that heavy blows or falls off the truck, it can smash a hood or go through a windshield more easily than you might think. Common problems with truck tires often stem from:

  • Temperature changes. Those wheels are moving fast, and they heat up very quickly. A tire that’s too hot can seemingly blow to pieces.
  • Under-inflation. If the tire isn’t inflated correctly, the tire may heat up even more quickly than usual.
  • Tread burn or separation. Truck tires can also “go bald.” If the tread burns out, the tire heats up. If the tread separates, the metal rim can puncture the tire, causing it to fly off the axle and into oncoming traffic.
  • Improper installation. The wrong studs or bolts can rub against a tire and cause a puncture or cause the tire to fall off. A poorly installed spare tire can come loose and literally bounce into or on top of cars.

Many truck accidents are caused because of normal wear and tear, but a defective tire can harm people unexpectedly. Our attorneys have the skills and experience you want on your side if the manufacturer is responsible for a truck-related accident.

What kinds of brakes are used in commercial trucks?

Trucks need much more distance to stop than passenger cars. According to Knott, a truck parts manufacturer, there are three types of brakes used for large trucks. If the brakes fail, the consequences could be fatal, cause catastrophic injuries, or cause the cargo to spill all over the highway. These brake systems are:

  • Disc Brakes. “A caliper with hydraulic fluid squeezes to friction pads against the disc to slow the wheel.”
  • Drum Brakes. “A piston with hydraulic fluid forces friction shoe pads outward against the drum walls.”
  • Air Brakes. “Can be a drum, a disc, or a combination, with air pressure providing the power instead of hydraulic fluid.”

What are other types of defective truck parts that cause accidents in Nashville?

Tires are not the only parts of a truck that require proper and regular maintenance. Trucks may also be built with defective parts that can cause accidents to occur or fail to prevent more serious injuries or deaths from occurring. A few examples of dangerous truck defects include:

  • Defective steering parts. Trucks carry very heavy loads. Trucks are many times longer than passenger cars which makes them more difficult to steer and turn. Drivers rely on the truck steering to help them avoid dangers to other vehicles. If the steering fails, the truck could jackknife, roll over, spill its cargo, or collide with other vehicles on the road. Freight Waves reported on June 13, 2022 that 105,000 trucks (manufactured by nearly 30 companies) were recalled because missing parts could lead to steering difficulties.
  • Trailer hitches and attachments. Many trucks have multiple parts – a cab for the driver and the trailer, flatbed, or other part of the truck that carries the cargo. These two truck parts need to work in unison. That means the coupling system (hitches and other coupling devices) needs to work when the truck is moving forward, backing out, stopping, or turning. If the coupling system fails, the tractor could jackknife causing the trailer to be at a right angle to the cab. The trailer could separate from the cab causing havoc on the road.
  • Defective blind spot management. Drivers need to see behind, in front of, and on both sides of them at all times. Since trucks don’t have rear windows in their trailers, and because the cabs sit so high off the ground, trucks must be designed to help drivers see through their blind spots. If the mirrors, cameras, and video equipment that help drivers see are defective, it can lead to a collision.
  • Other truck defects include defective:
    • Lighting systems
    • Hydraulic systems
    • Electrical systems
    • Side and rearview mirrors
    • Head or taillights, or obscured lights
    • Engine parts such as transmissions
    • Loading equipment such as tie-downs
    • Windshield wipers
    • Seatbelts

Rocky McElhaney Law Firm has secured millions of dollars for Tennessee victims of commercial truck accidents. We use accident reconstructionists; black box and/or video recordings from inside the truck; video recordings from nearby storefronts; eyewitness accounts; and expert medical testimony to build a rock-solid case on your behalf. We also work with truck parts experts who can examine the truck part that caused your injuries or the death of a loved one.

What happens if a truck part is subject to a recall?

In some cases, a truck part may be subject to a recall by the manufacturer. Our Nashville defective truck part lawyers are skilled at determining if the truck part that caused your accident was subject to a recall. A manufacturer recall should indicate the specific truck part that is defective, why it is defective, the consequences for driving with the defective part, the type/brand of trucks subject to the recall, and what steps truck owners should take to replace or repair the defective truck part.

It is not necessary that the defective truck part involved in your truck accident be subject to a recall. We can prove a part was defective through the testimony of truck part professionals.

For more information on truck accident injuries, please visit our Tennessee Truck Accident Attorney's Guide.

Who is responsible for defective truck parts in Nashville?

Our Nashville defective truck parts lawyers file product liability claims against the responsible defendants. The basic requirements for a product liability claim are that:

  1. the truck part must be defective at the time of the accident,
  2. the defect must be the cause of the accident or fail to protect you in the event of an accident,
  3. and the accident must cause your injuries.

Related product liability claims include a breach of warranty and negligence.

The defendants in a product liability claim can include:

  • The manufacturer
  • The distributor or wholesaler
  • A retailer
  • A company that repaired the truck part

Trucking companies may also be liable if they failed to inspect the truck or failed to repair any known defects.

Do you have a defective truck part accident lawyer near me?

Rocky McElhaney Law Firm has two offices in Nashville: one at 545 Mainstream Dr., Suite 105 and one at 615 Main Street, B21. We also have state-of-the-art offices in Hendersonville and Clarksville. If you are too injured to come to our offices, we will make home and hospital visits. You can also schedule a phone or video consultation.

Our lawyers demand compensation for all your medical bills; lost wages; pain and suffering; property damage; and other damages. We represent personal injury accident victims who have traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, burn injuries, broken bones, and all other types of serious injuries. We also file wrongful death claims for families if a loved one died due to a defective truck accident.

All initial consultations are free. We represent defective truck accident victims on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay us until we settle your case or win your case at trial.

We’re a trusted authority in Tennessee when it comes to trucking defects

Rocky McElhaney Law Firm protects the rights of people who were injured because of defective truck tires, bad brakes, or faulty equipment. To discuss your rights, please call 615-425-2500 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation. We proudly serve clients in Nashville, Hendersonville, and Clarksville.

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