When Is the Truck Manufacturer at Fault for an Accident?

Commercial truck accidents often have devastating effects for the parties involved. Driving a machine of this size and weight requires a lot of experience and expertise, and the drivers of these trucks face different challenges every day. 

An accident with a commercial truck or a semi-trailer can have different causes, and there are times when not only one intervenes, but a set of situations that can end in a tragedy.

Drivers of these types of vehicles are not always at fault for an accident. So can other negligent drivers you meet on the road; or the transport company due to lack of training, maintenance of the units, and even violations regarding the number of hours limits that an operator can work. 

When an accident occurs, an investigation must be carried out in order to determine what caused it. And this is where sometimes the responsibility can be traced back to the manufacturers themselves.

When can the manufacturer be held liable for an accident involving a commercial truck? 

Human errors can be found in all areas and contexts of daily and professional life, and the area of ​​truck manufacturing is no exception. Despite the fact that manufacturers have the obligation to comply with high quality standards, and with a legal duty to ensure that all components, parts and procedures are safe enough for the manufacture of this type of machinery, there are times when even a small error may go undetected due to lack of quality control or negligence on the part of manufacturing companies.

Here are some of the situations in which the manufacturer may be liable for an accident:

1. Manufacturing defects. In these cases, the components and parts used may not be defective. The error is in the procedures to carry out the manufacture and assembly of the truck. During the process, some part could be deformed and lose its holding capacity, or stop working entirely, to name a few examples.

2. Design errors. Errors in the design of a product make it unsafe to use. For example, a design flaw could be found that makes a truck roll over more easily.

3. Missing warnings or errors in the warning instructions. If there were any warnings to consider during the operation of the vehicle and the manufacturer did not provide this information, it would be held liable.

At the Nourmand law firm we can help you in such a situation. Call us today and schedule a free consultation with our team of lawyers. We will wait for you!