Truck Accidents Caused by Defective Parts
Were you hit by a truck driver that seemed to have little to no control of their massive commercial vehicle? It could be possible that a truck defect was to blame for the resulting truck accident and that liability could fall on the parent company or maintenance crews. Hutton & Hutton Law Firm, LLC is here to help you sort through the details, determine liability, and file a lawsuit that effectively builds a concise argument as to how much compensation you require and why you should be given it as soon as possible.
What makes our Wichita truck accident lawyers stand out?
- $400+ million recovered for clients
- Super Lawyers® Rising Stars℠ inclusion
- “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report
- No recovery, no fee agreements
After you are blindsided by a reckless truck driver in Kansas, you need a team of truck defect lawyers you know you can depend on. Call (316) 688-1166 to learn why we believe Hutton & Hutton Law Firm, LLC has the right people for the job.
Truck Defects That Can Cause an Accident
The more moving parts in a machine, the more likely something is going to go wrong if routine inspections and maintenance are not performed correctly. Due to their size and the tasks they perform, big rigs are considerably more complicated than smaller vehicles, which are already quite complex in function and design.
Trucking companies that try to cut corners and costs may put off scheduled maintenance for their fleets, allowing serious defects to form. In a worst case scenario, the defects cause a catastrophic failure and trucking accident on the highway.
Common defects that could be overlooked by negligent repair crews or trucking companies include:
- Brakes: Stopping a massive tractor trailer with a full load of freight puts a great amount of stress on the brake system. If there is a single defect, it could be impossible for the truck to stop without colliding into something or someone.
- Couplings: Damaged or defective couplings can come undone as the truck travels, tossing the trailer back into the traffic behind it and causing a catastrophic pileup.
- Cargo straps: Open-bed trucks need to use strong straps to keep cargo secure during transit. Worn, frayed, or loose securements will toss dangerous pieces of freight onto the highway.
- Tires: Bursting tires are one of the most common truck defects. Not only can a tire rupture cause the entire commercial truck to lose control, but it has been shown that large pieces of rubber debris can crash into adjacent motorists, causing potentially-fatal damage.
- Steering systems: A defect in an 18-wheeler’s steering system or column can cause the vehicle to jackknife unexpectedly, tipping over and blocking off multiple lanes of a highway at once.
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Our Results
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$34,000,000 Personal Injury
Mason v. Texaco, 948 F.2d 1546 (10th Cir. 1991). Otis Mason died of leukemia caused by exposure to benzene, an industrial solvent and gasoline component, for which the jury awarded $34 million.
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$23,600,000 Personal Injury
Darcy Aves was severely injured during birth, resulting in severe mental and physical retardation, blindness and seizures from Cerebral Palsy. Darcy’s twin sister, Danna, was born healthy. The jury awarded $23.6 million, the largest jury verdict in Kansas and one of the largest personal injury verdicts in the nation.
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$15,000,000 Personal Injury
Graham v. Wyeth Labs, 666 F.Supp. 1483 (D. Kan. 1987). Michelle Graham had a severe neurological reaction to Wyeth Labs’ DPT vaccine and suffered severe brain damage. The jury awarded $15 million. Wyeth thereafter purified the vaccine.
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$11,200,000 Personal Injury
O’Gilvie v. International Playtex, 821 F.2d 1438 (10th Cir. 1987). O’Gilvie died from Toxic Shock Syndrome after using Playtex super-absorbent tampons. The jury’s $11.2 million verdict led to the removal from the market of Playtex’s super-absorbent tampons and addition of warnings to packaging.