Truck AccidentsBrake Failure

Deadly accidents caused by defective truck brakes should be prevented. Maryland class A commercial driver’s licenses require drivers to demonstrate that they know the safety rules of air brakes. Many commercial motor vehicles use air brakes. A typical passenger car uses hydraulic fluid to activate disc brakes. A car’s braking system involves storing hydraulic fluid in a chamber. When the brake pedal is pressed the hydraulic fluid is pumped through hoses into a piston that presses two brake shoes against a brake pad or against a brake rotor. If a brake hose develops a leak the hydraulic system will fail. Most large commercial trucks and buses use air brakes to avoid this failure.

The most common braking system for large commercial trucks and buses is the foundation air brake system. Unlike a car’s braking system, the starting position or resting position for truck brakes is that they are activated. The truck uses air lines or brake pipes to build up air pressure. This built-up air pressure causes the brakes to release. If the air lines develop a leak the brakes activate and that is safer than the alternative. The air that feeds the brake lines is stored in a compressor tank. When the brake pedal is pressed compressed air is released from the tank causing the brakes to return to their activated position. The release of this air produces the unique sound that large trucks make while braking.

The mechanism used by air brakes involves compressed air causing the brakes to release. When the compressed air is released a push-rod pushes a brake s-cam. The s-cam pushes the brake shoes outward inside of a brake drum. The brake drum is a hollow drum inside the wheel. As the brake pads are pressed against the drum, the truck slows to a stop. The air brake system requires proper adjustment and adequate air pressure. If the push rod and s-cam are out of adjustment the brake pads may not fully engage against the brake drum. Brake pads that are lightly pressing against a brake drum will result in very little stopping power but a lot of heat. If you have ever seen a truck with a tire that has caught fire this is a sign of an improperly adjusted braking system. Improperly adjusted brakes press against a brake drum with enough force to create to friction but insufficient force to slow the truck. This results in the brake drum becoming hotter and hotter, particularly with heavy trucks descending steep mountains. In some cases the brake drum becomes hot enough to result in the tire failing and in some cases catching fire.

Similar problems could occur if the air pressure system has leaks or is improperly calibrated. If an air compressor can’t keep up with leaks in the system, the brakes may not fully disengage while driving. This can generate heat in the same fashion that improperly adjusted push rods and s-cams can. A tire that catches fire is a symptom of this problem, but the real danger is a lack of adequate braking power. The braking system may work fine while driving on level areas but the problem can become dangerous when trucks require greater stopping power while descending steep hills or mountains.

If you or a loved one was struck by a large truck please contact the brake failure lawyers at Patterson Law for a free consultation. Patterson Law has offices in Bowie and Annapolis. The Annapolis office is located near Anne Arundel Medical Center and the Bowie office is located by the Bowie Health Center.

A vehicle inspection report for a commercial vehicle with air brakes will have a brake adjustment section. The brake adjustment section should document how far out of adjustment each push rod stroke is out of adjustment per brake chamber. There are different types of brake chambers that have different acceptable measurements that are contained in the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Act regulations. Trucks are often equipped with devices to minimize the braking force on the front brakes. This is done to prevent the front brakes from engaging with greater force and effectiveness than the rear brakes leading to the tractor stopping or slowing more abruptly than the trailer. When this occurs, the tractor-trailer is in danger of jack knifing.

Under current regulations most commercial bus, truck and truck tractors must be equipped with a warning signal to alert the driver when a failure occurs in the truck’s braking system. These warnings apply to commercial vehicles with hydraulic brakes, air brakes, vacuum brakes and hydraulic hybrid braking systems. Performance standards for brakes are detailed in the regulations. In serious truck accidents involving a brake failure or lack of braking performance it is important to reach out to a commercial truck accident lawyer. A truck accident lawyer can take steps to secure the involved truck for an inspection. In addition, a truck accident lawyer can identify the records that should be preserved while you are recovering from injuries. If steps are not taken to preserve these records they will frequently be destroyed by the truck driver or their motor carrier.

Scheduled a free consultation with Board Certified Truck Accident Attorney by calling 301-888-4878. Patterson Law offers free consultations at their Bowie and Annapolis offices. If you or a loved one is seriously injured, free consultations at hospitals and rehabilitation facilities can be requested.