A thirty-one-year-old man died in San Antonio, Texas on September 15, 2020 after an 18-wheeler failed to stop at an access road intersection, plowing into the young man’s Honda Civic and propelling it into oncoming traffic. The 18-wheeler driver later told investigators his brakes failed.
Brake issues are a common cause of vehicle crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, brake-related problems account for about 22 percent of crashes caused by a vehicle issue.
Liability in brake failure cases depends on the circumstances surrounding the brake failure. The failure may be caused by a design defect, manufacturing defect, improper maintenance, improper repair, or some other error. A vehicle’s owner may be responsible when the owner fails to inspect the brakes for wear and tear and replace parts accordingly or when improperly performing repairs.
In brake failure cases, it is important to act quickly to preserve the evidence necessary to determine the cause of brake failure and hold the proper parties responsible. An inspection of the vehicle shortly after the crash can help reveal whether a vehicle’s brakes actually failed and, if so, the causes of the brake failure. This inspection includes a download of digital data detailing the events of the wreck that may be available.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury due in an auto crash involving allegations of brake failure, call the Houston law firm Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner at (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211 for a personal injury consultation.