Truck Accidents Caused by Defective Parts

An experienced Houston attorney can hold negligent parties accountable

Houston’s extensive highway network – including I-10, I-45, I-69, and Beltway 8 – sees heavy truck traffic every day. These major transportation routes are vital for the region’s economy, but they also see more than their fair share of serious truck accidents that leave people with devastating and sometimes fatal injuries.

Driver and trucking company negligence is a common cause of these collisions. However, one frequently overlooked cause is defective truck parts. When a part on a commercial truck fails due to a defect, the consequences can be catastrophic, especially at highway speeds.

Proving a truck accident was caused by defective parts can be challenging. It often requires technical evidence and expert analysis to demonstrate that the defect directly caused the crash. An experienced Houston truck accident lawyer can investigate the accident, build a strong case that holds negligent parties accountable, and recover financial compensation for victims.

How do defective parts cause truck accidents?

Commercial trucks are made up of thousands of parts that must work together to keep the vehicle operating safely. When even one component is defective – due to poor design, substandard materials, or manufacturing flaws – it can create a dangerous situation on the road. Here are some of the most common types of defective truck parts and how they can lead to accidents:

Brake system failures – Truck brakes are subject to intense stress due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles. Defective brake components, such as poorly manufactured pads, faulty ABS modules, or leaking air lines, can cause a truck to take too long to stop or fail to stop altogether.
Tire blowouts – Improperly designed or manufactured tires can suffer tread separation or blowouts, especially under heavy loads or high temperatures. A sudden blowout can cause the driver to lose control, leading to rollovers or multi-vehicle pileups.
Steering and suspension defects – Faulty steering columns, power steering pumps, or worn-out suspension components can make it difficult to control the truck, especially during sudden turns or evasive maneuvers. In severe cases, the truck may drift out of its lane or overturn.
Lighting and signal malfunctions – Defective lighting or malfunctioning turn signals and brake lights can prevent other drivers from anticipating the truck’s movements. This increases the risk of rear-end collisions or lane-change accidents.
Trailer hitch and coupling failures – If the components connecting the trailer to the cab are defective or improperly installed, the trailer could detach, leading to an incredibly dangerous event at high speeds on a crowded highway.

These defects may not always be immediately obvious after a crash, so a thorough investigation is often needed.

Who can be held liable in a truck accident involving defective parts?

If defective parts caused a truck accident, multiple parties may be held liable depending on how and where the defect occurred. Potential liable parties include:

Truck or parts manufacturers – If the part was defectively designed, manufactured, or lacked proper warnings or instructions, the manufacturer can be held responsible. Some examples include brake manufacturers, tire companies, and engine or steering system producers.
Truck assemblers or vehicle manufacturers – If the company that assembled the truck improperly installed a component or failed to identify a faulty part during production, they may be liable for the resulting defect.
Parts distributors or retailers – If the distributor or seller knowingly sold defective or recalled parts, or failed to store or handle them properly, they can also share in the liability.
The trucking company (carrier) – Trucking companies are responsible for regular inspection and maintenance. They may be liable if they failed to inspect or repair defective parts, ignored known maintenance issues, or knowingly installed defective parts.
Maintenance or repair shops – If a mechanic or repair shop improperly installed a part, used the wrong part, or failed to identify a known defect during maintenance, they may be held accountable.
Truck drivers – In limited cases, the driver may share liability if they ignored signs of mechanical issues, continued driving despite known defects, or failed to perform required pre-trip inspections.
Third-party leasing or freight companies – If the truck was leased and the leasing company was responsible for maintenance, or if a freight broker failed to ensure the carrier used safe equipment, they could be partially liable.

In some cases, liability can be shared among several parties. Determining who is responsible often requires detailed investigation, expert analysis, and knowledge of product liability law. An experienced truck accident attorney can identify all responsible parties and take legal action to hold them accountable.

How can an attorney tell if a truck involved in an accident had a defective part?

After a truck accident, identifying whether a defective part contributed to the crash can be a complex process. Law enforcement officers responding to the scene often note mechanical failures in their reports, but they typically don’t conduct in-depth investigations. Instead, that responsibility often falls to a truck accident lawyer who represents crash victims.

Signs a defective part may have been involved include:

Unusual tire wear or blowout patterns
Brake marks inconsistent with expected stopping distance
Eyewitness reports of mechanical failure (e.g., smoke, fluid leaks, or parts detaching)
Maintenance records showing repeated issues with the same part
Manufacturer recalls for the same make and model part

The black box data (Event Data Recorder) can also be vital in commercial truck accident cases. It may reveal whether the brakes were applied, how the steering wheel was handled, or if there were sudden drops in tire pressure – all of which may suggest part failure.

What happens during an investigation?

When an attorney suspects that a defective part caused or contributed to a truck crash, they work with a team of experts to conduct a thorough and technical investigation. This process is designed to uncover the root cause of the failure and identify all potentially liable parties. The investigation includes:

Preserving evidence – Attorneys will send spoliation letters to trucking companies, manufacturers, and other relevant parties, such as maintenance contractors or leasing companies, requiring them to preserve the truck and its components in their post-accident condition. Without this step, critical evidence could be altered, lost, or destroyed before it can be examined.
Hiring mechanical and engineering experts – Experts are brought in to inspect the truck and its parts for signs of defective design, poor manufacturing, or improper installation. They may perform diagnostic testing and materials analysis or compare the failed part with others known to have similar issues.
Analyzing maintenance and inspection logs – Commercial trucking companies are required by federal law to keep detailed service and inspection records. These logs may reveal whether a defect had been identified prior to the crash, ignored during routine inspections, or improperly repaired by a third-party maintenance provider.
Reviewing manufacturer and supplier histories – Attorneys investigate whether the manufacturer or distributor has a history of producing or selling defective parts. Prior lawsuits, safety bulletins, or product recalls may help establish a pattern of negligence or a failure to warn consumers.
Reconstructing the crash – Accident reconstruction specialists use physical evidence, black box data, and computer modeling to determine how the defective part contributed to the crash. This helps isolate the part’s role from other possible causes, such as driver error or poor road conditions.

This comprehensive investigation helps attorneys build a strong case against all parties that may share responsibility, ensuring injured victims can pursue full compensation from every source of liability.

How can an attorney help victims recover compensation?

Truck accidents involving defective parts often result in severe injuries, including spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and burns. The cost of medical care, lost income, and long-term disability can be overwhelming. An experienced truck accident attorney can:

Identify all liable parties – An attorney will investigate the accident to determine whether the truck driver, the trucking company, the part manufacturer, or another third party is responsible. This is important because more than one party may be liable, and each may carry separate insurance policies.
Calculate full damages – A lawyer will document the full extent of your losses — not just medical bills, but also pain and suffering, lost future earnings, rehabilitation costs, and diminished quality of life.
Deal with insurance companies – Insurance companies representing large manufacturers and trucking companies will work aggressively to deny claims or offer lowball settlements. An attorney will know how to fight back and negotiate a fair settlement.
Take your case to trial – If the insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation, your lawyer can present your case to a jury. Product defect trials often hinge on technical details, and an experienced attorney will know how to make complex engineering concepts understandable to a jury.

Contact an experienced Houston truck accident lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident on I-10, Highway 290, the 610 Loop, or any of Houston’s busy roadways, it’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible. A defective truck part may have played a major role in the crash, and an attorney can help you recover financial compensation.

At Smith & Hassler, our Houston truck accident attorneys know how to uncover the truth. We work with industry experts, review manufacturing records, and fight tirelessly for the compensation our clients deserve. And because we work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t pay unless we win your case. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.

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