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Originally published February 15, 2017.
Air brakes are the most important component of modern commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). The air brake system on a semi-truck uses compressed air to push the brake shoe lining onto the brake drum creating friction to slow the wheel down.
That may sound complicated--because it is. When slowing down a vehicle that can weigh 80,000 pounds, society is okay with complicated, so long as the air brakes work effectively, the driver knows how to use them, and the company that owns and services the truck knows what to look for to adequately maintain the air brake system.
To ensure air brakes are operating safely, you must first understand how the air brake operates. The following is a basic explanation of how the air brake system works on a commercial motor vehicle.
The brake shoes, like a brake pad, wear over time, especially with added pressure from depressing the brake pedal too often or too heavily. Safe practices require the commercial driver and company that operates a CMV to maintain their brake shoes at a 1/4-inch minimum thickness.
Since both the brake shoe and the brake drum deteriorate over time and with excess heat/wear, it is essential that truck drivers and the companies they drive for are consistently and regularly checking the air brake system to ensure that there are no unsafe or malfunctioning components.
When trucking companies fail to maintain any critical part of the vehicles in their fleet, especially the brake system, they can be held liable for crashes. Victims of truck crashes can file a claim against the trucking company for the cost of their vehicle repairs, medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
As powerful and impressive as air brakes are, they aren’t infallible. When air brakes aren’t regularly serviced or replaced, they can fail, putting truck drivers and the people near them on the road at risk of serious injuries.
In addition, air brakes are only as effective as the drivers using them. When drivers are distracted, fatigued, or impaired and they brake too late, air brakes aren’t enough to slow down their trucks and prevent accidents. This is an example of negligence, and negligent drivers can be held liable for crashes they caused via injury lawsuits.
If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident, the Ohio truck accident attorneys at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy want to help. We have decades of experience building successful truck accident claims for victims like you, and we know what it takes to win. Contact our legal team anytime for a free case review.
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