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What Should I Do if My Truck is Recalled in Texas?

What Should I Do if My Truck is Recalled in Texas?

Commercial trucks are subject to rigorous testing and engineering before they are allowed on the road. The size and weight of 18-wheelers and other large trucks can cause fatal injuries for the driver and other vehicles during an accident, which is why in-depth inspection is necessary for all commercial trucks. However, even with a professional evaluation, some trucks and their parts may be recalled due to safety concerns.

When a recall happens for a commercial truck in Texas, the driver has options available to them if they were injured due to the defect that caused the recall. Anyone who has suffered a recent accident in Texas related to a recall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) may consider working with an experienced truck accident lawyer.

How Can I Know if My Truck is Recalled? 

Many different aspects of commercial trucks can encounter issues that have the potential to cause serious accidents. When a driver is working for a trucking company, it is the company’s responsibility to stay up to date on recalls and safety concerns. This information is easily accessible online and should constantly be monitored by trucking companies and drivers. 

Drivers can learn this information for themselves online by looking up their vehicle identification number (VIN), which is a 17-character code printed near the lower driver’s side corner of your windshield or on the driver’s side door. If you do not have immediate access to that number, you can also look up the year, make, and model of your commercial truck to find out if there is any new or pending recall information. 

Receiving a Recall Notice for your Truck in Texas

Millions of commercial vehicles and trucks are affected by manufacturing recalls and safety concerns each year. Most recall notices are issued from the NHTSA due to defective parts that include brakes, taillights, airbags, headlights, and tires. When these issues become apparent, it is necessary for trucking companies to inform their employees immediately. 

Drivers are required to bring their commercial trucks to an authorized dealer who will repair the recalled or defective part at no cost. However, auto manufacturers and trucking companies are also responsible for ensuring the continued safety of their employees and their vehicles. When a defect is discovered, auto manufacturers are required to notify vehicle owners within 60 days. Fleet owners who are notified of any safety concerns must take action immediately and inform their employees. It is also important that trucking companies remain aware of pending recalls that may be listed online. 

What if My Recalled Truck Caused an Accident?

With any malfunctioning vehicle, especially large commercial trucks, there is a risk of serious injury for truck drivers and anyone who shares the road with them in Texas. Accidents are more likely to occur when drivers operate defective trucks without getting them repaired, but there are circumstances when a commercial truck driver may not have been informed about the recall or the defect. When this happens, it can often cause a devastating accident. 

You may be entitled to damages for medical bills or associated costs from the accident that was caused by a recalled commercial truck or a defective part. Certain product liability laws in Texas allow victims of accidents that were caused by defective or recalled vehicles to pursue claims against the manufacturer, distributors, retailers, or the dealership where the commercial truck was purchased. 

Filing a claim after an accident can be a difficult and complex process, since it may involve gathering information from insurance companies, police reports, and other resources that can be challenging to access. If you are filing on behalf of a victim, it can be even more complicated.