Truck Accident Reconstruction

Truck Accident Reconstruction – Air Brakes

Air Brakes – Always an issue in trucking accidents:

• Trucks have more brakes
• Truck brakes require more maintenance
• Trucks take more time and distance to stop
• Truck collisions may be catastrophic even at low speed
• Air brakes used to be designed on the basis of the fully loaded condition
• Unloaded brake performance was compromised
• ABS allows truck brakes to adjust the braking action to match the load condition resulting in design braking for all loading conditions.
• Discs are replacing drums 
• ABS is now on most trucks and trailers unless they are approaching “antique” status 
• ESC (Electronic Stability Control) is here 
• The stopping distance standards are becoming more stringent
• Stability Control, Collision Avoidance, Lane Keeping, Blind Spot Monitoring, are becoming more prevalent

Air Chambers and Slack Adjusters

• If they are not set up properly, maintained and inspected, the brakes do not work.