The Biggest Issue With 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers, And What You Can Do To Fix It
What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
Accidents with commercial truck drivers, their rigs, and 18 wheelers are covered under the law governing 18 wheelers. These huge vehicles must be subject to strict federal guidelines for maintenance safety, training, and maintenance.
Trucking companies often make their drivers to work for longer and alter logbooks. This can cause catastrophic trucking crashes.
Weight Regulations
Knowing the weight limits for semi-trucks is crucial. Most states have both single axle and group axle limits on weight that must be adhered to. It is typical to see weigh stations on interstates where drivers are weighed in order to make sure they are not exceeding the maximum weight limits for their vehicle and load. If a truck driver is caught violating these limitations they may be fined or even imprisoned, based on the state they reside in and their criminal record.
Axle groups have a higher weight limit due to the fact that the vehicle is more secure when the weight is spread across multiple axles. 18 wheeler accident settlement racine allows for the transportation of more cargo. For example one tire on an axle is able to weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle it could be weighed at 1300 pounds per tire.
There are restrictions on the types of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states permit only one trailer while others only permit triple or twin trailers. A majority of states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer that is a piece of metal that sits over the drive wheels, and connects (hooks up) the trailer to the tractor unit. Day cab and night cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs are readily available. They both include a sleeping space inside the tractor unit.
Lane Restrictions
Truck drivers must obey speed limits and traffic signals in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks cannot drive at the same speed as vehicles for passengers and if they do, they could cause accidents. In a lot of cases, it's the driver of the truck that is the one to blame. Truck drivers may be driving longer than they are allowed to, violating hours-of-service rules and/or being tired or distracted behind the steering wheel.
Truck drivers are also forbidden from driving in the left side of the road. This is due to the fact that it takes much longer for trucks to brake than cars. This can be a dangerous problem, particularly for those in smaller cars who may be stranded behind trucks when it suddenly stops or slows down.
Some states limit the use of lanes in specific situations, while other states restrict it to large trucks. These laws may be based either on weight or axel limit. In other situations they could be based solely on vehicle's description.
Although there's no statewide law on lane restrictions, you must still review the local rules and observe the rules. You should also move to the right when you spot trucks blocking the lane.
Ownership
The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have many resources they can employ to pressure accident victims to accept less than they're entitled. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who represent them before they know whether the accident victim will pursue legal action.
Because they carry huge loads and are so much larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers can cause a lot of injuries and huge property damage in accidents. This is especially relevant when these trucks are involved in collisions with other motor vehicles. It is important to hire an experienced lawyers defend your rights and get you justice against these massive, powerful corporations.
Large vehicle accidents require a thorough understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology as well as federal regulations for trucking and medicine, driving standards and other related areas. Our attorneys are able to find any violations of these laws, and present to the jury the circumstances that caused your accident.
Many parties could be at fault for the 18-wheeler truck crash. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties accountable and ensure that they are liable for your present and future costs. This includes trucking firms, owners of maintenance contractors, even drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that could have played a part in the accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies can deploy large teams of adjusters, lawyers, engineers and experts quickly. They start this process before they decide if you will to seek legal recourse. It is essential to retain an attorney who is capable of matching their resources and helping them decrease in size.
An experienced 18-wheeler crash lawyer can alleviate the burden of dealing with these big corporations off your hands and concentrate on getting you the compensation you are entitled to. The money could be used to pay for medical expenses, vehicle damages, lost income from missed work, and other non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.
18-wheelers are a complex vehicle that require high-level, systematized maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and keep accurate records could lead to tragic accidents.
Tractor-trailers are often carrying hazardous materials, which requires special training and specialized certification to transport. These materials may be explosive or flammable, radiological or poisonous. They all pose a major risk to other drivers on American highways. In the absence of proper labeling and secure the load could also result in a fatal accident.
A competent attorney for 18-wheelers will determine the exact cause of the accident and pinpoint any individuals accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company or the owner of the trailer as well as the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is known as vicarious liability.