Nine Things That Your Parent Taught You About 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers
What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
18 wheeler accident attorney killeen protects against accidents that involve commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These huge vehicles are subject to federal regulations regarding maintenance, safety, and training.
Trucking companies often force their drivers to work for longer and alter logbooks. This can lead accidents that happen in trucks to be catastrophic.
Weight Regulations
It is essential to understand the weight limits for semi trucks. Weight limits for single axles and group axles are determined by most states. Weigh stations are prevalent along interstates where truckers are weighed to ensure they don't over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a truck driver gets found to be in violation of these limits, they may be fined or even imprisoned, based on the location and criminal record.
Axle groups have a greater limit on weight because the vehicle is safer when the weight is spread across more axles. This also permits the transportation of more cargo. For example one tire on an axle can only be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter but when there are 2 tires on that same axle it could be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.
There are restrictions on the types of trailers which can be used in conjunction with a tractor. Some states only allow one trailer while others only allow triple or twin trailers. Additionally, a lot of states require the fifth wheel to be installed on the trailer, which is a rounded plate on top of the drive wheels which joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Day cab and night cab tractors and sleeper cabs are readily available. They both include sleeping spaces inside the tractor unit.
Lane Restrictions
Truck drivers must abide by speed limits and traffic signals in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks cannot travel at the same speed as cars used by passengers. If they do, accidents could occur. In a lot of cases, it's the truck driver at fault. Truck drivers may be driving for longer than they are entitled to, violating hours-of-service rules and/or being tired or distracted behind the driving.
Another important restriction on lane use is that truck drivers are not allowed to drive in the left or right. Trucks are slower to brake than cars for passenger use. This could create a risky situation, particularly for smaller vehicles that could be stuck behind trucks if they suddenly slow down or stop.
Some states limit the use of lanes in specific circumstances, and some restrict the use of lanes for large trucks. In certain cases these laws are determined by weight and axel limits, while in others they may be based on vehicle description or directions.
Even if there's no law that is statewide it is important to check local rules about the lane restriction and adhere to them. It is also recommended to move to the right when you see a truck blocking the passing lane.
Ownership
The 18 wheeler and trucking companies have a wealth of resources to pressure victims of accidents to accept less than they should. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, engineers, and experts who work on their behalf even before they know whether the victim of an accident will pursue legal action.
In the event of an accident 18-wheelers are frequently responsible for a plethora of injuries and property damage because they carry such hefty loads and are so large when compared to passenger cars. This is particularly so when they collide with motor vehicles. It is essential to have an a seasoned attorney fight for your rights and recover against these massive, powerful corporations.
Large vehicle accidents require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry and trucking regulations from the federal government, medicine, driving standards and other related fields. Our attorneys are able to uncover any violations of these laws, and explain to the jury what led to your accident.
Multiple parties could be accountable for truck accidents involving 18-wheelers. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties at fault and ensure that they are liable for your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking firms, owners of maintenance contractors, even the drivers themselves. Our team will also examine the weather conditions that could have played a part in your accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies have an abundance of resources available to them and can swiftly deploy teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and lawyers to create a defense against accident victims. They begin this process before they even decide if you will to pursue legal recourse. That's why it's so important to immediately retain an experienced attorney who will match their resources and reduce them to size.
A lawyer with experience handling 18-wheeler collisions will ease your burden and assist you in getting the compensation you're entitled to. This can be used to cover expenses like medical bills that are expensive, vehicle damage, the loss of earnings due to a lack of work, and non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.
18-wheelers are highly complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to keep them on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and maintain detailed records could result in devastating accidents.
Tractor-trailers frequently carry hazardous materials, which requires special training and specialized licenses to transport. The material may be flammable, explosive, radiological or poisonous, and all of these pose significant risks for other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could cause a devastating accident.
A skilled 18-wheeler crash lawyer can determine the exact cause of the accident and pinpoint any parties who are accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company or the owner of the trailer as well as the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.
