14 Common Misconceptions Concerning Semi Truck Lawsuit
Semi Truck Accident Law
A severe injury sustained in the crash of a semi truck can bury a person in medical bills. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
After a collision, it is essential to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A lawyer with experience can help establish your case through evidence such as police reports, surveillance camera footage, and more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Trucking companies and owners-operators often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good shape. This causes an overwhelming number of preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their larger dimensions and larger weight. However the pressure of completing deadlines and maximizing profits is often more important than maintaining the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that could cause disastrous accidents.
The brakes on a truck must be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a minute's notice. When the brake pads on a truck lines, lines, or return springs wear out, they can cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is vital that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced when required to ensure that they remain in good working condition.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major contributor to truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can cause traction issues, which causes the truck to slide or even tip over. Tires that are defective because of inadequate tread design or air pressure could fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks must undergo regular inspections in order to spot mechanical problems before they lead to an accident. If an inspection was performed in a way that is not correct or if the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's recommendations, it can cause an accident. In these cases, a company that employed the repair or maintenance shop or was the one who supervised it could be held accountable.
Another cause of truck accidents is faulty signals, lights and reflectors.
norman semi truck accident case must be properly working to enable drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or after dark. However, trucking companies may not inspect and maintain these items or the driver could not be able to complete daily safety inspections.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer can investigate your case to identify who might be accountable for your injuries should you be injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence that shows the negligence of the defendant in the accident and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be devastating. These massive vehicles can weigh up 25-times more than your car and can cause more severe injuries when involved in an accident. Distracted driving is just one of the many causes of accidents. A driver who is distracted can lose control of the vehicle or miss an accident on the road, which can lead to serious and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers must follow strict rules and regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition against texting or using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers follow the rules, they might be distracted and cause an accident. This could be because of distractions caused by manual actions like taking a hand off the steering wheel or mental distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but few know that other activities, such as eating, changing radio stations, or chatting with passengers, could also be considered to be distracting. If the trucker is distracted, he may drift into another area and not be aware of an impending traffic jam. If a truck driver's focus is diverted, it's only one second for a massive vehicle to strike a passenger car.
It is important to gather details about witnesses and take photos of the accident scene when a distracted driver causes a truck crash. It is crucial to know the name of the driver, the business that they work for and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This can have an impact on who's responsible for the accident, because it is the responsibility of the trucking business to recruit competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible in the accident, it could be held accountable to you for both economic and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are common and can result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety of settings like an intersection or stop signal when the trucker fails to look behind them for oncoming traffic. They can also occur when a car comes in front of the truck, which forces the driver to use their brakes without warning. The trucker could then smash the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove fault in rear-end crashes, as it's not always clear what vehicle caused the accident. A skilled attorney can help gather evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the crash due to following too closely or driving with a distraction. This could include evidence like photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony and skid marks on the roadway.
The driver in the front of the car could be held accountable for the accident. This can happen when they cut off someone else, fail to use their turn signal as a reasonable person would, or hit on the brakes at the very last minute which causes the driver in the back to crash into the vehicle directly in the front. This kind of situation is where modified comparative negligence laws be used, in which the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party, and damages are reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault.
Bruises and Lacerations
In a rear-end crash, the rear end of the vehicle is the area that receives the most impact. This means that passengers are at risk of serious injuries if they strike their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the interior of the car. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it are often severe. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that regulate the body, therefore any damage to the spinal column can cause significant and permanent issues for the victims.
A person who is the victim of a serious accident might also suffer psychological and emotional trauma. They might have trouble sleeping or concentrating, which can result in anxiety and depression. They could also be facing financial hardship and stress when they cannot work because of an injury. An attorney can look into all possible sources of liability and assist the victim in seeking fair compensation for their loss.
The trailer hitches are faulty.
It doesn't matter if you're driving either a car, van, a truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles must to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it could cause a catastrophic accident that could result in serious injuries or death. If you have been injured in a vehicle accident caused by a runaway truck get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is skilled in cases involving the failure of a hitch to discuss your legal options.
A defective trailer hitch could be caused by many different things, from improper security to design flaws. It could be the result of a manufacturer's defect and in that case, product liability laws may apply. The person or company at fault for a faulty trailer could be held accountable for medical bills of victims as well as auto repair costs and other damages resulting from the incident.
For example in a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road referred to locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came out of the truck, and was thrown directly into two cars in front of it. The initial investigation attributed the accident to the truck driver's lapse in inspect and secure the hitch. In June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason for the crash.
The trailer slammed into the side of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was numerous deaths and serious injuries to the drivers.
The driver of the truck that was involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. However, experts believe he could have prevented the collision with other vehicles if he had conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were tight. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These kinds of incidents are usually high-speed and can easily sidewipe motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In these cases the trailer can distort the car's frame and cause sharp metal fragments to entrap passengers.