10 Things Everybody Hates About 18-Wheeler Wreck Lawyer

Is an 18 wheeler accident Lawsuit Wheeler Legal?

Many car accidents happen and result in medical bills, physical damage and time lost from work. If an 18 wheeler accident lawsuits-wheeler vehicle is involved, the consequences could be more serious.

If this happens, the victims can file a claim to receive financial compensation. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can help.

Weight Limits

18-wheelers can carry an maximum of 80,000 lbs including the volume and weight of cargo. This is a tight restriction that requires trucking companies to pack their vehicles as full as possible and may result in overloaded. If a truck driver is in excess of this limit, they could face fines, which vary according to the location.

You can generally tell if an 18 wheeler is going over the limit by observing their lights. A single flash of their blinkers signifies that it's safe to merge in ahead of them, whereas flashes that are high or multiple mean that it's not. Truck drivers also use their lights to communicate, so keep on the lookout for them when merging.

It is important to leave plenty of space between your vehicle and an 18 wheeler especially when you are passing. Trucks require plenty of room to slow down and stop and if you cut them off this could result in a deadly crash. Although truck drivers are often seen as bullies on the road 72% of crashes between cars and trucks are caused by car drivers.

Number of Axles

Semi-trucks, like cars, require multiple axles in order to rotate the wheels. A typical semi-truck has four wheels, including the drive and steer axles. Trailers typically come with two tandem axles. It's important to keep in mind that these vehicles are longer than a typical passenger car.

The limits on axle weights are determined by a variety of factors which include the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and axle group legal limit set by each state. The limit for each state can be higher than the Federal limit that is why it is vital for truckers and drivers to know the state and federal limits on axle weight prior to travel.

The challenge of hauling freight isn't difficult enough however, adding more weight increases the likelihood of an accident. A trucker who overloads his truck is in violation of law and could be held responsible for any injuries resulting from. A truck accident lawyer can determine whether the driver of an 18-wheeler was at fault and the cause of the accident if you were injured.

Speed Limits

Every driver knows that speeding is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. This is particularly the case for larger trucks, which are more likely to crash due to their size and weight. Truckers should therefore adhere to the speed limits on every road they travel on.

However truck drivers are frequently under pressure to deliver quick deliveries and may not be able slow down enough to meet the conditions. This can result in dangerous driving, and it can cause harm to other motorists.

Fortunately, it is possible to lower the chance of accidents by using speed limiters. This is a device which will automatically limit the speed of a vehicle to a safe amount that can be installed in various types of trucks.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is currently evaluating an amendment to the rulebook that would require truckers to utilize these devices. The agency has issued a second notice of proposed rulemaking in order to gather feedback on the proposed rule. Previous proposals have discussed limit truck speeds to 60 or 65 mph, or even 68 speeds.

Insurance

The majority of private owners buy one insurance policy that covers all their vehicles. Truckers however don't own the truck they drive. Instead, they rent their 18-wheelers from a trucking company. Because of the heightened perils that come with commercial vehicles, trucking companies generally require higher liability insurance limits. Additionally, they may purchase bobtail and cargo insurance for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that a semi transports and bobtail insurance protects the truck after it has delivered its load. In the event of a collision such policies can assist to compensate grieving family members for their losses.

Maintenance

It's difficult to come up with an accurate estimate of the maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. The maintenance costs for trucks are high and repair, particularly when major repairs are needed. Some trucking companies provide maintenance schedules that estimate the cost of maintaining a vehicle.

The majority of trucks have 10 brakes, not 18, and anti-lock brakes are the norm in newer trucks. In general, trucks take 40 percent longer than a normal car to stop. This is due to the huge dimension and speed of an 18-wheeler.

The term "eighteen wheeler" has become synonymous with trucking and is even used in country music songs like the Red Sovine titles "Giddyup Go" and "Teddy Bear" and thrash metal band BigRig's track "Roll on". However, it is important to keep in mind that these vehicles aren't home on the road and they must obey the same rules as other drivers. It is against the law for truckers, for instance to use their mobile phones while driving. A split second of negligence could result in disastrous consequences.