20 Resources That Will Make You More Effective At 18-Wheeler Wreck Lawyer

Is an 18 wheeler accident attorneys Wheeler Legal?

Numerous car accidents occur and can result in physical and medical expenses and time away from work. If an 18-wheeler is involved it can be even more dangerous.

Victims may make a claim for financial compensation if this happens. This is where a New Orleans truck accident attorney can be of assistance.

Weight Limits

18 wheeler accident lawsuits-wheelers are restricted to carrying a maximum of 80,000 pounds including the volume and weight of cargo. This is a strict restriction that requires trucking companies to load their vehicles to the max and could lead to overloaded. Drivers who exceed the limit could be fined, and the fines vary depending on the location they reside in.

If you take a look at the lights of an 18-wheeler, you can usually tell whether they're exceeding the speed limit. If their blinkers flash just once, it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and multiple flashes aren't. Truck drivers also use their lights to communicate, so keep an an eye out for them when merging.

Always leave a good distance between your vehicle and an 18-wheeler. This is especially important when you are passing. Trucks require plenty room to slow down and stop when they stop, and if you cut them off this could result in a fatal crash. Car drivers are the cause of 72 percent of crashes involving vehicles and trucks.

Number of Axles

As opposed to cars, semi-trucks have multiple axles to turn the wheels. A typical truck has four wheels, including the drive and steer axles. Trailers typically have two tandem axles. This can make them much longer than a typical passenger vehicle and it's important to keep this in mind when driving in the vicinity of one of these vehicles.

Axle weight limitations are based on a variety of factors, like the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits set by each state for single axles as well as axle groups. State limits can be higher than federal limits, so it is essential for truckers and drivers to be aware of prior to travel.

The task of transporting freight is enough to be difficult, but adding extra weight can increase the risk of an accident. A trucker who overloaded his trailer is in violation of the law and could be held liable for any injuries that result. A truck accident lawyer can determine if the operator of an 18-wheeler was at fault and the cause of the accident in case you were injured.

Speed Limits

Speeding is a major cause of truck accidents, which every driver knows. This is particularly relevant for big trucks due to their weight, size and weight. Truckers must therefore observe speed limits on all roads they travel.

However truck drivers are often under pressure to deliver quick deliveries and may not be able to slow down enough to accommodate the conditions. This could cause drivers to take risks when driving, which could be deadly for other drivers.

It is, however, possible to reduce the risk of these accidents by using speed limiters. This is a device that will automatically restrict the speed of a truck to a safe amount and can be used in a variety of trucks.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is looking at a new rule that would require truckers to make use of these devices. The agency has issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit feedback on the proposed rule. Previous proposals have talked about limiting truck speeds to 60 or 65, or even up to 68 speeds.

Insurance

The majority of private vehicle owners purchase one insurance policy to cover their personal vehicles. Truckers on the other hand do not own the vehicles they drive. They rent their 18-wheelers instead from a trucking company. Because of the higher risk of commercial vehicles, trucking companies generally require higher liability insurance limits. They can also purchase cargo insurance and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance safeguards the cargo that semi-trucks are hauling. Bobtail insurance protects the truck once it has delivered its cargo. In the event of a wreck such policies can assist to compensate grieving victims or family members for their losses.

Maintenance

It is often difficult to obtain an accurate estimation of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. They are costly to maintain and repair, particularly when major repairs are required. However some trucking firms offer maintenance schedules that give an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle.

Trucks have ten brakes instead of eighteen, and anti-lock brakes are now standard on new trucks. The trucks take about 40% longer to stop than cars. This is due to the massive dimension and speed of an 18-wheeler.

The term "eighteen wheeler" has become synonymous with trucking and is even used in country music songs, such as the Red Sovine titles "Giddyup Go" and "Teddy Bear" and thrash metal band BigRig's track "Roll on". However, it's important to keep in mind that these trucks are not home on the road and they must follow the same rules as all other drivers. For instance, it's illegal for truck drivers to text while driving since the smallest moment of distraction could have fatal consequences.