9 . What Your Parents Taught You About 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers

What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law covers accidents which involve commercial truck drivers as well as their rigs. These huge vehicles must adhere to strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies frequently pressure their drivers to work longer hours and manipulate log books. This can result in catastrophic trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits for semi trucks is vital. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are determined by the majority of states. Weigh stations are commonplace along interstates, where truckers are weighed to ensure they do not exceed the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is caught violating these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined and even sentenced to jail according to their criminal record and the state.

Axle groups are able to have a higher limit as distributing the weight over a wider range of axles increases the safety of the vehicle and allows more cargo to be transported. For instance, a single tire on an axle can only weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter, but when there are 2 tires on the same axle, it could be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.

There are restrictions on the kind of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states allow only one trailer, while others only permit twin or triple trailers. Some states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer that is a plate that sits above the drive wheels and joins (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors and sleeper cabs that incorporate a sleeping area inside the tractor unit. They are made for over the road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to restrictions on lane usage truck drivers also must comply with speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks aren't able to travel at the same speed as cars and, should they do, they might cause accidents. In many instances the driver of the truck is at fault in these accidents. This is due to truck drivers being able to drive longer than the limit or violate the hours-of-service regulations, or become tired or distracted behind the steering wheel.

Truck drivers are also forbidden from driving in the left the lane. This is because trucks take longer trucks to brake than passenger vehicles. This can be a dangerous issue, especially for those with smaller cars who could be stuck behind a truck if it slows or stops suddenly.

Some states limit the use of lanes in specific circumstances, while some states limit the use of lanes for large trucks. In some instances these laws are based on weight and axel limits, while in others, they may be based on the description of the vehicle or directions.

Although there's no statewide law on lane restrictions, you should still be aware of local rules and abide by them. You should also move over to the right if you see trucks passing in the lane in order to not hinder cars passing you.

Ownership

Companies operating 18 wheelers and trucking have a wealth of resources at their disposal to force accident victims to accept a lesser amount than they should. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who represent them before they know whether the accident victim will pursue legal action.

In the event of an accident 18 wheeler accident lawyers-wheelers are frequently responsible for severe injuries and property damage because they carry such hefty loads and are so large compared to passenger vehicles. This is particularly the case when they are involved in collisions with other motor vehicles. It is essential to have an experienced lawyers fight for your rights and recover against these massive, powerful corporations.

Accidents involving large vehicles require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, federal regulations for trucking and medicine, driving standards and many other related areas. Our lawyers have the knowledge to identify violations of these laws and demonstrate to the jury the circumstances that led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents are usually caused by the negligence or reckless actions of several parties. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties at fault and ensure that they are held accountable for your present and future costs. This includes trucking companies, owners, maintenance contractors, and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also analyze weather conditions that could have contributed to your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies can send large teams of adjusters, lawyers, engineers and experts quickly. They start this process even before they know if you will seek legal recourse. That's why it's so important to immediately retain a capable attorney who can match their resources and bring them down to size.

An attorney who has expertise in handling 18-wheeler accidents can ease the burden and assist you in getting the compensation you deserve. This money can cover costs such as high medical bills car damage, lost wages due to missing work, and other damages such as pain and suffering.

18-wheelers are highly complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Inability to maintain this maintenance and maintain accurate records can result in disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers often are used for transporting hazardous materials, which require special training and licensing. These materials may be explosive or flammable or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a serious danger to other drivers on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could cause a devastating accident.

A trained 18 wheeler accident lawsuit wheeler crash lawyer can determine the precise causes of your accident and hold accountable any other parties who may be responsible. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company as well as the owner of the trailer, as well as the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is known as vicarious liability.