9 Signs That You re An Expert Semi Truck Lawsuit Expert
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A serious injury resulting from an accident with semi truck accident lawsuits-trucks can cost a person with medical costs. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following a collision, it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A qualified lawyer will assist you in proving your case with evidence like police reports and surveillance footage, among others.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In many cases trucking firms and owners-operators do not take proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good working condition. This negligence results in an increase in the number of preventable accidents each year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars due to their larger size and heavier weight. Unfortunately, the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits often takes precedence over maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks can be susceptible to mechanical problems that can result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on trucks are of particular importance since they have to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. If the brake pads of a truck, lines or return springs fail they could result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is essential that these parts are regularly checked and replaced as necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
Tires that aren't well maintained can also contribute to truck accidents. Tires that are worn-out could lose traction, causing the truck to rollover or slide. If a tire is damaged in any way, such as having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it could fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks need regular inspections to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. If an inspection is conducted improperly or the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's guidelines, it can cause an accident. In these instances, the company that hired or supervising the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
Poorly functioning lights, signals and reflectors are also a frequent cause of truck accident. These components must function properly so that drivers can see and anticipate the truck's movements especially in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies may neglect to inspect and maintain these items or the driver may not be able to complete daily safety inspections.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer will examine your case to identify who might be accountable for your damages when you've been injured in an accident caused by a faulty maintenance of a commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence of negligence by the defendant and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and could cause much greater injuries when they are involved in a collision. Distracted driving is among the many factors that contribute to accidents. A truck driver who is distracted might lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see an issue on the road, which can lead to severe and life-changing injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting and using mobile phones while driving. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they may be distracted and cause an accident. This could be due to mechanical distractions like taking your hand off the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but they are not aware that other activities, like eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers are also considered to be distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they could wander off into another lane, or not be able to see an obstruction in front of them. When a truck driver's eye is diverted, it will only take a split-second for a large vehicle to crash into a passenger car.
When a truck collision occurs due to distracted drivers It is essential to capture photos of the scene of collision and note down the name and contact details of any witnesses. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the business that they work for, and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This could impact who is liable for your incident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partly responsible for your accident, it may be held accountable to you for financial and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are not uncommon and can cause serious injuries. These accidents can occur in many different situations like at the stop sign or red light, when the trucker doesn't check behind him for any traffic that is coming up. They may also occur when a car cuts in front of the truck, which forces the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker may then crash into the car from behind.
It can be hard to prove fault in the event of rear-end collisions as it isn't always clear who was at fault. A skilled attorney can help collect evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the accident due to following too closely or driving distracted. This can include evidence like photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the roadway.
The driver in the front of the car could also be accountable for the collision. This could happen if they cut off someone else or fail to obey their turn signal in the manner that a reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes at the last minute which causes the driver in the back to crash into the car directly in the front of them. This kind of situation is where modified comparative negligence laws can come into play, where the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party, and damages are reduced accordingly.
Lacerations & Bruises
The rear-end of the car experiences the most impact in a rear-end collision so occupants are more likely to suffer serious injuries when they hit their head against the dashboard or the back window. They can also suffer broken bones as they are scattered around the interior of the car as a result of the force of the crash. The severity of spinal injuries can be devastating. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that control the body. Therefore, any damage to the spinal cord could cause serious and lasting issues for the victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, the victim might also suffer from psychological and emotional traumas as a result of having been involved in a terrible crash. They may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating, which can result in anxiety and depression. They may also face stress and financial strain if they are unable work because of an injury. An attorney can examine all possible sources of liability and help the victim seek fair compensation for their loss.
Faulty trailer hitches
All vehicles, regardless of whether they are a car or a truck, van flatbed, van are required to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause a catastrophic accident that could cause serious injuries or death. If you've been injured in an accident that involved a runaway trailer, contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney that specializes in cases of failure of the hitch immediately to discuss your legal options.
A malfunctioning trailer hitch may result from a variety things, from improper security to design flaws. It could also be due to an error by the manufacturer or a manufacturing defect, in which case the products liability laws could apply. The company or individual responsible for a trailer's defect could be held responsible for the victims' medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
For instance the fatal crash that was reported in January 2014 on an Ohio road referred to locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came loose from the truck and slid through the air into two cars that were behind it. Initial investigations linked the incident to the truck driver's carelessness for failing to inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a flaw in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
The trailer struck the side of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was numerous fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.
The driver of the truck that was involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, but experts believe he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles if he had performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were tight. Incorrect trailer hitches can lead to major disasters. These incidents are often high-speed, and they can easily cause a collision with motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In these instances the trailer could distort the frame of a vehicle and force sharp metal pieces to crush passengers inside.