A Vibrant Rant About 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers
What Is 18 wheeler accident attorneys Wheeler Law?
Accidents caused by commercial truck drivers their rigs and 18 wheelers are covered by the 18 wheeler law. These massive vehicles must comply with strict federal guidelines for maintenance safety, training, and maintenance.
Unfortunately, trucking companies frequently pressure their drivers to work longer hours and alter log books. This can lead to devastating trucking crashes.
Weight Regulations
Knowing the weight limits for semi trucks is essential. The majority of states have single axle and group axle limits on weight that must be adhered to. It is not uncommon to find weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed to verify that they do not exceed maximum weight limit for their vehicle and load. If a trucker is caught breaking these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined or even imprisoned subject to their criminal history and the state.
Axle groups have a higher limit because distributing the weight over a wider range of axles makes the vehicle safer and allows for more cargo to be transported. For instance a single tire mounted on an axle can be weighed at 650lbs per inch of wheel's diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle it can be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.
There are also restrictions on the type of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while other states allow twin or triple trailers. In addition, many states require fifth wheels on the trailer, which is a rounded plate on top of the drive wheels, which connects (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cabtractors as well as sleeper cabs, which incorporate sleeping areas inside the tractor unit. They are made for over-the-road hauling.
Lane Restrictions
In addition to lane restrictions truck drivers must follow speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks cannot drive at the same speeds as passenger vehicles. If they do, accidents can occur. In many instances the truck driver is the culprit in these accidents. Truck drivers might be driving longer than they are allowed to, violating hours-of-service rules or simply being asleep or distracted behind the steering wheel.
Truck drivers are also banned from driving in the left the lane. This is because trucks take a lot longer trucks to brake than cars. This could be a risky problem, especially for people who drive smaller vehicles and may be stuck behind a truck if it slows or stops abruptly.
Certain states prohibit the use of lane lanes in certain circumstances, and some restrict it for large trucks. In certain cases, these laws are determined by weight and axel limits, whereas in other they may be based on vehicle description or directions.
Even if there's no statewide regulation on lane limits, you should still be aware of local rules and follow the rules. You should also shift to the left when you see a truck blocking the passing lane.
Ownership
Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have huge resources at their disposal to force victims of accidents into accepting far less than what they are entitled to. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and even engineers who advocate for their clients even before they know if the victim of an accident will pursue legal recourse.
Due to their massive load and are much bigger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers frequently cause a lot of injuries and huge property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is particularly true when these trucks collide with other motor vehicles. It is important to have a seasoned attorney defend your rights and recoveries against these powerful, massive corporations.
Large truck accidents require an understanding of complicated concepts from the fields of biology, chemistry and physics and federal trucking regulations, medical regulations, and driving rules. Our lawyers have the knowledge to discover violations of these laws and demonstrate to the jury how they contributed to your accident.
18-wheeler truck accidents are usually caused by the careless or reckless actions of multiple parties. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure they are paid their fair share of your current and expected expenses. This includes trucking firms, owners, maintenance contractors, and even drivers themselves. Our team will also look into the weather conditions that could have played a part in your accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies can deploy large teams of lawyers, adjusters engineers, experts, and adjusters quickly. They start this process before they even know whether you will to seek legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who is capable of matching their resources and reducing them in size.
An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer will relieve the burden of dealing with these corporations off your shoulders and concentrate on securing the compensation you are entitled to. This money can cover costs such as high medical bills and vehicle damage, as well as lost wages due to missing work, and non-economic damages like suffering and pain.
18 wheelers are highly complex vehicles that require high-end, consistent maintenance to keep them safe on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and maintain accurate logs can lead to disastrous accidents.
Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials that requires specialized training and specialized certification to transport. They can be explosive or flammable or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a risk to other drivers on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also cause a devastating accident.
A reputable 18 wheeler crash lawyer can determine the precise cause of your crash and liable for any party who are responsible. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company or the owner of the trailer as well as the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is called vicarious liability.