20 Fun Infographics About Semi Truck Lawsuit
semi truck accident attorneys Truck Accident Law
A semi truck accident law firm-truck accident can cause a serious injury that can cost a person a lot in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
It is essential to have a qualified New York truck accident lawyer by your side after a crash. A qualified attorney will assist you in proving your case using evidence such as police reports and surveillance footage.
Vehicles that are poorly maintained
Owner-operators and trucking companies often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This negligence leads to many accidents that could have been avoided every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their dimensions and larger weight. Unfortunately keeping deadlines and increasing profits often take precedence over the maintenance of a fleet. In the end, trucks can become prone to mechanical problems that can could cause devastating accidents.
The brakes of trucks are crucial as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck wear out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is crucial to have these parts regularly checked and replaced as necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
A poorly maintained tire can also be a major reason for truck accidents. Worn tires can lose traction, which causes the truck to skid or even flip over. If a tire is damaged in some way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it could fail catastrophically.
Trucks require regular inspections in addition to regular maintenance to identify mechanical issues before they lead to an accident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or if the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's recommendations, it can cause a crash. In such cases, the company that hired or supervised the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
Incorrect lights, signals and reflectors are another common reason for truck accidents. These items must function properly in order for drivers to be able to detect and anticipate the movements of the truck particularly in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers may fail to maintain and check these components, or they might not conduct regular safety inspections.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who is responsible for your losses if you were injured in an accident caused by a faulty maintenance of a commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence to prove the defendant's negligence in the accident and assist you get the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be devastating. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and could cause more injuries when they are involved in an accident. Distracted driving is one of many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted might lose control of their vehicle or fail to spot an accident on the road, which can lead to life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting or using cell phones while driving. However, even when truckers adhere to the rules, they can still become distracted and cause crash. This is often caused by manual distractions like not having your hands on the steering wheel or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
Although most people know that it's dangerous to text while driving, a few realize that other activities such as eating, changing the radio station or even talking to passengers can be deemed as distracting. When a truck driver gets distracted, they may wander off into a different lane or fail to see a traffic jam in front of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a large truck to hit a passenger vehicle when the driver's attention wanders.
It is crucial to gather details on any witnesses and also take pictures of the accident scene when a distracted driver causes the truck to crash. It is crucial to know the name of the driver, the business for which they work and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This could impact who is accountable for your accident since the trucking company is responsible for securing skilled and competent truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found partially responsible for the accident, it could be liable to you for financial and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can happen in a variety of situations such as the stop sign or red light, when the trucker doesn't check ahead for traffic coming in. It can also happen if an automobile crosses the truck's path, causing the driver of the truck to stop abruptly without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove fault in rear-end collisions, since it is not always obvious which vehicle was responsible for the crash. However, an experienced attorney can help gather evidence that proves that the driver behind caused the crash due to following too closely or driving distracted. The evidence can include photographs or police reports, eyewitness testimony as well as skid marks in the road.
The driver in the front of the car could also be held responsible for the incident. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to utilize their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes at the last moment, causing the driver in the back to crash into the car directly in the front of them. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws can be used, in which the jury assigns a percentage to each party, and damages are reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault.
Lacerations and Bruises
The rear of the vehicle has the greatest impact in a rear-end crash, so occupants are more likely to suffer serious injuries as they smash their head against the back window or dashboard. They could also break bones due to being thrown around the interior of the vehicle by the force of the collision. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it can be severe. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that control the body. Therefore, any injury to the spinal column may cause significant and permanent issues for the victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, victims may also experience emotional and psychological trauma from being involved in a devastating crash. They may have trouble sleeping or concentrating, which may result in anxiety and depression. They could also be facing financial hardship and stress when they cannot work due to an injury. An attorney can look into potential sources of liability to assist the victim to receive fair compensation for their loss.
A problem with trailer hitches
All vehicles, regardless of whether they're a car or a truck, van, flatbed, or van should be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally removing a trailer's hitch can result in catastrophic accidents that lead to serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a semi truck accident that has run away get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is skilled in cases involving the failure of a hitch to discuss your legal options.
A malfunctioning trailer hitch may be the result of a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate securement to a defective design. It could be the result of a manufacturer's defect, in which case lawful product liability may apply. The person or company at the fault for a trailer that is defective could be held accountable for medical bills of victims, auto repair costs, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
In a fatal crash on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 an unattached trailer was spotted on the truck. It crashed into two cars directly behind it. The initial investigation attributed the accident to the driver's lapse in inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
Due to the hitch that was defective due to the hitch's failure, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles, before colliding into them head-on. The result was numerous fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers.
The driver of the truck involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. However, experts say he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles had he performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were secure. The failure of trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These types of accidents are typically high-speed, and they can easily cause a collision with motorbikes or small cars. In such cases, the trailer can distort a car's frame and force sharp metal pieces to impale passengers inside.