Are You Responsible For An 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers Budget? 12 Top Notch Ways To Spend Your Money
What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
18 wheeler law deals with accidents involving commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These massive vehicles are subject to strict federal guidelines regarding maintenance, safety, and training.
Trucking companies often require their drivers to work longer and manipulate logbooks. This can lead to devastating trucking crashes.
Weight Regulations
It is important to understand the weight limitations of semi trucks. Many states have single axle and group axle weight limits which must be observed. Weigh stations are prevalent along interstates, and truckers are weighed to ensure they do not exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is found in violation of these limits, they could be fined or even imprisoned depending on their criminal history and the state.
Axle groups have a higher limit of weight since the vehicle is more secure when the weight is distributed across more axles. This also permits the transportation of more cargo. A single tire on an wheel can only weigh up to 650 pounds per inch, but when two tires are mounted on the same axle, they can be weighed to 1300 pounds.
There are restrictions on the kind of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while others allow twin or triple trailers. In addition, some states require five wheels on the trailer which is a circular plate over the drive wheels that joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cabtractors as well as sleeper cabs which include an area for sleeping inside the tractor unit. They are made for over the road hauling.
Lane Restrictions
In addition to restrictions on lane usage truck drivers must be aware of speed limits as well as traffic lights. Trucks are not allowed to drive at the same speeds as passenger vehicles. If they do, accidents could occur. In many cases, it is the driver of the truck that is the one to blame. This is due to the fact that truck drivers can drive longer than the limit, break hours-of-service rules, or get sleepy or distracted behind the driving.
Another important lane restriction is that truck drivers are not permitted to drive in the left or right. Trucks brake more slowly than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This can be a serious issue, especially for those in cars that are smaller and could be stranded behind a truck when it suddenly stops or slows down.
Some states specifically exempt big trucks and block them from using the left lane, and others only restrict the use of the lane only in specific circumstances. In some cases, these laws are determined by weight and axel limits, whereas in others they may be based on vehicle descriptions or directions.
Even if there isn't a statewide regulation on lane limits, you should still check the local rules and follow the rules. Also, you should move to the right side if you see trucks in the passing lane to ensure that it does not block faster cars from passing you.
Ownership
The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have an abundance of resources to employ to pressure accident victims to accept less than what they are entitled to. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers, engineers, and experts who work for their clients even before they know whether the victim of an accident will pursue legal recourse.
Because they are able to carry enormous loads and are much bigger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers can cause severe injuries and massive property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is particularly so when they collide with motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an attorney with experience fighting for your rights against these massive, powerful corporations.
Large-scale accidents require a thorough understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology and trucking regulations from the federal government and medical practices, driving regulations and other related areas. Our lawyers can identify any violations of these laws and present to the jury the circumstances that caused your accident.
18-wheeler truck crashes are typically caused by the careless or reckless acts of a number of parties. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties accountable and ensure that they are responsible for your present and future expenses. This includes owners of trucking companies, trucking companies and maintenance contractors, and even drivers themselves. Our team will also examine weather conditions that could have contributed to your accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies are able to deploy large teams of lawyers, adjusters engineers, experts, and adjusters quickly. They start this process even before they are aware of whether you will seek legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who can match their resources and reducing them in size.
An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer will alleviate the burden of dealing with these corporations off your hands and concentrate on getting you the compensation you deserve. The money could be used to pay medical costs, vehicle damage loss of income due to missed work, and other non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
18 wheelers are a complex vehicle and require high-level, systematic maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to maintain detailed records and to perform maintenance can lead to catastrophic accidents.
Tractor-trailers often carry hazardous material, which requires special training and special licensing for transport. 18 wheeler accident law firm sugar land may be explosive or flammable or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a significant risk to other drivers traveling on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could cause a devastating accident.
A skilled 18-wheeler crash lawyer can pinpoint the exact causes and blame any other parties who are responsible. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company or the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is known as vicarious liability.