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What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
18 wheeler accident law firm wheeler law regulates accidents with commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These massive vehicles are subject to federal regulations regarding maintenance, safety, and training.
Unfortunately, trucking companies often press their drivers to complete longer hours and alter log books. This can result in catastrophic trucking accidents.
Weight Regulations
It is essential to be aware of the weight limits for semi trucks. Many states have single axle and group axle limits on weight that must be adhered to. It is typical to see weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed in order to ensure that they do not exceed the maximum weight limit for their vehicle and load. If a trucker is caught violating these limits, they could be fined or even imprisoned subject to their criminal history and the state.
Axle groups are granted an increased limit because spreading the weight over more axles increases the safety of the vehicle and allows more cargo to be carried. For example, a single tire on an axle is able to weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle, it could be weighed at 1300 pounds per tire.
There are limitations on the kinds of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while other states allow twin or triple trailers. Furthermore, many states require the fifth wheel to be installed on the trailer. It is a round plate above the drive wheels which joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cab tractors and sleeper cabs that incorporate sleeping areas inside the tractor unit. They are made to haul over the road.
Lane Restrictions
Truck drivers must adhere to traffic signals and speed limits in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks cannot drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles and if they do, they might cause accidents. In many instances, it is the driver of the truck who is responsible. This is due to truck drivers being able to drive for longer than allowed or violate the hours-of-service regulations, or get sleepy or distracted behind the wheel.
Another important restriction on lane use is that truck drivers aren’t permitted to drive in the left side of the lane. Trucks brake much slower than passenger cars. This can be a very risky situation, particularly for smaller vehicles that could be stuck behind trucks if they suddenly slow down or stop.
Certain states specifically exclude large trucks and restrict them from using the left lane. However, others limit the use of the lane under specific circumstances. These laws may be based either on weight or axel limits. In other situations they could be based solely on vehicle description.
Although there’s no statewide law on lane restrictions, you should still check the local rules and abide by the rules. You should also shift to the right if you see a truck in the pass lane to ensure that it does not hinder faster cars from passing you.
Ownership
The trucking and 18 wheeler accident law firm-wheeler businesses have an abundance of resources to employ to pressure victims of accidents to accept less than what they’re entitled to. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and even engineers who advocate on their behalf, even before they know whether an accident victim will seek legal remedy.
In the event of an accident 18-wheelers are frequently responsible for severe injuries and property damage due to the fact that they carry such heavy loads and are huge relative to passenger vehicles. This is especially so when they collide with motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an a skilled attorney fight for your rights and recoveries against these powerful, large corporations.
Accidents involving large vehicles require an understanding of the most complex concepts in the fields of physics and biology, chemistry and trucking regulations from the federal government as well as medical standards, driving and related fields. Our attorneys are able to identify any violations of these laws and explain to the jury what caused your accident.
18-wheeler truck crashes are typically caused by the negligent or reckless actions of a variety of parties. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties accountable and ensure that they pay their fair share for your present and future expenses. This includes owners of trucking companies, trucking companies as well as maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also look into the weather conditions that could have contributed to your accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies have a wealth of resources available and can quickly deploy teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and even engineers to create a defense against accident victims. They start this process before they even know if you intend to pursue legal recourse. This is why it is so important to immediately retain an experienced attorney who will match their resources and bring them down to size.
A lawyer with experience handling 18-wheeler collisions can relieve you of the burden and help you obtain the compensation you’re entitled to. This can be used to cover expenses such as medical bills that are costly and vehicle damage, as well as the loss of earnings due to a lack of work, and also non-economic damages like suffering and pain.
18 wheelers are highly complex vehicles and require high-end, systematic maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and maintain accurate logs can lead to devastating accidents.
Tractor-trailers frequently carry hazardous materials that requires specialized training and specialized licenses to transport. The material is explosive, flammable, or poisonous, and all of these could pose a significant risk for other drivers on American roads. In the absence of proper labeling and secure the load could result in a catastrophic accident.
A competent 18-wheeler accident attorney can pinpoint the exact cause and blame any parties that may be accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking firm, the owner or the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is known as vicarious liability.