How Do You Explain 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers To A 5-Year-Old
What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
18 wheeler law covers accidents with commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These huge vehicles are subject to strict federal guidelines regarding maintenance, safety, and training.
Companies that transport trucks often force their drivers to work for longer and manipulate logbooks. This can cause catastrophic trucking accidents.
Weight Regulations
Understanding the weight limits of semi trucks is essential. Many states have single axle and group axle weight limits which must be adhered to. It is typical to see weigh stations along interstates, where truck drivers are weighed to confirm that they do not exceed maximum weight limits for their vehicle and load. If a trucker is found breaking these limits and is fined, they could be penalized and even sent to jail according to their criminal record and the state.
Axle groups have a greater limit of weight since the vehicle is more secure when the weight is spread across more axles. This also permits the transport of more cargo. A single tire on a wheel is only weighed up to 650 pounds per inch, however, when two tires are on the same axle, it can be weighed as high as 1300 pounds.
There are also restrictions on the type of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, while others allow twin or triple trailers. In addition, many states require the fifth wheel to be installed on the trailer. It is a circular plate over the drive wheels which joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs that incorporate a sleeping area inside the tractor unit. They are made to haul over the road.
Lane Restrictions
In addition to restrictions on lane usage truck drivers must comply with speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks cannot drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles and, if they do, they could cause accidents. In a lot of cases, it's the driver of the truck that is the one to blame. Truck drivers could be driving longer than they are allowed to, violating hours-of-service rules or be distracted or asleep behind the steering wheel.
Truck drivers are also banned from driving in the left side of the road. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This could be a dangerous situation, particularly for smaller cars that may be stranded behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.
Some states restrict the use of lanes in certain circumstances, while others restrict the use of lanes for large trucks. In some cases these laws are determined by weight and axel limits, while in other, they may be based upon vehicle description or direction signs.
Even if there's no state-wide law regarding lane restrictions you must still review the local rules and follow the rules. 18 wheeler accident lawyer riverside is also recommended to move to the right when you notice trucks blocking the lane.
Ownership
The 18 wheeler and trucking companies have a wealth of resources to pressure victims of accidents into accepting less than they deserve. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and lawyers working for their clients even before they know whether the victim of an accident will seek legal remedy.
In the event of an accident, 18-wheelers are often responsible for a plethora of injuries and property damage because they carry such heavy load and are so massive when compared to passenger cars. This is especially so when they are involved in collisions with other motor vehicles. It is important to have a seasoned 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, chemistry, biology, federal regulations for trucking, medicine, driving standards and related fields. Our lawyers have the experience to find violations of these laws and explain to the jury the circumstances that led to your accident.
18-wheeler truck accidents are often caused by the negligence or reckless acts of a number of parties. Our NY attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure they are liable for their fair portion of your current and expected expenses. This includes owners of trucking companies, trucking companies, maintenance contractors, and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that could have played a part in your accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies have vast resources at their disposal and can swiftly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and even engineers to help defend accident victims. They start this process before they even know whether you are going to seek legal recourse. It is crucial to hire an attorney who can match their resources and reducing them in size.
An attorney who has experience in handling 18-wheeler crashes can ease the burden and help you receive the compensation you're due. The money will cover costs such as high medical bills or vehicle damage, lost wages due to missing work, and non-economic injuries like pain and suffering.
18 wheelers are a complex vehicle and require high-end, systematic maintenance to keep them safe on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and keep detailed logs can lead to tragic accidents.
Tractor-trailers often are used to transport hazardous materials which require specialized training and a license. These materials could be flammable or explosive or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a significant risk to other motorists on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could result in a fatal accident.
A qualified 18 wheeler crash lawyer will determine the exact cause of your crash and hold liable any parties who could be accountable. These could include the truck driver as well as the trucking company, the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.