What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
18 wheeler law protects against accidents that involve commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These huge vehicles are subject to federal regulations regarding maintenance, safety, and training.
Unfortunately, trucking companies frequently press their drivers to complete longer hours and alter log books. This can lead to catastrophic trucking crashes.
Weight Regulations
It is crucial to know the weight limits for semi-trucks. The majority of states have single axle and group axle weight limits which must be adhered to. It is commonplace to see weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed in order to verify that they do not exceed the maximum weight limit for their vehicle and load. If a trucker is found in violation of these limits and is fined, they could be penalized and even put in jail according to their criminal record and the state.
Axle groups are able to have an increased limit because spreading the weight across more axles increases the safety of the vehicle and allows for more cargo to be transported. A single tire on a wheel can only be weighed up to 665 pounds per inch but when two tires are on the same axle, they could be weighed up to 1300 pounds.
There are also limitations on the types of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states allow only one trailer, while other states permit triple or twin trailers. In addition, some states require fifth wheels on the trailer which is a round plate above the drive wheels that couples (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Day cab tractor models as well as sleeper cabs are available. They all have a sleeping space in the tractor unit.
Lane Restrictions
Truck drivers must obey traffic signals and speed limits in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks cannot drive at the same speed as cars used by passengers. If they do, accidents are likely to occur. In most cases the truck driver is at fault in these accidents. Truck drivers could be driving for longer than they are entitled to, ignoring the hours-of-service regulations or be asleep or distracted behind the wheel.
Another important restriction on lane usage is that truck drivers aren’t allowed to drive in the left side of the lane. Trucks brake much slower than passenger cars. This could be a risky issue, especially for those who drive smaller vehicles and may be stuck behind a truck when it suddenly stops or slows down.
Certain states specifically exclude large trucks and restrict them from using the left lane, and others limit the use of the lane under certain circumstances. These laws could be based either on the weight of the vehicle 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 adhere to the rules. You should also shift to the left if you spot trucks in the passing lane to ensure that it does not hinder faster cars from approaching you.
Ownership
The 18 wheeler and trucking companies have a wealth of resources at their disposal to force victims of accidents into accepting less than they should. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who advocate on their behalf before they know whether the victim of the accident will pursue legal action.
In the event of an accident 18-wheelers are frequently responsible for catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage because they carry such large load and are so massive relative to passenger vehicles. This is especially the case when they are involved in collisions with other motor vehicles. It is imperative to hire an attorney who has experience fighting for your rights against these large, powerful corporations.
Large vehicle accidents require an in-depth understanding of the concepts in the fields of physics and biology, chemistry and federal regulations for trucking and medicine, driving standards and many other related fields. Our attorneys have the expertise to find violations of these laws and show the jury how it led to your accident.
Multiple parties could be accountable for the 18-wheeler truck crash. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the liable parties and make sure they pay their fair share of your current and anticipated expenses. This includes trucking firms, owners of maintenance contractors, even the drivers themselves. Our team will also analyze the weather conditions that could have contributed to your accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies have vast resources available to them and are able to quickly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, engineers, and experts to build a defense against accident victims. They start this process before they even decide if you will to pursue legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who can match their resources and reducing them in size.
An experienced columbia 18 wheeler accident law firm wheeler accident lawyer can alleviate the burden of dealing with these large corporations off your hands and concentrate on getting you the compensation you are entitled to. This can be used to cover expenses like steep medical bills car damage, lost wages from missing work, and also non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
18-wheelers are highly complex vehicles that require high-level, systematic maintenance to keep them on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and Vimeo.Com maintain detailed records could lead to devastating accidents.
Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials that requires specialized training and special licensing for transport. The material is explosive, flammable, radiological, or poisonous, all of which present significant dangers for other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also result in a fatal accident.
A skilled 18-wheeler crash lawyer can determine the causes and blame any other individuals who could be responsible. This may include the driver of the truck, the trucking company as well as the owner of the trailer and the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is also known as vicarious liability.
