Is an 18 wheeler accident attorneys Wheeler Legal?
There are numerous accidents in the car that result in medical bills and physical damage, as well as time off from work. When an 18-wheeler is involved, the consequences can be far more serious.
In this case, victims may file a claim for financial compensation. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can be of assistance.
Weight Limits
18-wheelers can only carry an maximum of 80,000 lbs including the weight and volume of cargo. This is a tight restriction that forces trucking companies to load their vehicles as full as possible, which can result in overloading. If a truck driver goes over this limit, they could be subject to fines that vary depending on the location.
If you examine the lights of an 18-wheeler you’ll be able to tell if they’re exceeding the speed limit. If their blinkers flash just once, it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and multiple flashes are not. Be alert for truck drivers who use their lights to communicate with each other.
It is important to leave a wide gap between your vehicle and an 18-wheeler, especially when you are passing. If you cut off the truck, it could cause an unfatal crash. Although truck drivers are frequently thought of as bullies on road, 72% of crashes between passenger cars and trucks result from car drivers.
Axles Axles
Semi-trucks, unlike cars, require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. A semi-truck typically has four wheels, including the steer and drive axles. Trailers typically have two tandem axles. This can make them much longer than a typical passenger vehicle and it’s crucial to be aware of this when driving alongside one of these vehicles.
Axle weight limits are based on a variety of factors, including the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limit posted by each state. State limits may be higher than federal limits, so it is crucial for truckers to verify prior to travel.
The challenge of hauling freight isn’t difficult enough, but adding extra weight can increase the risk of an accident. When the trucker overloads their trailer is in violation of the law and can be held accountable for consequences of the injuries. If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident that involved an 18 wheeler, a lawyer for truck accidents will help determine if the driver was carrying more than the maximum load allowed, and whether this negligence was the reason for your injuries.
Speed Limits
Like any driver, speeding is one of the most frequent causes of truck accidents. This is especially applicable to large trucks, which are much more likely to crash due to their size and weight. Truckers must, therefore, adhere to the speed limits on every road they travel on.
However truck drivers are frequently forced to make deliveries in a hurry, and they may not be able to slow down enough to cope with the conditions. This can lead drivers to drive recklessly, which could be fatal for other drivers.
Speed limiters can lower the chance of accidents. This is a device that will automatically limit the speed of a vehicle to a safe level, and it can be installed in various types of trucks.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering an amendment to the rulebook that will require truckers to utilize these devices. The agency has issued a supplemental notification of proposed rulemaking in order to collect feedback about the proposal. Previous proposals have talked about restricting truck speeds to 60 or 65 mph, or even speeds of 68 miles per hour.
Insurance
The majority of private vehicle owners purchase a single insurance policy to protect their personal vehicles. Truckers, on the other hand do not own the trucks they drive. They rent their 18-wheelers instead from a trucking company. Trucking companies require greater limits of liability insurance since commercial vehicles are more risky. They can also purchase cargo insurance and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance is a way to protect the cargo that a semi-truck is hauling. Bobtail insurance covers the truck once it has delivered its cargo. These policies can provide compensation to grieving victims and family members in the event of an accident.
Maintenance
It’s often difficult to get an accurate estimation of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is because commercial vehicles are very expensive to repair and maintain particularly when they require major repairs. However, some trucking companies provide maintenance schedules that give an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle.
Trucks have ten brakes rather than eighteen and anti-lock breaks are nowadays standard on all new trucks. In general, trucks take around 40% longer than a regular car to stop. This is because the large size of an 18-wheeler and its acceleration increase the stopping distance.
The term “eighteen wheeler” has become synonymous with trucking. It’s included in songs of country music, such as the Red Sovine titles “Giddyup Go” and “Teddy Bear” and the thrash metal group BigRig’s hit song “Roll on”. It is nevertheless important to remember that these vehicles are not home on the road, and they must follow the same rules as all other drivers. For example, it is illegal for truck drivers to text while driving as the slightest mistake could have deadly consequences.
