Semi Truck Accident Law

A san antonio semi truck accident attorney-truck crash can result in a serious injury that can cost a person a lot in medical bills. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.

After a crash, it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A qualified attorney can help establish your case through evidence like police reports and surveillance camera footage and much more.

Poorly maintained vehicles

In a lot of cases trucking companies and owner-operators fail to take the appropriate steps to make sure their vehicles are in good condition. This negligence leads to an overwhelming number of accidents that could have been avoided every year.

Comparatively to passenger vehicles, tractor-trailers and semis need more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavier loads. However working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits is often prioritized over maintaining a fleet. In the end, trucks can be susceptible to mechanical breakdowns that can could cause devastating accidents.

The brakes of a truck are particularly important since they have to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. When brake pads, lines or return springs on a truck are worn out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is essential that these components are regularly inspected and replaced as necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.

Tires that aren't maintained can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn-out could lose traction, causing the truck to overturn or slide. If a tire is defective in any way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.

In addition to regular maintenance, trucks need regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues before they cause an accident. However, if an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop fails to adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines, it could cause a crash. In such cases the company that employed or supervised the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.

Another common cause of truck accidents is the failure of signals, lights, and reflectors. These items must function properly to enable drivers to be aware of and anticipate the movements of the truck particularly in rural areas or at night. However, trucking firms may fail to check and maintain these equipments or the driver could fail to conduct regular safety checks.

A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who is liable for your damages after you've been injured during an accident involving a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence that demonstrates the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Distracted Drivers

The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your vehicle and may cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in a collision. Distracted driving is among the many causes of accidents. A distracted truck driver can lose control of the vehicle or miss an opportunity to avoid a road accident that could result in serious and life-threatening injuries.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and using cell phones while driving. However, even when truckers adhere to the rules, they could still get distracted and cause crash. This could be because of manual distractions, such as taking their hands off the wheel, or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.

Many people are aware that texting while driving is risky, but not many know that other activities, like eating, changing radio stations, or talking to passengers, could also be considered to be distracting. If a truck driver is distracted, they could wander off into another lane, or fail to notice a traffic jam up ahead of them. If a truck driver's focus is diverted, it takes only an instant for a large vehicle to collide with a car.

It is crucial to gather information about any witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the crash when the driver is distracted, which can cause the truck to crash. It is important to know the name of the driver, the company that they work for and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This can have an impact on who is liable for the accident, since it is the trucking company's responsibility to hire competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found to be partly responsible for your accident, it may be liable to you for financial and non-economic damages.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end truck collisions are common and can cause serious injuries. They can occur in a variety settings like an intersection or stop sign, when the trucker fails to check behind them for traffic coming in. They can also occur when a car is able to cut in front of the truck, causing the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker could then hit the car from behind.

It can be difficult to prove the fault of a driver in rear-end collisions because it's not always clear who was at fault. However, a skilled lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that shows the driver behind caused the crash due to following too closely or distracted driving. This can include evidence like photos, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks in the road.

Sometimes the driver in front could be at fault for the crash also. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to use a turn signal as any other reasonable person would do. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws can come into play, where the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.

Bruises and Lacerations

The rear-end of the car is the most impacted area during a rear-end collision meaning that occupants can sustain serious injuries from hitting their head against the dashboard or back windows. They can also suffer broken bones from being bounced around the interior of the car due to the force of the crash. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it can be particularly severe. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that regulate the body. Therefore, any injury to the spinal column can cause permanent and significant problems for victims.

A victim of a serious accident may also suffer from emotional and psychological trauma. They may have difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could cause anxiety and depression. If they are unable to work due to the seriousness of their injury this could cause pressure and financial hardship. An attorney can examine the potential sources of liability to assist the victim to receive fair compensation for their loss.

The trailer hitches are faulty.

Regardless of whether you're driving a car, a van, truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles must to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that result in serious injuries or death. If you've been injured in an accident that involved the trailer that is running away, you should contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

A faulty trailer hitch can be caused by a variety of things, from improper secured to faulty design. It could also be due to a manufacturer's defect and, in this case, lawful product liability may apply. The company or the person who is at the fault for accidents a trailer that is defective can be held liable for victims' medical bills as well as auto repair costs and other losses related to the incident.

For example, in a deadly crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road referred to locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck and crashed through the air into two cars that were behind it. Initial investigations suggested that the crash was due to the truck driver’s negligence for failing to inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch, an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.

The trailer struck the sides of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.

The truck driver involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However experts say he could have avoided the collision had he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were tight. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause serious accidents, since they typically involve a large amount of speed and can easily sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these situations the trailer could distort the frame of a car and result in sharp metal fragments that can impale passengers.