What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents caused by commercial truck drivers their rigs and 18 wheelers are covered under the 18 wheeler law. These huge vehicles must be subject to strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.

Trucking companies often require their drivers to work longer and manipulate logbooks. This can lead to catastrophic trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

Knowing the weight limits for semi trucks is essential. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are determined by most states. Weigh stations are commonplace along interstates, and truckers are weighed to ensure that they do not exceed the weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is caught breaking these limits they could face fines and even put in jail according to their criminal record and the state.

Axle groups are given an upper limit due to the fact that distributing the weight across more axles increases the safety of the vehicle and allows more cargo to be transported. For example a single tire on an axle may be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter, but when there are 2 tires on that same axle it could be measured at 1300 pounds per tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, while other states only permit triple or twin trailers. Some states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer, which is a piece of metal that sits over the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cab tractors and sleeper cabs that have sleeping areas inside the tractor unit and are specifically designed for over-the-road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to limitations on lane width Truck drivers must also adhere to speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks are not able to drive at the same speed as cars, and should they do, they can cause accidents. In a lot of cases, it's the truck driver that is the one to blame. This is because truck drivers often drive for longer than allowed and break hours-of service rules or become sleepy or distracted behind the steering wheel.

Truck drivers are also barred from driving in the left lane. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than passenger cars. This can be a serious problem, particularly for those in smaller cars who may be stuck behind the truck when it suddenly stops or slows down.

Some states limit the use of lanes in specific circumstances, while others restrict it to large trucks. These laws can be based either on weight or axel limit. In other cases, they could be based solely on vehicle description.

Although there's no statewide law governing lane restrictions, you must still review the local rules and abide by the rules. Also, you should move to the right side if you spot a truck in the pass lane in order to not hinder faster vehicles from passing you.

Ownership

The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have an array of resources they can make use of to force accident victims into accepting less than what they are entitled to. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who act on their behalf before they even know if the victim of an accident will take legal action.

In accidents 18-wheelers are frequently responsible for a plethora of injuries and property damage because they carry such hefty loads and are incredibly large compared to passenger vehicles. This is particularly so when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is essential to have an a seasoned attorney fight for your rights and recover against these large, powerful corporations.

Large vehicle accidents require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and trucking regulations from the federal government as well as medical standards, driving and many other related fields. Our attorneys have the expertise to uncover violations of these laws and show the jury how it led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents can be caused by the careless or reckless actions of a variety of parties. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure they are paid their fair part of your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking companies, owners, 18 wheeler accident lawyer maintenance contractors, and even drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that could have played a part in your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have an abundance of options available and can quickly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, engineers, and experts to develop a strategy for defense against accident victims. They start this process before they even know whether you will to pursue legal recourse. It is crucial to hire an attorney who is capable of matching their resources and helping them decrease in size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer can alleviate the burden of dealing with these big corporations off your shoulders and concentrate on getting you the compensation you're entitled to. This money can cover costs like steep medical bills and vehicle damage, as well as loss of wages due to absence from work, and other injuries like suffering and pain.

18 wheelers are complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to ensure their safety on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and keep accurate records could result in devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers often carry hazardous material, which requires special training and special licensing for transport. These materials may be explosive or flammable, radiological or poisonous. They all pose a serious risk to other motorists on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also result in a catastrophic accident.

A competent attorney for 18 wheeler accidents-wheelers will determine the exact cause and blame the parties that may be accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company or the owner of the trailer as well as the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is also known as vicarious liability.