semi truck accident law firm Truck Accident Law

A severe injury sustained in collision with trucks can result in the death of an individual with medical costs. It can also result in permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.

After a collision is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A qualified lawyer will assist you in proving your case by using evidence like police reports, surveillance footage, etc.

Vehicles that are not maintained properly

Owner-operators and trucking companies typically do not take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good repair. This negligence leads to many avoidable accidents each year.

Comparatively to passenger vehicles, tractor-trailers and semis will require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavier load. However the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits is often more important than maintaining the fleet. In the end, trucks are more prone to mechanical problems that can could cause devastating accidents.

The brakes of a truck need to be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck wear out and break, it could lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is crucial to have these parts regularly inspected and replaced as required to keep them in good working order.

Inadequately maintained tires can be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can cause the tires to lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even rollover. Tires that are defective or damaged, whether due to incorrect tread design or air pressure may fail catastrophically.

In addition to regular maintenance, trucks require regular inspections to identify mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's recommendations it could cause an accident. In these instances the company that employed or supervised the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.

Incorrect lights, signals and reflectors are another frequent reason for truck accidents. These elements must function correctly so that drivers can observe and anticipate the movement of the truck especially in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers could not maintain and inspect these components, or they may not carry out regular safety checks.

A Houston truck accident attorney will review your situation and determine who could be responsible for your damages in the event you were injured from a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence that shows the negligence of the defendant in the accident and assist you recover the compensation you're due.

Distracted Drivers

There aren't many things more devastating than an incident with a commercial truck. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and could cause much greater injuries when they are involved in an accident. Distracted driving is one of many factors that can cause accidents. A driver who is distracted could lose control of the vehicle or overlook an accident on the road and cause serious and life-changing injuries.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting or using cell phones while driving. However, even when truckers abide by the rules, they may still be distracted and cause crash. This could be due to manual distractions like turning your back on the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.

While most people understand the dangers of using text and drive, many realize that other activities such as eating or changing the radio station, and even conversing with a passenger could also be considered distracting. When the trucker is distracted, it is possible that he will drift into a different track and not see the traffic jam ahead. It only takes a split second for a big truck to hit a passenger vehicle when the trucker's attention wanders.

When a truck accident is caused by an unintentionally distracted driver, it is important to take photos of the scene of collision and note down the contact details and name of witnesses. It is also helpful to find out the name of the driver of the truck and the company they work for, as well the owner of the truck if it is an independent contractor. This could have an effect on who is accountable for the accident, because it is the responsibility of the trucking business to employ competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found partially responsible for the accident, it could be liable to you for both economic and non-economic injuries.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end truck collisions are quite common and can result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety of settings like at a red light or stop sign when the trucker fails to look behind them for traffic coming in. It could also happen when cars cross the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to stop suddenly and without warning. The trucker could then crash into the car from behind.

It can be hard to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions, as it isn't always evident who was at fault. An experienced attorney can collect evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the accident due to following too closely or driving with a distraction. This could include evidence such as photos, police reports, Vimeo eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the road.

Sometimes the driver in front may be found to be responsible for the accident in addition. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal as any reasonable person. This is where modified comparative negligence laws can be used, in which the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.

Lacerations & Bruises

The rear-end of the vehicle is the most impacted area during a rear-end collision meaning that occupants can sustain serious injuries when they hit their head against the back window or dashboard. The impact of the crash could cause broken bones when the occupants are thrown about the interior of the vehicle. Spinal injuries can be severe. Damage to the spine can cause serious and lasting consequences for victims.

A person who has been involved in a serious accident may also experience emotional and psychological trauma. They may have difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could lead them to depression and anxiety. They could also be facing stress and Vimeo financial burdens in the event that they are unable to work because of an injury. An attorney will investigate the possible sources of liability and ensure that the victim receives the right amount of compensation for their loss.

The trailer hitches are faulty.

All vehicles, whether they are a vehicle, a car, a truck, van, flatbed, or van should be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally unhitching a trailer could cause catastrophic accidents that can lead to serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident that involved the trailer that has run away, contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents who specializes in cases involving hitch failure as soon as you can to discuss your legal options.

A malfunctioning trailer hitch may be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate securing to defective design. It could be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer in which case the product liability laws may apply. The company or person accountable for a defective trailer could be held responsible for the victims' medical expenses as well as auto repair costs and other losses that result from the incident.

In a fatal crash on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer was detached from the truck. It then crashed into two cars directly behind it. The initial investigation blamed the accident to the truck driver's lapse in inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch in the crash -- an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a significant percentage of occasions.

As a result of the malfunctioning hitch, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and then crashed into them head-on. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers.

The driver of the truck that was involved in this accident was convicted of vehicular manslaughter. However experts say that he could have prevented the collision with other vehicles if he performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were tight. Faulty trailer hitches can cause major accidents. These incidents are often high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In such instances, the trailer can distort a car's frame and force the metal to strike the passengers inside.