Semi Truck Accident Law

A serious injury sustained in an accident with trucks can result in the death of the victim in medical expenses. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.

After a collision, it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A professional lawyer can help you prove your case using evidence such as police reports and surveillance footage, among others.

Vehicles that aren't maintained properly

In a majority of cases trucking companies as well as owner-operators fail to take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good working condition. This negligence results in an increase in the number of avoidable accidents every year.

Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars because of their larger size and heavier load. However, the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits often over maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks can be susceptible to mechanical failures that lead to devastating accidents.

The brakes on a truck must be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. When brake pads lines, return springs, or lines on a truck are worn out they can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is crucial that these parts are regularly checked and semi truck accident replaced as required to ensure that they remain in good condition.

Tires that aren't well maintained may play a significant role in truck accidents. Worn tires can lose traction and cause the truck to skid or even flip over. Tires that aren't working, whether it's due to improper air pressure or tread design can fail catastrophically.

The inspections are routine for trucks in addition to regular maintenance to detect mechanical problems before they cause an incident. If an inspection is performed improperly or the repair shop does not adhere to the manufacturer's specifications it could cause an accident. In these situations the company that hired or supervised the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.

The malfunctioning of signals, lights and reflectors are also a frequent reason for truck accidents. These devices must function properly to enable drivers to detect and anticipate the movement of the truck especially in rural areas or at night. Drivers or trucking companies may not be able to maintain and inspect these equipment, or may not perform daily safety checks.

A Houston truck accident attorney can investigate your situation and determine who could be responsible for your damages in the event you were injured by a poorly maintained commercial north mankato semi truck accident attorney. The investigation can uncover evidence that shows the defendant's negligence in the accident and assist you obtain the compensation you're entitled to.

Distracted Drivers

Accidents involving commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These huge trucks can weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and cause much worse injuries in an accident. Distracted driving is among the many factors that can cause accidents. A distracted truck driver can lose control of their vehicle or overlook a road hazard and cause life-threatening injuries.

Truck drivers must adhere to strict rules and regulations formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition against texting or using cell phones while driving. Even if truckers follow the rules, they could be distracted and result in an accident. This could be the result of manual distractions, such as getting off the wheel or mental distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.

Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but few know that other activities, such as eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers can also be considered distracting. If a truck driver is distracted, they may wander off into a different lane or fail to see an obstruction in front of them. When a trucker's attention is diverted, it will only take an instant for a large vehicle to hit a motorist car.

When a truck accident is caused by an unintentionally distracted driver it is vital to snap photos of the scene of collision and gather the name and contact details of any witnesses. It is also beneficial to determine the name of the truck driver as well as the company they are employed by, as well in determining who owns the truck if it is an independent contractor. This will affect who is accountable for your accident as the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partly responsible for your accident, it could be liable to you for financial and non-economic damage.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions with trucks are not uncommon and can result in severe injuries. They can occur in a variety of situations for example, at the stop or red light sign, when the trucker fails to check their surroundings for any traffic that is coming up. It could also happen when cars cross the truck's path, forcing the driver of the truck to brake at a rapid pace without warning. The trucker could then smash the car from behind.

It can be difficult to establish fault when there's a rear-end collision, because it isn't always clear the vehicle that was at fault. An experienced attorney can gather evidence that proves the driver at the rear was responsible for the crash by following too closely or driving while distracted. This evidence could include photos or police reports, eyewitness testimony as well as skid marks in the road.

Sometimes the driver in front could be liable for the accident also. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail to utilize their turn signal as a reasonable person would, or put on the brakes in the last second and causing the driver behind to crash into the car directly in the front. This is where modified comparative negligence laws could be applied, in which the jury assigns a percentage of blame to each party, and damages are reduced accordingly.

Lacerations and Bruises

The rear end of the vehicle is the one that is most affected in a rear-end crash, meaning that occupants can sustain serious injuries from hitting their head against the back window or semi truck accident dashboard. They also may break bones due to being scattered around the interior of the car due to the force of the collision. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it can be particularly severe. The spinal cord houses a number of nerves that regulate the body, and any injury to the spinal column could cause significant and permanent issues for those affected.

A person who has been involved in a serious accident may also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma. They may experience difficulty being able to sleep or concentrate, which can result in anxiety and depression. If they are unable work due to the seriousness of their injury it can create anxiety and financial hardship. An attorney will investigate the possible causes of liability to help a victim receive fair compensation for their loss.

Faulty Trailer Hitches

All vehicles, whether they're a car or a semi truck accident, van flatbed, van, or, need to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer becomes unhitched, it can cause a catastrophic accident that could cause serious injuries or even death. If you've been injured in a collision involving a runaway trailer, contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

A malfunctioning trailer hitch may result from a variety things, from improper secured to faulty design. It could be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer, in which case the product liability law may apply. The company or the person who is at responsible for the malfunction of a trailer is responsible for the cost of medical bills and auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.

For example the fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 along an Ohio road that is locally referred to as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came loose from the truck and slid through the air into two cars that were behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the driver's negligence for not inspecting and secure hitch. In June 2015, however the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch, an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the cause of the crash.

Due to the malfunctioning hitch caused by the defective hitch, the trailer smashed into the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers.

The truck driver who was involved in the accident was convicted of vehicular murder, however experts believe that he could have avoided the crash had he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were in good order. A faulty trailer hitch can cause major accidents. These types of accidents are typically high-speed, and they can easily cause a collision with motorcycles or smaller cars. In these situations, the trailer may distort the frame of a car and create sharp metal fragments to impale any passengers.