semi truck accident lawyer Truck Accident Law

A serious injury resulting from an accident with a semi-truck can leave the victim in medical costs. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.

It is essential to have a qualified New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after an accident. A lawyer with experience can help prove your case by using evidence such as police reports and surveillance camera footage and more.

Poorly maintained vehicles

Owner-operators and trucking companies typically do not take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good shape. This negligence leads to an overwhelming number of accidents that could have been avoided every year.

Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their larger dimensions and larger weight. However keeping deadlines and increasing profits often take precedence over maintaining a fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical problems that can cause disastrous accidents.

The brakes on trucks must be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a minute's notice. If the pads of a truck's brakes lines, lines, or return springs wear out they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is crucial that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced when necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.

Tires that are not properly maintained may play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that have worn out can lose traction and cause the truck to flip over or slide. Tires that aren't working either because of incorrect tread design or air pressure can fail catastrophically.

In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections to identify mechanical issues before they cause an accident. However, if the inspection is not done correctly or the repair shop doesn't adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines the result could be a crash. In these situations, a firm that hired the repair or maintenance shop or supervised it could be held accountable.

Another cause of truck accidents is faulty lights, signals, and reflectors. These devices must be correctly functioning to allow drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. However, trucking companies could fail to maintain and inspect these elements or the driver might fail to conduct regular safety inspections.

A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer can examine your case to identify who might be liable for your damages when you've been injured in an accident caused by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence that proves the defendant's negligence and help you get the compensation you're due.

Distracted Drivers

There aren't many events more damaging than an accident which involves a commercial vehicle. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and could cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in an accident. While many factors cause accidents that result from distracted driving, it is one of the most frequent and risky. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize an accident on the road, leading to severe and life-changing injuries.

Truck drivers must adhere to strict rules and regulations established 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 still be distracted, causing an accident. This could be the result of distractions caused by manual actions like taking their hands off the wheel, or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.

While most people are aware that it is dangerous to text while driving, a few realize that other activities such as eating, changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with the other driver can also be considered distracting. When a trucker gets distracted, the driver could drift off into another lane and fail to notice the traffic jam in front of him. It only takes a split second for a big truck to crash into a vehicle if the trucker's mind wanders.

If a truck crash is caused by distracted driving it is crucial to take photographs of the scene of the accident and gather the name and contact details of witnesses. It is also beneficial to know the name of the truck driver as well as the company they work for, as well in determining who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. This could impact on who is liable for the accident, because it is the responsibility of the trucking company to hire competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partially responsible for your accident, they could be liable for your economic and non-economic injuries.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions with trucks are not uncommon and can cause serious injuries. They can happen in a variety situations for example, at the stop or red light signal, where the trucker is unable to observe the road ahead for traffic coming in. They may also occur when a car comes in front of the truck, accident forcing the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.

It can be difficult to prove fault in a rear-end crash, as it's not always clear what vehicle caused the accident. An experienced lawyer can collect evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving with a distraction. This can be evidence in the form of photos of the scene, police reports, eyewitness testimony, aswell being skid marks on the road.

The driver in the front of the car could also be accountable for the accident. 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 at the very last minute, causing the driver behind to crash into the vehicle directly in the front. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws could be in play, where the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party, and damages are reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault.

Lacerations and Bruises

The rear end of the vehicle experiences the most impact in a rear-end collision, which means that occupants may suffer serious injuries as they smash their head against the dashboard or back window. They also may break bones as they are torn around inside the car due to the force of the collision. The severity of spinal injuries can be devastating. The spinal cord contains many nerves that control the body, and any damage to the spinal column can cause serious and lasting problems for victims.

A person who is a victim of a fatal accident might also suffer psychological and emotional trauma. They may experience difficulty sleeping or concentrating. This can cause anxiety and depression. If they are unable work due to the extent of their injury, this can add stress and financial hardship. An attorney will investigate the possible causes of liability to assist the victim to receive fair compensation for their loss.

The trailer hitches are faulty.

All vehicles, whether they are a car or a truck, van flatbed, van, or, need to be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally removing a trailer's hitch can result in catastrophic accidents that lead to serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a vehicle accident caused by a runaway truck or trailer, consult an experienced attorney who is experienced in cases of hitch failure to discuss your legal options.

A faulty trailer hitch can result from a variety factors, ranging from inadequate security to design flaws. It could be the result of an issue with the manufacturer and in that case, lawful product liability may apply. The person or company responsible for a trailer that is defective can be held accountable for the victim's medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses resulting from the incident.

In an accident that killed a person on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer slid off of the truck. It crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigations pointed out that the accident was due to the truck driver's carelessness for not inspecting and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.

As a result of the defective hitch caused by the defective hitch, the trailer smashed into the sides of the vehicles and then crashed into them head-on. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.

The truck driver in the crash was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However experts believe that he could have avoided the crash if he'd performed an exhaustive inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were in good order. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause serious accidents, since these accidents typically involve a substantial amount of speed and can easily sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In such cases the trailer could distort the car's frame and push the metal to strike the passengers inside.