What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law protects against accidents which involve commercial truck drivers as well as their rigs. These huge vehicles must be subject to strict federal guidelines for maintenance safety, training, and maintenance.

Unfortunately, trucking companies frequently force their drivers to work longer hours and alter log books. This can result in catastrophic trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits for semi trucks is vital. Weight limits for single axles and group axles are set by most states. It is commonplace to see weigh stations on interstates where drivers are weighed to confirm that they are not exceeding the maximum limits of their vehicle and load. If a trucker is found violating these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined and even sent to jail according to their criminal record and the state.

Axle groups are able to have a higher limit because distributing the weight across multiple axles makes the vehicle more secure and allows for more cargo to be transported. A single tire on a wheel can only weigh up to 665 pounds per inch however, if two tires are mounted on the same axle, they can be weighed as high as 1300 pounds.

There are also restrictions on the type of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Some states permit only one trailer while others only permit triple or twin trailers. Some states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer that is a plate that is placed above the drive wheels and couples (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. Day cab and night cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs are offered. They both have sleeping spaces in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must obey speed limits and traffic signals in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks can't drive at the same speed as vehicles for passengers and, even if they do, they can cause accidents. In many instances the truck driver is the primary culprit in these accidents. This is due to the fact that truck drivers can be driving for longer than is permitted, break hours-of-service rules, or become sleepy or distracted behind the vehicle.

Truck drivers are also banned from driving in the left side of the road. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This can be a serious problem, especially for people in smaller cars who may be stuck behind a truck if it suddenly stops or slows down.

There are some states that specifically target large trucks and prevent them from using the left lane, whereas others restrict the use of the lane only in certain circumstances. These laws may be based on weight or axel limit. In other instances they may be based solely on vehicle description.

Even if there is no law that is statewide, you should check local rules on lane restrictions and follow them. You should also shift to the right when you notice a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

The 18-wheeler and trucking firms have many resources they can employ to pressure victims of accidents to accept less than they are entitled to. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, engineers, and experts who work on their behalf even before they know whether the victim of the accident will pursue legal action.

Because they carry huge loads and are larger than passenger automobiles, 18 wheelers typically cause catastrophic injuries and enormous property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is especially so when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is important to have a seasoned attorney fight for your rights and recovery against these powerful, large corporations.

Accidents involving large trucks require an understanding of complicated concepts from the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and federal trucking regulations, medical regulations, and driving rules. Our lawyers are able discover any infringements of these laws, 18 wheeler accident and explain to the jury what caused your accident.

Many parties could be at fault for truck accidents involving 18-wheelers. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure that they are liable for their fair share of your current and anticipated costs. This includes owners of trucking companies, trucking companies as well as maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also look into the weather conditions that could have played a role in your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies are able to send large teams of adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts and adjusters quickly. They begin this process before they know whether you are going to pursue legal recourse. This is why it is vital to immediately hire an experienced lawyer who can match their resources and reduce them to size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer can help you deal with these big corporations off your shoulders and focus on obtaining the compensation you're due. The money could be used to pay for expenses such as high medical bills and vehicle damage, as well as the loss of earnings due to a lack of work, as well as non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

18-wheelers are extremely complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Failure to maintain detailed documents and carry out this maintenance can cause disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers frequently carry hazardous materials, which requires special training and special licensing for transport. This material can be explosive, flammable, radiological or poisonous, all of which can pose serious dangers for other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could result in a catastrophic accident.

A trained 18 wheeler accident law firms wheeler accident lawyer can determine the precise reason for your accident and hold liable any parties who could be accountable. These could include the driver of the truck or the trucking company the owner of the trailer and the manufacturer of the truck or its components. This is known as vicarious liability.