What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler accident lawsuits wheeler law regulates accidents involving commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These massive vehicles must comply with strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.

Trucking companies often make their drivers to work for 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 set by the majority of states. It is typical to see weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed to make sure they do not exceed the maximum limits of their vehicle and load. If a trucker is caught violating these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined and even sentenced to jail depending on their criminal history and the state.

Axle groups are given an increased limit because spreading the weight over more axles is safer for the vehicle and allows for more cargo to be carried. For example, a single tire on an axle can be weighed at 650lbs per inch of wheel diameter but when there are two tires on the same axle it could be weighted at 1300 pounds for each tire.

There are restrictions on the kinds of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states allow only one trailer, while other states only permit triple or twin trailers. A lot of states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer that is a piece of metal that sits above the drive wheels, and connects (hooks up) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs that have a sleeping area into the tractor unit. They are designed for over-the-road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must adhere to speed limits and 18 wheeler accident traffic signals in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks aren't allowed to travel at the same speed as passenger cars. If they do, accidents may occur. In a lot of cases the driver of the truck is the culprit in these accidents. This is because truck drivers often be driving for longer than is permitted and break hours-of service rules or get sleepy or distracted behind the vehicle.

Truck drivers are also forbidden from driving in the left right lane. This is because trucks take a lot longer trucks to brake than cars. This could create a dangerous situation, especially for cars that are smaller and could get stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

There are some states that specifically single out large trucks and prohibit them from using the left lane. However, others limit the use of the lane in specific circumstances. These laws can be based on weight or axel limit. In other cases they could be solely based on vehicle's description.

Even if there isn't a statewide law on lane restrictions, you should still be aware of local rules and adhere to the rules. You should also shift to the left when you see a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have a wealth of resources to employ to pressure accident victims to accept less than they're entitled. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who advocate on their behalf before they even know whether the victim of the accident will pursue legal action.

In the event of an accident 18-wheelers can be blamed for severe injuries and property damage because they carry such hefty loads and are incredibly large when compared to passenger cars. This is especially the case when they collide with motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an experienced lawyers fight for your rights and recover against these massive, powerful corporations.

Accidents involving large trucks require an understanding of complicated concepts that are derived from physics, chemistry, biology as well as federal trucking regulations medical standards, and driving. Our lawyers can uncover any violations of these laws and explain to the jury what caused your accident.

18 wheeler accident lawsuit-wheeler truck accidents are often caused by the negligent or reckless actions of several parties. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure they are paid their fair share of your current and anticipated expenses. This includes trucking companies and owners, maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also examine the weather conditions that could have contributed to the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies are able to put together large teams of adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts and 18 Wheeler Accident adjusters quickly. They begin this process before they are aware of whether you'll seek legal recourse. This is why it's essential to get an experienced attorney who will match their resources and bring them down to size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer can alleviate the burden of dealing with these large corporations off your shoulders and concentrate on securing the compensation you're due. This money can be used to pay medical costs, vehicle damage and lost income due to missed work, and other non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.

18 wheelers are highly complex vehicles and require high-end, systematic maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Inability to maintain this maintenance and keep accurate logs can lead to catastrophic accidents.

Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials, which requires special training and specialized certification to transport. These materials may be explosive or flammable, radiological or poisonous. They all pose a danger to other drivers on American highways. A serious accident can also occur if the load was not properly labeled and secured.

A trained 18 wheeler accident lawyer can pinpoint the exact cause of your crash and hold any responsible parties who may be responsible. This could include the truck driver or the trucking company the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is called vicarious liability.