What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents that involve commercial truck drivers, their rigs and 18 wheeler accident attorneys wheelers are covered under the 18 wheeler law. These massive vehicles must follow strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies frequently force their drivers to work longer hours and alter log books. This can cause accidents with trucks that are catastrophic.

Weight Regulations

Knowing the weight limits for semi trucks is vital. Most states have both single axle and group axle weight limits which must be adhered to. Weigh stations are common along interstates, and truckers are weighed to ensure that they do not exceed the weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is found violating these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined or even imprisoned according to their criminal record and the state.

Axle groups have a greater limit of weight since the vehicle is safer when the weight is distributed over more axles. This also allows for the carriage of more cargo. A single tire on a wheel can only weigh up to 665 pounds per inch however, if two tires are on the same axle, they can be weighed to 1300 pounds.

There are also limitations on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while other states only permit twin or triple trailers. Additionally, a lot of states require five wheels on the trailer. It is a circular plate over the drive wheels that joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cabtractors as well as sleeper cabs that incorporate a sleeping area inside the tractor unit and are designed to be used for hauling over the road.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must observe speed limits and traffic signals in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks aren't able to travel at the same speed as vehicles for passengers and, when they do, they might cause accidents. In a lot of cases the driver of the truck is at fault in these accidents. This is because truck drivers often drive for longer than allowed or break the rules of hours-of-service, or get sleepy or distracted behind the wheel.

Another important restriction on lane use is that truck drivers are not allowed to drive in the left right lane. Trucks are slower to brake than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This can be a very dangerous situation, particularly for cars with smaller wheels that could get stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

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

Even if there is no law that is statewide, you should check local regulations regarding lane restrictions and follow the rules. You should also shift to the right if you see trucks passing in the lane, so that it does not block faster cars from taking over.

Ownership

The trucking and 18 Wheeler Accident Lawsuits-wheeler businesses have a wealth of resources to employ to pressure victims of accidents to accept less than what they are entitled to. They have teams of insurance adjusters and lawyers who act on their behalf before they even know whether the accident victim will take legal action.

Because they can carry massive loads and are larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers often cause massive injuries and property damage in accidents. This is especially true when these trucks collide into other motor vehicles. It is important to have experienced lawyers fight for your rights and get you justice against these powerful, large corporations.

Large vehicle accidents require an in-depth understanding of the concepts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology as well as federal regulations for trucking as well as medical standards, driving and other related areas. Our lawyers are able to find violations of these laws, and then show the jury the circumstances that led to your accident.

Many parties could be at fault for truck accidents involving 18-wheelers. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties responsible and ensure that they are held accountable for your present and future costs. This includes owners of trucking businesses, trucking companies and maintenance contractors, and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also look into weather conditions that may have contributed to 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 if you intend to pursue legal recourse. That's why it's essential to get a capable attorney who can match their resources and reduce them to size.

A lawyer with experience handling 18-wheeler collisions will relieve you of the burden and help you get the compensation you deserve. This can be used to cover expenses such as high medical bills and vehicle damage, as well as loss of wages due to absence from work, and non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.

18-wheelers are a complex vehicle which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to keep them on the road. Inability to keep detailed documents and carry out this maintenance can result in catastrophe-causing accidents.

Tractor-trailers can be used for transporting hazardous materials, that require specialized training and certification. They can be flammable or explosive or radiological or poisonous. They all pose a serious danger to other drivers on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also result in a catastrophic accident.

A qualified 18 wheeler crash lawyer can determine the exact cause of your crash and liable for any party that are accountable. These may include the truck driver as well as the trucking company, the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is known as vicarious liability.