What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law deals with accidents involving commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These massive vehicles are subject to federal regulations regarding maintenance, safety, and training.

Trucking companies often make their drivers to work longer and manipulate logbooks. This can cause accidents that happen in trucks to be catastrophic.

Weight Regulations

It is essential to be aware of the weight limitations for semi trucks. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are set by most states. Weigh stations are prevalent along interstates, where truckers are weighed to ensure they don't over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a truck driver gets found to be in violation of these restrictions, they could be penalized or even jailed depending on the state and their criminal record.

Axle groups are granted a higher limit because distributing the weight over more axles makes the vehicle safer and allows more cargo to be transported. A single tire on an wheel can only be weighed up to 650 pounds per inch but when two tires are mounted on the same axle, it can be weighed to 1300 pounds.

There are restrictions on the kind of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, and others only permit twin or triple trailers. A majority of states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer that is a piece of metal that sits over the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. Both day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs are readily available. They both come with sleeping spaces inside the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must abide by speed limits and traffic signals in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks cannot travel at the same speed as cars for passengers. If they do, accidents are likely to occur. In many instances, it is the driver of the truck that is the one to blame. This is due to the fact that truck drivers can drive for longer than allowed or break the rules of hours-of-service, or get sleepy or distracted behind the driving.

Another important lane restriction is that truck drivers are not allowed to drive in the left right lane. This is due to the fact that it takes much longer for trucks to stop than passenger vehicles. This could result in a risky situation, particularly for smaller vehicles that could be stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

Certain states specifically single out large trucks and prohibit them from using the left lane, whereas others only restrict the use of the lane under specific circumstances. These laws can be based on axel or weight limits. In other cases they may be based solely on the vehicle's description.

Although there's no statewide regulation on lane limits, you should still check the local rules and observe the rules. You should also move to the right when you notice trucks blocking the lane.

Ownership

Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have massive resources to pressure accident victims to accept a lesser amount than they deserve. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters, engineers, and experts who advocate on their behalf even before they know if the victim of an accident is going to seek legal relief.

Because they carry huge loads and are so much larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers can cause massive injuries and property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is particularly true when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is important to have a seasoned attorney fight for your rights and recover against these massive, powerful corporations.

Large truck accidents require an understanding of complicated concepts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, 18 wheeler accident lawyer federal trucking regulations, medicine, and driving standards. Our lawyers are able identify any violations of these laws, and explain to the jury what caused your accident.

18-wheeler truck crashes are typically caused by the careless or reckless actions of a variety of parties. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the liable parties and make sure they are paid their fair part of your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking companies, owners and maintenance contractors, and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also examine weather conditions that may have contributed to your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies can deploy large teams of lawyers, adjusters engineers, and experts quickly. They begin this process before they know whether you are going to seek legal recourse. This is why it is essential to get an experienced attorney who can match their resources and reduce them to size.

An experienced 18-wheeler crash lawyer can help you deal with these large corporations off your shoulders and concentrate on securing the compensation you deserve. This can be used to cover expenses such as medical bills that are costly and vehicle damage, as well as lost wages due to missing work, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

18 wheeler accident lawyers wheelers are highly complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to keep them safe on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and keep accurate logs can lead to devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers are commonly used to transport hazardous substances, that require specialized training and a license. These materials may be explosive or flammable or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a risk to other drivers on American highways. A fatal accident could occur if the cargo is not properly labeled and secured.

A reputable 18 wheeler accident lawsuit wheeler accident lawyer can pinpoint the exact reason for your accident and hold liable any parties that are accountable. This could include the truck driver and the trucking company, the owner of the trailer, and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is called vicarious responsibility.