What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

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

Unfortunately, trucking companies often pressure their drivers to work longer hours and manipulate log books. 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. The majority of states have single axle and group axle limits on weight that must be adhered to. Weigh stations are prevalent along interstates where truckers are weighed to ensure that they do not exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a truck driver gets caught violating these limitations they could be penalized or even jailed based on the state of their residence and criminal record.

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

There are limitations on the kinds of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states permit only one trailer, while others allow triple or twin trailers. In addition, some states require five wheels on the trailer, which is a round plate above the drive wheels, which connects (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs that have an area for sleeping inside the tractor unit. They are designed for over the road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to restrictions on lane usage truck drivers also must adhere to speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks aren't allowed to drive at the same speeds as cars for passengers. If they do, accidents are likely to occur. In a lot of cases, the truck driver is the one at fault in these accidents. Truck drivers may be driving for vimeo longer than they are entitled to, breaking hours-of-service regulations, or being asleep or distracted behind the wheel.

Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left lane. This is because trucks take a lot longer trucks to stop than cars. This can be a very dangerous situation, particularly for cars that are smaller and could be stuck behind trucks if they suddenly slow down or stop.

Some states restrict the use of lanes in certain situations, Vimeo while other states restrict it for big trucks. These laws may be based on the weight of the vehicle or axel limits. In other situations they may be based solely on vehicle's description.

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

Ownership

Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have massive resources available to force victims of accidents to accept a lesser amount than what they are entitled to. They have teams of insurance adjusters and lawyers who represent them before they even know if the victim of an accident will take legal action.

In the event of an accident 18-wheelers can be blamed for severe injuries and property damage due to the fact that they carry such large loads and are huge compared to passenger vehicles. This is especially true when these trucks collide with other motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an an experienced attorney fight for your rights and get you justice against these powerful, large corporations.

Large vehicle accidents require a thorough understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and trucking regulations from the federal government, medicine, driving standards, and other related fields. Our lawyers can discover any infringements of these laws and then show the jury the factors that led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents are often caused by the negligence or reckless actions of a variety of parties. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the responsible parties and ensure that they are held accountable for your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking companies, owners and 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 can send large teams of lawyers, adjusters, engineers and experts quickly. They start this process before they even know whether you will to seek legal recourse. It is essential to retain an attorney who can match their resources and bringing them down in size.

An experienced 18 wheeler crash lawyer will take the burden of dealing with these large corporations off your hands and focus on getting you the compensation you're entitled to. The money could be used to pay for medical costs, vehicle damage as well as lost income from missing work, and other non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.

18-wheelers are extremely complex vehicles that require a high-level, structured maintenance to keep them on the road. Failure to maintain detailed logs and perform the necessary maintenance can cause catastrophe-causing accidents.

Tractor-trailers can be used to transport hazardous materials, that require special training and licensing. They can be flammable or explosive or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a major risk to other drivers traveling on American highways. A serious accident can also occur if the load is not properly labeled and secured.

A qualified mountain view 18 wheeler accident law firm-wheeler crash attorney will determine the exact cause and vimeo blame any individuals responsible. This could include the truck driver, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is known as vicarious liability.