What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

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

Unfortunately, trucking companies often force their drivers to work longer hours and manipulate log books. This can lead accidents that happen in trucks to be catastrophic.

Weight Regulations

Knowing the weight limits for semi trucks is essential. Many states have single axle and group axle weight limits that must be observed. It is commonplace to see weigh stations along interstates where truck drivers are weighed in order to verify that they do not exceed the maximum limits of their vehicle and load. If a truck driver gets discovered to be violating these limits, they could be penalized or even jailed based on the location and criminal record.

Axle groups have a greater limit on weight because the vehicle is more secure when the weight is distributed over a wider range of axles. This also permits the transportation of more cargo. For example a single tire on an axle can only be weighed at 650lbs per inch of wheel diameter but when there are two tires on the same axle, it can be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.

There are also limitations on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with a tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, and others only allow 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 with the tractor unit. Day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs are available. They all have a sleeping area in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must adhere to traffic signals and speed limits in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks aren't allowed to travel at the same speed as cars for passengers. If they do, accidents are likely to occur. In most cases, it is the driver of the truck at fault. This is due to truck drivers being able to drive longer than the limit and break hours-of service rules or become sleepy or distracted behind the steering wheel.

Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left right lane. This is due to the fact that it takes a lot longer for trucks to brake than passenger vehicles. This can be a very risky situation, particularly for smaller vehicles that could be stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

Certain states prohibit the use of lanes under certain situations, while other states restrict it for big trucks. In certain cases, these laws are built around axel and weight limits, while in other they may be based on the description of the vehicle or direction signs.

Even if there is no law that is statewide that you can follow, you should be aware of local rules about the lane restriction and adhere to them. You should also shift to the right when you see trucks blocking the lane.

Ownership

Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have massive resources at their disposal to pressure accident victims into accepting less than they deserve. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and lawyers that work on their behalf, even before they know whether the victim of an accident will pursue legal action.

In accidents 18-wheelers can be blamed for severe injuries and property damage because they carry such hefty load and are so massive relative to passenger vehicles. This is especially true when these trucks collide with other motor vehicles. It is vital to hire an attorney who is experienced in fighting for your rights against these powerful, huge corporations.

Large-scale accidents require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, federal regulations for trucking and medicine, driving standards and other related areas. Our lawyers are able to discover any infringements of these laws and present to the jury the circumstances 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 attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all responsible parties and ensure they are liable for their fair part of your current and expected expenses. This includes owners of trucking businesses, trucking companies of maintenance contractors, even drivers themselves. Our team will also study weather conditions that may have played a part in the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies are able to provide large teams of adjusters, 18 wheeler accident lawyers lawyers, engineers and experts quickly. They start the process before they know whether you are going to pursue legal recourse. It is essential to retain an attorney who can match their resources and bringing them down in size.

An attorney who has experience handling 18 wheeler accident lawyers (www.highclassps.com)-wheeler collisions will relieve you of the burden and help you receive the compensation you deserve. The money could be used to pay medical expenses, vehicle damage, lost income from missed work, and other non-economic damages like suffering and pain.

18 wheelers are extremely complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to keep them safe on the road. Failure to keep accurate records and to perform maintenance can cause disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials, which requires special training and specialized licensing to transport. The material could be explosive, flammable or poisonous, and all of these could pose a significant risk to other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also cause a devastating accident.

A qualified 18-wheeler crash attorney can determine the exact cause of the accident and pinpoint any individuals who could be responsible. These may include the driver of the truck or the trucking company the owner of the trailer, and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is called vicarious responsibility.