What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents caused by commercial truck drivers their rigs and 18 wheelers are covered by the 18 wheeler law. These huge vehicles must be subject to strict federal guidelines for maintenance safety, training, and maintenance.

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

Weight Regulations

It is essential to be aware of the weight limitations of semi-trucks. Many states have single axle and group axle weight limits which must be adhered to. There are numerous weigh stations along interstates, and truckers are weighed to ensure that they do not over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is found to be in violation of these restrictions, they could be penalized or even imprisoned, based on the state they reside in and their criminal record.

Axle groups have a greater limit on weight because the vehicle is more secure when the weight is distributed over more axles. This also allows for the transportation of more cargo. For example a single tire on an axle can be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel's diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on that same axle it could be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.

There are also restrictions on the type of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, while others only permit triple or twin trailers. Additionally, a lot of states require five wheels on the trailer. This is a circular plate over the drive wheels that joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Day cab and night cab tractors and sleeper cabs are available. They both include a sleeping space inside the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to limitations on lane width, truck drivers must also be aware of speed limits as well as traffic lights. Trucks cannot travel at the same speed as passenger cars. If they do, accidents could occur. In a lot of cases, it's the driver of the truck that is the one to blame. Truck drivers might be driving for longer than they are permitted to, ignoring the hours-of-service regulations, or 18 Wheeler accident lawsuits being asleep or distracted behind the wheel.

Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left right lane. This is because it takes much longer for trucks to stop than cars. This can pose a danger problem, particularly for those in smaller cars who may be stranded behind trucks when it slows or stops abruptly.

There are some states that specifically single out large trucks and prohibit them from using the left lane, while other states limit the usage of the lane in specific situations. These laws may be based either on weight or axel limit. In other cases they could be solely based on vehicle description.

Even if there's no law that is statewide however, you must check local rules regarding the lane restriction and adhere to them. Also, you should move to the right when you notice a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

The 18 wheeler accidents wheeler and trucking companies have massive resources at their disposal to pressure accident victims to accept a lesser amount than they should. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who represent them before they even know whether the victim of an accident will pursue legal action.

Because they can carry massive loads and are so much larger than passenger automobiles, 18 wheelers typically cause a lot of injuries and huge property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is especially the case when they are involved in collisions with other motor vehicles. It is essential to have an a seasoned attorney fight for your rights and recover against these powerful, massive 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 and driving regulations. Our attorneys have the expertise to uncover violations of these laws, and then show the jury why it led to your accident.

There are many parties that can be responsible for the 18 Wheeler Accident Lawsuits-wheeler truck crash. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties responsible and ensure that they are responsible for your present and future costs. This includes owners of trucking businesses, trucking companies as well as maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also analyze the weather conditions that may be a factor in the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies are able to deploy large teams of adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and adjusters quickly. They start this process even before they are aware of whether you will seek legal recourse. That's why it's so important to immediately retain an experienced lawyer who can match their resources and bring them down to size.

A lawyer who has expertise in handling 18-wheeler accidents will ease your burden and help you obtain the compensation you're due. This money can be used to pay for medical costs, vehicle damage loss of income due to missed work as well as other non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

18 wheelers are extremely complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to keep them safe on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and keep detailed records could result in tragic accidents.

Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials that requires specialized training and specialized licensing to transport. The material could be flammable, explosive, radiological, or toxic, all of which can pose serious dangers for other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could result in a catastrophic accident.

A competent attorney for 18-wheelers can determine the exact cause and blame the parties that may be accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company, the owner or the trailer, as well as the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is also known as vicarious liability.