What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law protects against accidents which involve commercial truck drivers as well as their rigs. These massive vehicles must follow strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies often require their drivers to work longer hours and manipulate log books. This can cause catastrophic trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits of semi trucks is vital. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are determined by the majority of states. It is commonplace to see weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed to ensure that they do not exceed the maximum weight limit for their vehicle and load. If a trucker is caught violating these limits they could face fines and even sentenced to jail depending on their criminal history and the state.

Axle groups are given an upper limit due to the fact that distributing the weight over a wider range of axles is safer for the vehicle and allows for more cargo to be carried. For instance one tire on an axle is able to weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter but when there are 2 tires on the same axle, it could be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with a tractor. Some states allow only one trailer while others only allow triple or twin trailers. A majority of states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer that is a piece of metal that sits above the drive wheels and couples (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. Day cab and night cab tractors and sleeper cabs are readily available. They both have an area for sleeping inside the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must abide by traffic rules and speed limits in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks can't drive at the same speed as cars and, if they do, they might cause accidents. In most instances, it's the truck driver who is responsible. Truck drivers might be driving for longer than they are permitted to, or breaking the hours-of service regulations or simply being distracted or asleep behind the wheel.

Truck drivers are also forbidden from driving in the left lane. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than passenger cars. This could be a risky issue, particularly for those in smaller cars who may be stuck behind a truck when it stops abruptly or slows down.

There are states that specifically target large trucks and prohibit them from using the left lane, and others only restrict the use of the lane in specific situations. These laws may be based either on weight or axel limit. In other instances they could be solely based on the vehicle's description.

Even if there is no law that is statewide however, you must check local rules about lane restrictions and follow the rules. You should also move over to the right side if you see trucks passing in the lane to ensure that it does not hinder faster cars from overtaking you.

Ownership

The 18-wheeler and trucking companies have an array of resources they can utilize to force accident victims to accept less than what they're entitled to. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, engineers, and experts who work on their behalf before they know if the victim of an accident will pursue legal recourse.

Due to their massive load and are so much larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers frequently cause catastrophic injuries and enormous property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is particularly so when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is important to hire an an experienced attorney defend your rights and recoveries against these large, 18 wheeler accident powerful corporations.

Accidents involving large trucks require a deep understanding of concepts that are derived from biology, chemistry, physics as well as federal trucking regulations medicine, and driving standards. Our lawyers can identify any violations of these laws and then show the jury the factors that led to your accident.

Many parties could be at fault for the 18-wheeler truck crash. Our NY attorney for accidents involving 18 wheels will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure they are paid their fair share of your current and expected expenses. This includes trucking companies and owners, maintenance contractors and 18 wheeler accident even drivers themselves. Our team will also examine weather conditions that could have played a role in the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have an abundance of resources available to them and can quickly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and lawyers to help defend accident victims. They start this process even before they know if you'll be seeking legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who can match their resources and bringing them down in size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer will relieve the burden of dealing with these large corporations off your hands and focus on obtaining the compensation you're due. The money could be used to cover medical expenses, vehicle damages, lost income from missed work, and other non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

18-wheelers are a complex vehicle that require high-level, systematized maintenance to keep them on the road. Inability to keep detailed documents and carry out this maintenance could lead to disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials that requires specialized training and special licensing for transport. They can be flammable or explosive or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a serious risk to other drivers traveling on American highways. In the absence of proper labeling and secure the load could result in a catastrophic accident.

A skilled 18 wheeler accident lawyer-wheeler crash lawyer can determine the causes and blame any other parties who are accountable. This may include the driver of the truck, the trucking firm and the owner of the trailer as well as the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is called vicarious responsibility.