What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents that involve commercial truck drivers, their rigs and 18 wheelers are covered by the law of 18 wheels. These huge vehicles must adhere to strict federal guidelines for maintenance, safety, and training.

Companies that transport trucks often force their drivers to work for longer and manipulate logbooks. This can cause catastrophic trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

Knowing the weight limits for semi-trucks is crucial. The majority of states have single axle and group axle weight limits which must be observed. It is common to see weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed in order to confirm that they do not exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle and load. If a trucker gets found to be in violation of these limits, they may be fined or even jailed based on the state and their criminal record.

Axle groups are given a higher limit as distributing the weight across more axles makes the vehicle safer and allows more cargo to be carried. For example, a single tire on an axle is able to weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter but when there are 2 tires on that same axle it could be measured at 1300 pounds per tire.

There are also restrictions on the type of trailers that can be used in conjunction with a tractor. Some states allow only one trailer, while others only permit triple or twin trailers. In addition, many states require five wheels on the trailer which is a round plate above the drive wheels that joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Both day cab tractors and sleeper cabs are available. They both come with a sleeping area inside the tractor 18 wheeler accident unit.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to lane restrictions truck drivers also must comply with speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks cannot drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles and, when they do, they might cause accidents. In many cases the truck driver is the one at fault in these accidents. This is due to the fact that truck drivers can drive for longer than allowed or 18 wheeler accident break the rules of hours-of-service, or become sleepy or distracted behind the wheel.

Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left side of the road. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This could be a risky situation, particularly for cars with smaller wheels that could be stranded behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

Some states specifically exclude large trucks and prevent them from using the left lane, and others only restrict the use of the lane only in certain circumstances. These laws can be based either on axel or weight limits. In other cases they could be based solely on the vehicle description.

Although there's no statewide law governing lane restrictions, you should still be aware of local rules and abide by the rules. You should also move to the left when you see a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

Companies that operate 18 wheelers and trucks have massive resources available to pressure victims of accidents into accepting far less than they should. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and lawyers who work on their behalf even before they know if an accident victim will seek legal remedy.

In accidents 18-wheelers can be blamed for severe injuries and property damage because they carry such heavy loads and are so large compared to passenger vehicles. This is especially relevant when they collide with motor vehicles. It is vital to hire an attorney who has experience fighting for your rights against these powerful, large corporations.

Large-scale accidents require a thorough understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and federal regulations for trucking and medicine, driving standards and other related areas. Our lawyers have the experience to discover violations of these laws and show the jury why it led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck crashes are typically caused by the negligence or reckless actions of a variety of parties. Our NY attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all of the liable parties and make sure they are liable for their fair portion of your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking firms as well as owners, maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that could have played a part in your accident.

Insurance

The trucking industry has a wealth of options available and can quickly deploy teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers, engineers, and experts to build a defense against the victims of accidents. They start this process even before they know if you'll seek legal recourse. It is essential to find an attorney who is capable of matching their resources and reducing them in size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer can alleviate the burden of dealing with these big corporations off your hands and focus on getting you the compensation you are entitled to. This can be used to cover expenses like medical bills that are expensive car damage, the loss of earnings due to a lack of work, as well as non-economic injuries like pain and suffering.

18-wheelers are highly complex vehicles that require high-level, systematic maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Inability to maintain this maintenance and keep accurate records can result in devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers are commonly used to transport hazardous materials, that require special training and licenses. The material may be flammable, explosive, radiological, or poisonous, all of which pose significant risks to other drivers on American roads. A fatal accident could occur if the cargo is not properly labeled and secured.

A skilled 18 wheeler accident attorney-wheeler crash lawyer can determine the causes and blame any other individuals responsible. This may include the driver of the truck, the trucking company as well as the owner of the trailer and the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is called vicarious liability.