What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

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

Trucking companies often make their drivers to work for longer and alter logbooks. This can cause accidents with trucks that are catastrophic.

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits for semi trucks is vital. Most states have both single axle and group axle weight limits that must be observed. It is common to see weigh stations along interstates where truck drivers are weighed to make sure they do not exceed the maximum limits of their vehicle and load. If a trucker is found breaking these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined and even put in jail depending on their criminal history and the state.

Axle groups are given an upper limit due to the fact that distributing the weight across more axles makes the vehicle safer and 18 wheeler accident lawyer allows more cargo to be carried. For 18 wheeler accident lawyer example one tire on an axle may weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel's diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle it can be weighted at 1300 pounds for each tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers which can be used with a tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, whereas others only allow triple or twin trailers. A majority of states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer, which is a piece of metal that sits over the drive wheels and couples (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. Day cab tractor models as well as sleeper cabs are offered. They both include an area for sleeping in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must adhere to traffic signals and speed limits in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks are not able to drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles and should they do, they can cause accidents. In most cases, the truck driver is at fault in these accidents. Truck drivers could be driving longer than they are permitted to, breaking hours-of-service regulations or be asleep or distracted behind the wheel.

Truck drivers are also forbidden from driving in the left the lane. Trucks are slower to brake than passenger cars. This could result in a dangerous situation, particularly for smaller vehicles that could be stuck behind trucks if they suddenly slow down or stop.

Certain states restrict the use of lane lanes in certain circumstances, while others restrict it to large trucks. These laws can be based either on axel or weight limits. In other instances they may be based solely on vehicle description.

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

Ownership

The 18-wheeler and trucking firms have a wealth of resources to employ to pressure victims of accidents to accept less than what they are entitled to. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who work on their behalf before they even know if the accident victim will pursue legal action.

Because they carry huge loads and are much bigger than passenger automobiles, 18 wheelers typically cause massive injuries and property damage in accidents. This is especially so when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is vital to hire an attorney with experience fighting for your rights against these massive, powerful corporations.

Accidents involving large vehicles require an understanding of the most complex concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology, federal regulations for trucking and medical practices, driving regulations and related areas. Our lawyers are able to identify violations of these laws, and then show the jury how they contributed to your accident.

There are many parties that can be responsible for 18 wheeler accident attorney-wheeler truck crashes. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the accountable parties and ensure they are paid their fair portion of your current and anticipated costs. This includes owners of trucking businesses, trucking companies as well as maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that may be a factor in the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have a wealth of resources available to them and can quickly send teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and lawyers to build a defense against the victims of accidents. They start this process before they even decide if you will to seek legal recourse. This is why it's crucial to hire an experienced lawyer who can match their resources and bring them down to size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer can help you deal with these big corporations off your shoulders and concentrate on securing the compensation you are entitled to. This money can be used to cover medical expenses, vehicle damages loss of income due to missed work and other non-economic losses such as pain and suffering.

18-wheelers are extremely complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to keep them on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and maintain accurate records could lead to devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers often are used for transporting hazardous materials, that require special training and licensing. The material is explosive, flammable, radiological or poisonous, and all of these pose significant risks for other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could result in a catastrophic accident.

A skilled 18-wheeler crash lawyer can determine the cause and blame any parties who are responsible. These could include the truck driver and the trucking company, the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.