What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents with commercial truck drivers, their rigs and 18 wheeler accident lawsuits (visit this site) wheelers are covered under the law of 18 wheels. These huge vehicles are subject to federal regulations regarding maintenance, safety and training.

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

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits of semi trucks is vital. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are set by most states. Weigh stations are common along interstates where truckers are weighed to ensure they don't over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is caught in violation of these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined and even put in jail subject to their criminal history and the state.

Axle groups have a higher limit of weight since the vehicle is safer when the weight is spread over more axles. This also allows for the transport of larger cargo. For instance one tire on an axle may be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel's diameter. However, when there are two tires on the same axle it can be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Some states allow only one trailer while others only allow triple or twin trailers. Many states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer, which is a plate that is placed above the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors and sleeper cabs which include sleeping areas inside the tractor unit and are specifically designed to be used for hauling over the road.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to the lane restrictions, truck drivers must also comply with speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks aren't allowed to drive at the same speeds as passenger vehicles. If they do, accidents can occur. In most cases, the driver of the truck is the culprit in these accidents. Truck drivers might be driving for longer than they are permitted to, violating hours-of-service rules, or being distracted or sleepy behind the steering wheel.

Truck drivers are also forbidden from driving in the left lane. This is because it takes a lot longer for trucks to brake than cars. This could be a risky problem, especially for people in cars that are smaller and could be stranded behind a truck when it stops abruptly or slows down.

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

Even if there isn't a statewide law on lane restrictions, you must still review the local rules and 18 wheeler accident lawsuits abide by them. You should also shift to the right if you see a truck in the pass lane, so that it does not block faster cars from overtaking you.

Ownership

Companies that operate 18 wheelers and trucks have huge resources available to pressure accident victims into accepting less than they deserve. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers, engineers, and experts who work on their behalf before they know if the victim of the accident will pursue legal recourse.

Because they carry huge loads and are larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers often cause catastrophic injuries and enormous property damage in accidents. This is especially true when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is essential to find a lawyer who has experience fighting for your rights against these powerful, huge corporations.

Large truck accidents require a thorough understanding of concepts from the fields of biology, chemistry and physics and federal trucking regulations, medical regulations, and driving rules. Our lawyers have the experience to find violations of these laws, and then show the jury how it led to your accident.

There are many parties that can be responsible for the 18-wheeler truck crash. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties responsible and ensure that they pay their fair share for your present and future expenses. This includes trucking firms, owners of maintenance contractors, even the drivers themselves. Our team will also look into the weather conditions that may have played a role in your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have vast resources at their disposal and are able to quickly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and even engineers to build a defense against accident victims. They start this process even before they are aware of whether you'll seek legal recourse. This is why it is vital to immediately hire a capable attorney who can match their resources and bring them down to size.

A lawyer with experience handling 18 wheeler accident lawyer-wheeler collisions will relieve you of the burden and assist you in getting the compensation you're entitled to. This money can be used to pay for medical expenses, vehicle damage loss of income due to missed work and other non-economic losses like suffering and pain.

18 wheelers are a complex vehicle and require high-level, systematic maintenance to keep them safe on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and maintain detailed records can result in tragic accidents.

Tractor-trailers often carry hazardous material, which requires special training and special licensing for transport. This material can be explosive, flammable, radiological or poisonous, and all of these could pose a significant risk to other drivers on American roads. In the absence of proper labeling and secure the load could also result in a catastrophic accident.

A reputable 18 wheeler crash lawyer can pinpoint the exact reason for your accident and hold liable any parties that are accountable. These may include the truck driver or the trucking company the owner of the trailer, and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is also known as vicarious liability.