What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

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

Trucking companies often make their drivers to work longer and manipulate logbooks. This can lead to devastating trucking crashes.

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits of semi trucks is essential. The majority of states have single axle and group axle weight limits that must be adhered to. It is common to see weigh stations on interstates where drivers are weighed in order to make sure they do not exceed the maximum limits of their vehicle and load. If a truck driver gets found to be in violation of these limits, they could be fined, or even imprisoned, based on the state they reside in and their criminal record.

Axle groups are able to have an upper limit due to the fact that distributing the weight across more axles makes the vehicle more secure and allows more cargo to be transported. For instance a single tire on an axle may be weighed at 650lbs per inch of wheel diameter but when there are two tires on the same axle, it can be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.

There are limitations on the kinds of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, while other states only permit triple or twin trailers. Some states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer, which is a piece of metal that sits over the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. There are day cabtractors as well as sleeper cabs that incorporate a sleeping area into the tractor unit. They are designed for over the road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to limitations on lane width Truck drivers must also be aware of speed limits as well as traffic lights. Trucks are not able to drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles and even if they do, they may cause accidents. In most cases the truck driver is the one at fault in these accidents. This is because truck drivers often be driving for longer than is permitted or break the rules of hours-of-service, or get sleepy or distracted behind the vehicle.

Truck drivers are also banned from driving in the left side of the road. Trucks are slower to brake than cars for passenger use. This could be a risky situation, especially for smaller cars that may get stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

Some states specifically exclude big trucks and block them from using the left lane. However, other states limit the use of the lane in specific circumstances. In some cases, these laws are built around axel and weight limits, whereas in others they could be based upon vehicle description or direction signs.

Even if there is no law that is statewide however, you must check local rules about limitations on lane usage and follow them. You should also move to the left when you see a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

The 18 wheeler and trucking companies have massive resources to pressure victims of accidents to accept a lesser amount than they should. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and lawyers who advocate on their behalf even before they know if the victim of the accident will pursue legal recourse.

In accidents, 18-wheelers are often responsible for catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage because they are able to carry heavy loads and are incredibly large compared to passenger vehicles. This is especially relevant when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an attorney who has experience fighting for your rights against these powerful, huge corporations.

Accidents involving large vehicles require an in-depth understanding of the concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology, federal regulations for trucking and medicine, driving standards and 18 wheeler accidents other related areas. Our lawyers are able to find violations of these laws and show the jury how it led to your accident.

Multiple parties could be accountable for truck accidents involving 18-wheelers. Our NY attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure they are paid their fair share of your current and anticipated costs. This includes owners of trucking companies, trucking companies as well as maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate weather conditions that may have played a part in your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies are able to provide large teams of adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and adjusters quickly. They start this process even before they know whether you'll be seeking legal recourse. It is crucial to hire an attorney who is capable of matching their resources and helping them decrease in size.

A lawyer who has expertise in handling 18 wheeler accident law firm-wheeler accidents can relieve you of the burden and help you obtain the compensation you're due. This money can be used to cover medical expenses, vehicle damage as well as lost income from missing work and other damages that are not economic like pain and suffering.

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

Tractor-trailers frequently carry hazardous materials that requires specialized training and special licensing for transport. These materials can be explosive or flammable and 18 wheeler accidents radiological as well as poisonous. They all pose a serious risk to other drivers on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could result in a fatal accident.

A competent attorney for 18-wheelers can pinpoint the exact causes and blame any other individuals responsible. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company and the owner of the trailer, as well as the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is known as vicarious liability.