What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
18 wheeler law regulates accidents involving commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These huge vehicles must adhere to strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.
Trucking companies often require their drivers to work longer and manipulate logbooks. This can lead accidents with trucks that are catastrophic.
Weight Regulations
Knowing the weight limits for semi trucks is essential. Many states have single axle and group axle weight limits that must be adhered to. There are numerous weigh stations along interstates, and truckers are weighed to ensure that they do not over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a truck driver is discovered to be violating these limits, they may be fined or even jailed depending on the state of their residence and criminal record.
Axle groups are granted a higher limit because distributing the weight across multiple axles makes the vehicle more secure and allows more cargo to be carried. For example a single tire mounted on an axle may be weighed at 650lbs per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle, it could be measured at 1300 pounds per tire.
There are restrictions on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Some states permit only one trailer while some states permit triple or twin trailers. In addition, many states require fifth wheels on the trailer which is a rounded plate on top of the drive wheels that joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Day cab tractor models and sleeper cabs are readily available. They both include an area for sleeping in the tractor unit.
Lane Restrictions
Truck drivers must observe speed limits and traffic signals in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks can't drive at the same speed as vehicles for passengers and should they do, they can cause accidents. In many cases the driver of the truck is the culprit in these accidents. 18 wheeler accident lawyer norwalk is because truck drivers may drive longer than the limit and break hours-of service rules or become sleepy or distracted behind the driving.
Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left right lane. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This can be a very dangerous situation, especially for cars that are smaller and could be stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.
Certain states restrict the use of lanes in specific circumstances, while others restrict it to large trucks. In some cases these laws are determined by weight and axel limits, whereas in others they may be based on the description of the vehicle or direction signs.
Even if there's no law that is statewide that you can follow, you should be aware of local regulations regarding the lane restriction and adhere to the rules. It is also recommended to move to the right when you spot a truck blocking the passing lane.
Ownership
Companies that operate 18 wheelers and trucks have massive resources available to force accident victims into accepting less than they should. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who act on their behalf before they even know if the accident victim will take legal action.
Due to their massive load and are much larger than passenger automobiles, 18 wheelers typically cause severe injuries and massive property damage in accidents. This is especially the case when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is imperative to hire an attorney who is experienced in fighting for your rights against these large, powerful corporations.
Accidents involving large vehicles require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology, federal regulations for trucking as well as medical standards, driving and many other related areas. Our attorneys are able to find any violations of these laws and present to the jury the circumstances that led to your accident.
Multiple parties can be responsible for truck accidents involving 18-wheelers. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties responsible and ensure that they are responsible for your current and anticipated expenses. This includes trucking firms as well as owners, maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also analyze the weather conditions that could be a factor in the accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies are able to send large teams of adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts and adjusters quickly. They start this process even before they are aware of whether you'll be seeking legal recourse. This is why it's crucial to hire an experienced attorney who can match their resources and cut them to size.
A lawyer who has experience in handling 18-wheeler crashes can relieve you of the burden and help you receive the compensation you're due. The money will cover costs like medical bills that are expensive and vehicle damage, as well as lost wages from missing work, and also non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.
18 wheelers are highly complex vehicles that require high-end, consistent maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and keep accurate records can result in tragic accidents.
Tractor-trailers are often carrying hazardous materials, which requires special training and specialized licensing to transport. This material can be flammable, explosive, radiological or poisonous, all of which can pose serious dangers to other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also result in a fatal accident.
A qualified 18-wheeler crash lawyer can determine the exact cause of your crash and liable for any party who may be responsible. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company and the owner of the trailer and the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is referred to as vicarious obligation.