What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents involving commercial truck drivers, their rigs and 18 wheeler accident lawsuits wheelers are covered by the law of 18 wheeler accidents wheels. These huge vehicles must adhere to strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.

Trucking companies often force their drivers to work for longer and manipulate logbooks. This can cause catastrophic trucking crashes.

Weight Regulations

It is essential to understand the weight limits for semi-trucks. Weight limits for single axles and group axles are determined by most states. Weigh stations are common along interstates, where truckers are weighed to ensure they do not exceed the weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is caught breaking these limits and is fined, they could be penalized and even sent to jail according to their criminal record and the state.

Axle groups are able to have a higher limit as distributing the weight over more axles makes the vehicle safer and allows more cargo to be transported. For example a single tire mounted on an axle is able to weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel's diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle it could be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, while other states allow twin or triple trailers. A lot of states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer, which is a piece of metal that sits above the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors and sleeper cabs that have a sleeping area into the tractor unit and are designed for over-the-road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to restrictions on lane usage, truck drivers must also be aware of speed limits as well as traffic lights. Trucks cannot drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles. If they do, accidents may occur. In many instances the driver of the truck is the culprit in these accidents. Truck drivers could be driving for longer than they are permitted to, or breaking the hours-of service regulations or be distracted or sleepy behind the steering wheel.

Another important lane restriction is that truck drivers are not allowed to drive in the left lane. This is because it takes much longer for trucks to stop than passenger vehicles. This can be a very dangerous situation, particularly for cars that are smaller and could be stranded behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

Certain states restrict the use of lane lanes in certain situations, while other states restrict it to large trucks. These laws could be based on axel or weight limits. In other cases they could be based solely on the vehicle's description.

Even if there's no state-wide law regarding lane restrictions you should still check the local rules and adhere to them. You should also shift to the right when you spot a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

Companies that operate 18 Wheeler Accident Lawsuits wheelers and trucks have massive resources to force accident victims into accepting less than what they are entitled to. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who represent them before they even know if the victim of an accident will take legal action.

In the event of an accident, 18-wheelers are often responsible for catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage due to the fact that they are able to carry heavy loads and are incredibly large compared to passenger vehicles. This is especially true when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is imperative to hire an attorney with experience fighting for your rights against these massive, powerful corporations.

Accidents involving large trucks require an understanding of complex concepts that are derived from biology, chemistry, physics and federal trucking regulations, medical and driving regulations. Our attorneys have the expertise to identify violations of these laws and demonstrate to the jury how it led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents are often caused by the negligent or reckless acts of a number of parties. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties accountable and ensure that they are held accountable for your present and future costs. This includes trucking companies, owners, maintenance contractors, and even drivers themselves. Our team will also study weather conditions that may have contributed to the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies are able to provide large teams of adjusters, lawyers, engineers and experts quickly. They start this process before they know whether you are going to seek legal recourse. It is essential to retain an attorney who is capable of matching their resources and helping them decrease in size.

An attorney who has experience in handling 18-wheeler crashes can ease the burden and assist you in getting the compensation you're due. This can be used to cover expenses like medical bills that are expensive and vehicle damage, as well as loss of wages due to absence from work, and also non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

18 wheelers are extremely complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and keep detailed records can result in disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers are often used to transport hazardous materials which require specialized training and certification. The material could be flammable, explosive, radiological or poisonous, and all of these pose significant risks 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 cause of your accident and hold accountable any other parties who could be accountable. These may 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 also known as vicarious liability.