What Is 18 wheeler accidents Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law protects against accidents that involve commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These massive vehicles must comply with strict federal guidelines for maintenance safety, training, and maintenance.

Trucking companies often force their drivers to work for longer and alter logbooks. This can lead accidents involving trucks to be devastating.

Weight Regulations

It is essential to understand the weight limitations of semi trucks. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are determined by the majority of states. It is not uncommon to find weigh stations along interstates, where truck drivers are weighed to ensure that they are not exceeding the maximum limits of their vehicle and load. If a truck driver gets discovered to be violating these limits, they could be fined, or even imprisoned, based on the state they reside in and their criminal record.

Axle groups are given a higher limit as distributing the weight across more axles is safer for the vehicle and allows more cargo to be carried. A single tire on an wheel can only weigh up to 650 pounds per inch, however, if two tires are on the same axle, they can be weighed as high as 1300 pounds.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Some states allow only one trailer, while other states only permit triple or twin trailers. A majority of states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer that is a plate which sits over the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs that have sleeping areas inside the tractor unit and are specifically designed to haul over the road.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to the lane restrictions, truck drivers must also follow speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks aren't allowed to operate at the same speed as passenger cars. If they do, accidents could occur. In most cases, the truck driver is the primary culprit in these accidents. This is because truck drivers may drive longer than the limit or violate the hours-of-service regulations, or become tired or distracted behind the wheel.

Truck drivers are also barred from driving in the left the lane. Trucks brake more slowly than passenger cars. This could be a dangerous situation, particularly for smaller cars that may be stranded behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

There are states that specifically target large trucks and restrict them from using the left lane, while other states limit the use of the lane only in specific situations. In some cases, these laws are dependent on weight and axel limits, whereas in other they could be based on vehicle descriptions or direction signs.

Even if there's no statewide regulation on lane limits, you must still review the local rules and abide by the rules. It is also recommended to move to the right when you notice a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have a wealth of resources at their disposal to pressure victims of accidents to accept a lesser amount than they deserve. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who act on their behalf before they know if the victim of an accident will pursue legal action.

In accidents 18-wheelers are usually responsible for a plethora of injuries and property damage due to the fact that they carry such heavy loads and are so large when compared to passenger cars. This is particularly true when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an an experienced attorney defend your rights and get you justice against these massive, powerful corporations.

Large truck accidents require a deep understanding of concepts in the fields of biology, chemistry and physics, federal trucking regulations, medical standards, and driving. Our lawyers are able to uncover any violations of these laws, and explain to the jury what led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents are usually caused by the careless or reckless actions of a variety of parties. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure that they pay their fair share of your current and expected expenses. This includes trucking firms, owners, maintenance contractors, and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that may have contributed to the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have a wealth of resources at their disposal and can swiftly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and lawyers to develop a strategy for defense against accident victims. They start this process even before they are aware of whether you'll be seeking legal recourse. It is essential to retain an attorney who can match their resources and helping them decrease in size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer can take the burden of dealing with these corporations off your shoulders and focus on getting you the compensation you deserve. The money could be used to pay for medical expenses, vehicle damage, lost income from missed work and other damages that are not economic such as suffering and pain.

18 wheelers are extremely complex vehicles and require high-level, systematic maintenance to keep them safe on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and maintain accurate logs can lead to catastrophic accidents.

Tractor-trailers can be used to transport hazardous substances, which require special training and licensing. These materials can be flammable or explosive or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a risk to other drivers traveling on American highways. A serious accident can also occur if the load was not properly labeled and secured.

A competent 18-wheeler accident attorney can pinpoint the exact cause of the accident and pinpoint any individuals responsible. These could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer, and the manufacturer of the truck or its components. This is called vicarious liability.