What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents with commercial truck drivers, their rigs, and 18 wheelers are covered under the law of 18 wheels. These massive vehicles must comply with strict federal guidelines for maintenance, safety, and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies often press their drivers to complete longer hours and manipulate log books. This can lead to devastating trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits for semi-trucks is crucial. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are determined by most states. It is typical to see weigh stations on interstates where drivers are weighed in order to make sure they are not exceeding the maximum limits for their vehicle and load. If a truck driver gets caught violating these limitations they could be fined, or even jailed based on the state they reside in and their criminal record.

Axle groups are able to have a higher limit as distributing the weight across multiple axles increases the safety of the vehicle and allows more cargo to be transported. A single tire on a wheel can only weigh up to 700 pounds per inch, but when two tires are mounted on the same axle, they can be weighed as high as 1300 pounds.

There are restrictions on the kinds of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer while some states permit triple or twin trailers. In addition, many states require a fifth wheel on the trailer. This is a rounded plate on top of the drive wheels that couples (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs can be found. They both include an area for sleeping in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must adhere to traffic signals and speed limits in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks can't drive at the same speed as vehicles for passengers and even if they do, they can cause accidents. In many instances, the driver of the truck is the culprit in these accidents. Truck drivers may be driving for longer than they are allowed to, ignoring the hours-of-service regulations or be asleep or distracted behind the driving.

Another important lane restriction is that truck drivers are not permitted to drive in the left right lane. Trucks brake more slowly than passenger cars. This can be a dangerous issue, particularly for those in cars that are smaller and could be stranded behind trucks when it suddenly stops or slows down.

Some states limit the use of lanes in certain circumstances, while some states limit it to large trucks. In some instances the laws are dependent on weight and axel limits, while in others they may be based on vehicle description or direction signs.

Even if there's no law that is statewide it is important to check local rules regarding the lane restriction and adhere to the rules. You should also move to the right when you see trucks blocking the lane.

Ownership

The 18 wheeler and trucking companies have huge resources at their disposal to pressure accident victims to accept less than they deserve. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, engineers, and experts that work on their behalf before they know if the victim of the accident will pursue legal recourse.

Because they carry huge loads and are much larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers can cause massive injuries and property damage in accidents. This is especially true when these trucks collide with other motor vehicles. It is important to hire an an experienced attorney fight for your rights and get you justice against these powerful, massive corporations.

Large-scale accidents require an understanding of the most complex concepts in the fields of physics and biology, chemistry and trucking regulations from the federal government as well as medical standards, driving and other related areas. Our lawyers have the knowledge to discover violations of these laws and show the jury how they contributed to your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents can be caused by the negligence or reckless actions of multiple parties. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawsuit-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties accountable and ensure that they are liable for your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking firms owners, maintenance contractors, owners and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also examine weather conditions that might be a factor in the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have vast resources available and can swiftly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and even engineers to create a defense against the victims of accidents. They start this process before they know if you intend to seek legal recourse. This is why it is crucial to hire a capable attorney who can match their resources and cut them to size.

A seasoned 18-wheeler crash lawyer will take the burden of dealing with these big corporations off your shoulders and concentrate on getting you the compensation you're due. The money could be used to pay medical expenses, vehicle damages loss of income due to missed work, and other non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.

18 wheeler accidents-wheelers are extremely complex vehicles that require a high-level, structured maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and maintain detailed records could result in tragic accidents.

Tractor-trailers can be used to transport hazardous substances, that require specialized training and a license. These materials can be explosive or flammable or radiological or poisonous. They all pose a risk to other drivers traveling on American highways. In the absence of proper labeling and secure the load could also result in a fatal accident.

A competent 18-wheeler accident attorney can determine the exact cause of the accident and pinpoint any individuals responsible. This may include the driver of the truck, the trucking company or the owner of the trailer as well as the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.