What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents involving commercial truck drivers, their rigs, and 18 wheelers are covered by the law of 18 wheels. These huge vehicles must be subject to strict federal guidelines for maintenance safety, training, and maintenance.

Unfortunately, trucking companies often require their drivers to work longer hours and manipulate log books. This can cause trucking accidents to be catastrophic.

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 most states. Weigh stations are prevalent along interstates where truckers are weighed to ensure they do not over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a truck driver gets found to be in violation of these limits, they could be penalized or even imprisoned, based on the state of their residence and criminal record.

Axle groups are able to have a higher limit because distributing the weight across multiple axles makes the vehicle more secure and allows more cargo to be transported. For example one tire on an axle may weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter, but when there are two tires on the same axle, it could be weighed at 1300 pounds per tire.

There are limitations on the kinds of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Some states allow only one trailer, while others permit triple or twin trailers. In addition, many states require five wheels on the trailer. It is a circular plate over the drive wheels, which connects (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Day cab tractors and sleeper cabs can be found. They both have an area for sleeping in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must adhere to speed limits and traffic signals in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks cannot drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles and, when they do, they can cause accidents. In a lot of cases the driver of the truck is the culprit in these accidents. Truck drivers could be driving longer than they are allowed to, breaking hours-of-service regulations, or being distracted or asleep behind the wheel.

Truck drivers are also banned from driving in the left side of the road. Trucks brake much slower than passenger cars. This could be a risky issue, especially for those in smaller cars who may be stuck behind a truck if it slows or stops abruptly.

Certain states restrict the use of lane lanes in certain circumstances, while others restrict it for big trucks. In certain cases the laws are based on weight and axel limits, while 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 regarding the lane restrictions and adhere to the rules. Also, you should move to the left when you see a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

Companies operating 18 wheeler accident law firm wheelers and trucking have massive resources to force victims of accidents to accept less than they should. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, 18 Wheeler Accident Lawsuit and even engineers who advocate on their behalf even before they know whether the victim of an accident is going to seek legal relief.

In accidents 18 wheeler accident lawsuit-wheelers are usually responsible for a plethora of injuries and 18 Wheeler Accident Lawsuit property damage because they are able to carry heavy loads and are huge relative to passenger vehicles. This is especially the case when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is imperative to hire an attorney who has experience fighting for your rights against these powerful, large corporations.

Large-scale accidents require an understanding of the most complex concepts in the fields of physics and biology, chemistry as well as federal regulations for trucking, medicine, driving standards and related fields. Our lawyers have the experience to identify violations of these laws and demonstrate to the jury why it led to your accident.

There are many parties that can be responsible for 18-wheeler truck accidents. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties responsible and ensure that they are liable for your present and future expenses. This includes trucking companies, owners, maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that could have contributed to the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have an abundance of options available and can swiftly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and lawyers to develop a strategy for defense against accident victims. They begin this process before they know whether you'll seek legal recourse. This is why it's so important to immediately retain an experienced attorney who will match their resources and reduce them to size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer will alleviate the burden of dealing with these large corporations off your hands and concentrate on securing the compensation you deserve. The money will cover costs such as high medical bills car damage, loss of wages due to absence from work, and other injuries like suffering and pain.

18-wheelers are complex vehicles that require high-level, systematized maintenance to keep them on the road. Inability to maintain this maintenance and keep accurate records could result in disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers can be used to transport hazardous substances, which require specialized training and certification. These materials could be explosive or flammable or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a serious risk to other drivers on American highways. An accident that is catastrophic could occur if the cargo is not properly labeled and secured.

A qualified 18-wheeler crash attorney can determine the cause and blame the parties that may be accountable. These may include the driver of the truck or the trucking company the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is referred to as vicarious responsibility.