semi trucking Truck Accident Law

A serious injury sustained in the crash of trucks can result in the death of a person in medical expenses. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.

Following a collision, it is important to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A qualified lawyer will help you prove your case using evidence like police reports, surveillance footage, etc.

Vehicles that are not maintained properly

In a lot of cases trucking firms and owner-operators fail to take the appropriate steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This leads to an overwhelming number of avoidable accidents each year.

Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers due to their dimensions and larger load. However working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits is often prioritized over maintaining the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical issues that could cause disastrous accidents.

The brakes on a truck must be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a minute's notice. When the brake pads on a truck lines, lines or return springs fail they could cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components should be regularly inspected and repaired as needed to ensure their good condition.

A poorly maintained tire can also be a major contributor to truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can lose traction and cause the truck to rollover or slide. If a tire is defective in any way, such as having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it could fail catastrophically.

In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections to spot mechanical issues before they cause an accident. However, if the inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop fails to adhere to the guidelines of the manufacturer this could result in an accident. In these instances, the company that hired or directed the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.

Another common cause of truck accidents is defective signals, lights, and reflectors. These components must be in good functioning to allow drivers to see the semi truck accident lawsuit and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas and after dark. However, trucking companies might not inspect and maintain these equipments or the driver might not be able to complete daily safety checks.

A Houston truck accident attorney can investigate your case and determine who might be accountable for your damages in the event that you are injured by a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence to prove the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you obtain the compensation you're due.

Distracted Drivers

There are few things more devastating than an incident with a commercial truck. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and can cause more injuries when they are involved in collisions. Distracted driving is among the many factors that can cause accidents. A distracted truck driver can lose control of their vehicle or miss a road hazard, which can lead to serious and [empty] life-changing injuries.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition against texting or using cell phones while driving. Even if truckers adhere to the rules, they could still get distracted and cause an accident. This could be due to mechanical distractions like not having your hands on the steering wheel, or by cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.

Many people are aware that texting while driving can be risky, but not many know that other activities, like eating, changing radio stations, or chatting with passengers, are also considered to be distracting. When a trucker gets distracted, he may drift into another area and not be aware of the traffic jam in front of him. If a truck driver's focus is diverted, it takes only a split-second for a large vehicle to hit a motorist car.

If a car accident occurs due to a distracted driver, it is important to snap photos of the scene of the accident and note down the contact details and name of any witnesses. It is also helpful to know the name of the truck driver as well as the company they work for, aswell as who owns the truck if they are an independent contractor. This will affect who is liable for your incident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found partially responsible for your accident, it could be liable to you for economic as well as non-economic losses.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions with trucks are frequent and frequently cause serious injuries. They can happen in a variety settings, such as at an intersection or stop signal, where the trucker is unable to check behind them for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. They can also occur when a car cuts in front of the truck, [Redirect-302] forcing the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.

It can be hard to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions as it isn't always clear which vehicle was at fault. An experienced attorney can gather evidence to show that the driver behind caused the crash through following too closely or driving distracted. This could include evidence such as photos, police reports eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the roadway.

Sometimes the driver in front could be found to be the one responsible for the accident in addition. This could occur if they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal like any reasonable person. This is where modified comparative negligence laws be applied, in which the jury assigns a percentage to each party, and damages are lowered accordingly.

Bruises and Lacerations

In a rear-end crash the rear end of the vehicle is the one that suffers the most impact. This means that occupants are at risk of serious injuries if hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They also may break bones due to being thrown around the interior of the car as a result of the force of the collision. Spinal injuries can be severe. Damage to the spine can cause serious and lasting impacts on the victims.

A victim of a serious accident may also experience psychological and emotional trauma. They may experience difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could cause anxiety and depression. If they are unable to work due to the degree of their injury this could cause stress and financial burden. An attorney will investigate the possible sources of liability and assist a victim in receiving fair compensation for their loss.

Faulty Trailer Hitches

Whatever vehicle you're driving, either a car, van, a truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause a catastrophic accident that could result in serious injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident involving the trailer that has run away, contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney who specializes in cases involving hitch failure promptly to discuss your legal options.

The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch can be a variety of things that can be traced to improper security or design. It can also be the result of a defect in the manufacturing process or a manufacturing defect, in which case the laws governing product liability could apply. The company or person accountable for a defective trailer could be held responsible for the victims' medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses resulting from the incident.

In a fatal crash that occurred on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 a trailer detached from the truck. It crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the truck driver's inattention to inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch at the center of the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a significant proportion of times.

Due to the faulty hitch due to the hitch's failure, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries for the drivers.

The truck driver in the accident was convicted of vehicular homicide. However, experts suggest that he could've avoided the collision in the event that he had conducted an exhaustive inspection of his trailer to make sure that all connections were secure. The failure of trailer hitches can lead to major disasters. These types of accidents are typically high-speed, and they can easily cause a collision with motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In these situations the trailer can distort the frame of a car and create sharp metal fragments to injure passengers.