What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents caused by commercial truck drivers their rigs, and 18 wheeler accident lawsuit wheelers are covered by the law governing 18 wheelers. These massive vehicles are subject to federal regulations regarding maintenance, safety and training.

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

Weight Regulations

It is crucial to know the weight limits for semi trucks. Weight limits for 18 Wheeler Accident single axles as well as group axles are set by the majority of states. It is common to see weigh stations along interstates, where truck drivers are weighed in order to make sure they do not exceed maximum limits of their vehicle and load. If a trucker gets found to be in violation of these restrictions, they could be fined, or even jailed based on the state and their criminal record.

Axle groups have a greater limit on weight because the vehicle is safer when the weight is distributed over more axles. This also permits the transportation of more cargo. For instance one tire on an axle is able to be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on that same axle it can be weighted at 1300 pounds for each tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with a tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while others allow twin or triple trailers. Additionally, a lot of states require fifth wheels on the trailer which is a round plate that is above the drive wheels, which connects (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cabtractors as well as sleeper cabs, which incorporate sleeping areas inside the tractor unit and are specifically designed for over the road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must obey speed limits and traffic signals in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks aren't allowed to operate at the same speed as passenger cars. If they do, accidents may occur. In many cases, the driver of the truck is at fault in these accidents. Truck drivers may be driving for longer than they are permitted to, or breaking the hours-of service regulations or be asleep or distracted behind the driving.

Another important restriction on lane use is that truck drivers aren't allowed to drive in the left lane. This is because it takes much longer for trucks to stop than cars. This can be a serious problem, particularly for those with smaller cars who could be stranded behind a truck when it suddenly stops or slows down.

Some states restrict the use of lanes under certain circumstances, while some states limit it for big trucks. These laws can be based on weight or axel limits. In other situations they could be based solely on the vehicle description.

Even if there is no law that is statewide it is important to check local rules on lane restrictions and follow them. Also, you should move to the left when you see a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have a vast array of resources available to force accident victims to accept a lesser amount than what they are entitled to. They have teams of insurance adjusters and lawyers who act on their behalf before they know whether the victim of an accident will pursue legal action.

In the event of an accident, 18-wheelers are often responsible for a plethora of injuries and property damage due to the fact that they carry such large loads and are incredibly large relative to passenger vehicles. This is especially so when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is important to have a skilled attorney defend your rights and recover against these large, powerful corporations.

Large-scale accidents require an in-depth understanding of the concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology as well as federal regulations for trucking, medicine, driving standards, and other related fields. Our attorneys have the expertise to uncover violations of these laws and explain to the jury why it led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck crashes are typically caused by the negligent or reckless actions of several parties. Our NY attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all of the accountable parties and ensure they are paid their fair portion of your current and anticipated expenses. This includes trucking firms, owners, maintenance contractors, and even drivers themselves. Our team will also look into the weather conditions that could have contributed to your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies are able to put together large teams of adjusters, lawyers engineers, and experts quickly. They start this process before they know whether you will to 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 crash lawyer will help you deal with these big corporations off your hands and concentrate on getting you the compensation you're entitled to. The money could be used to pay for expenses such as medical bills that are costly or vehicle damage, loss of wages due to absence from work, and non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.

18-wheelers are highly complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Inability to keep detailed records and 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers perform this maintenance can lead to catastrophic accidents.

Tractor-trailers often are used to transport hazardous materials, that require special training and licensing. These materials may be explosive or flammable and radiological as well as poisonous. They all pose a serious danger to other drivers on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could cause a devastating accident.

A qualified 18 wheeler accident lawyer can pinpoint the exact causes of your accident and hold any responsible parties who are responsible. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company or the owner of the trailer and the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is called vicarious liability.