Semi Truck Accident Law

A semi truck accident law firm-truck crash can result in serious injuries that could cost a person a lot in medical expenses. It can also lead to permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.

After a crash, it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A qualified attorney can help you prove your case using evidence like police reports and surveillance footage, among others.

Poorly-Maintained Vehicles

In many cases trucking firms and owners-operators do not take appropriate steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This leads to an overwhelming number of preventable accidents every year.

Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars because of their larger dimensions and larger weight. However working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits is often prioritized over the maintenance of a fleet. As a result, trucks can become prone to mechanical problems that can could cause devastating accidents.

The brakes on trucks are of particular importance as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck are worn out and become damaged, it can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is crucial that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced as required to ensure that they remain in good working condition.

Tires that aren't maintained can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can lose traction and cause the truck to flip over or slide. If a tire is defective in some way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.

In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues before they cause an accident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop does not adhere to the manufacturer's specifications this could result in an accident. In these instances, the firm that hired the maintenance or repair shop or supervised it could be held responsible.

Poorly functioning lights, signals and reflectors are also a frequent reason for truck accidents. These devices must function properly to allow drivers to observe and anticipate the truck's movements especially in rural areas or at night. Drivers or trucking companies may fail to maintain and inspect these items, or might not conduct regular safety inspections.

A Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who might be accountable for your damages in the event you were injured by a deteriorated maintenance of a commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence that shows the defendant's negligence in the accident and assist you receive the compensation you're due.

Distracted Drivers

Accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your vehicle and can cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in an accident. Distracted driving is just one of the many factors that cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize a hazard in the road, which could lead to life-changing injuries.

Truck drivers must adhere to strict rules and regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition on texting or using cell phones while driving. But even if truckers abide by the rules, they are still prone to be distracted and cause crash. This can be caused by accidental distractions, such as getting your hands off the steering wheel or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.

Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but they are not aware that other activities, like eating or changing radio stations or chatting with passengers, are also considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they might get lost in a lane or not be able to see the traffic jam ahead of them. When a truck driver's attention is diverted, it's only just a few seconds for a huge vehicle to collide with a car.

It is crucial to gather details on any witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the crash when the driver is distracted and causes a truck crash. It is essential to know the name of the driver, the business that they work for and who owns the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This could impact on who is liable for the accident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking business to find competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partly responsible for your accident, it may be liable to you for any economic as well as non-economic losses.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end truck collisions are quite common and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can occur in many different situations such as at an intersection or at a red light when a trucker does not check ahead for traffic coming in. They may also occur when a car comes in front of the truck, forcing the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker could then smash the car from behind.

It can be difficult to prove fault in an accident that occurs at the rear, as it is not always obvious which vehicle caused the accident. A knowledgeable attorney can collect evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the accident because they followed too closely or driving erratically. This can include evidence like 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 as well. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal like any other reasonable person would do. In this type of scenario an amended comparative negligence law could be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each party. The damages will be reduced accordingly.

Bruises and Lacerations

In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the area that experiences the most impact. This means that the passengers are at risk of serious injuries if hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the crash can cause broken bones when the occupants are thrown about the vehicle's interior. Spinal injuries can be severe. Injuries to the spine can have long-lasting and serious consequences for victims.

In addition to these types of injuries, a victim may also experience psychological and emotional trauma from the trauma of a crash. They might have trouble sleeping or concentrating. This can cause anxiety and depression. If they're unable work due to the degree of their injury this can cause stress and financial hardship. An attorney can investigate the possible causes of liability to help a victim receive an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.

Faulty Trailer Hitches

Regardless of whether you're driving a car, a van, a truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer goes unhitched, it could lead to catastrophic accidents that result in serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident involving the trailer that has run away, contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch is many things which can range from inadequate securement or design. It could also be due to a defect on the part of the manufacturer in which case, product liability laws could apply. The person or company at fault for a faulty trailer can be held liable for the medical bills of the victims and auto repair costs and other losses arising from the incident.

In an accident that killed a person on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014, an unattached trailer was spotted on the truck. It then crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigations pointed out that the accident was due to the truck driver's negligence in failing to check and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.

As a result of the hitch that was defective, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. This led to multiple deaths and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.

The driver of the truck involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. However experts believe he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles if he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were tight. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause catastrophic accidents, as these incidents often involve a substantial amount of speed and may sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In such cases the trailer may distort the car's frame, and cause razor sharp metal fragments to impale passengers inside.