What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
18 wheeler law regulates accidents that involve commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These massive vehicles are subject to strict federal guidelines 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 important to understand the weight limits for semi trucks. Most states have both single axle and group axle limits on weight that must be observed. It is commonplace to see weigh stations on interstates where drivers are weighed in order to ensure that they are not exceeding the maximum weight limit for their vehicle and load. If a truck driver is found to be in violation of these restrictions, they could be fined or even jailed based on the state they reside in and their criminal record.
Axle groups have a higher limit of weight since the vehicle is more secure when the weight is spread across multiple axles. This also permits the carriage of more cargo. A single tire on a wheel can weigh up to 650 pounds per inch, however, when two tires are mounted on the same axle, it can be weighed to 1300 pounds.
There are limitations on the types of trailers which can be used with the tractor. Some states will only allow one trailer, whereas others only allow triple or twin trailers. Many states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer that is a plate that is placed above the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. Day cab and night cab tractors and sleeper cabs are readily available. They both come with a sleeping space inside the tractor unit.
Lane Restrictions
Truck drivers must adhere to traffic signals and speed limits in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks aren't allowed to operate at the same speed as passenger cars. If they do, accidents can occur. In a lot of cases, the truck driver is the one at fault in these accidents. Truck drivers may be driving longer than they are entitled to, ignoring the hours-of-service regulations and/or being tired or distracted behind the steering wheel.
Another important restriction on lane use is that truck drivers aren't permitted to drive in the left or right. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This can pose a danger problem, especially for people in smaller cars who may be stuck behind a truck if it slows or stops abruptly.
Some states limit the use of lanes in specific circumstances, while others restrict it for large trucks. In certain cases, these laws are built around axel and weight limits, whereas in other, they may be based on vehicle descriptions or directions.
Even if there's no state-wide regulation on lane limits, you must still review the local rules and adhere to the rules. You should also move to the right when you notice trucks blocking the lane.
Ownership
The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have many resources they can utilize to force victims of accidents to accept less than they're entitled. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who advocate on their behalf before they even know whether the accident victim will pursue legal action.
In the event of an accident 18-wheelers are usually responsible for a number of serious injuries and property damage due to the fact that they carry such large loads and are huge when compared to passenger cars. This is especially relevant when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is important to have an experienced attorney defend your rights and recover against these large, powerful corporations.
Accidents involving large trucks require a thorough understanding of concepts in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics and federal trucking regulations medical and driving regulations. Our lawyers are able to discover violations of these laws and show the jury how they contributed to your accident.
Multiple parties can be responsible for truck accidents involving 18-wheelers. 18 wheeler accident lawsuit brownsville for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure that they are liable for their fair share of your current and anticipated expenses. This includes trucking companies and owners, maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also study weather conditions that may have played a part in your accident.
Insurance
The trucking industry has a wealth of resources available and are able to quickly deploy teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and lawyers to develop a strategy for defense against the victims of accidents. They begin the process before they know whether you will to seek legal recourse. This is why it is so important to immediately retain a capable attorney who can match their resources and reduce them to size.
An attorney who has expertise in handling 18-wheeler accidents will ease your burden and help you obtain the compensation you're entitled to. This money can be used to pay for medical expenses, vehicle damage, lost income from missed work and other damages that are not economic like suffering and pain.
18-wheelers are highly complex vehicles that require a high-level, structured maintenance to keep them on the road. Inability to maintain this maintenance and maintain accurate records can result in catastrophic accidents.
Tractor-trailers frequently carry hazardous materials that requires specialized training and specialized licenses to transport. The material is explosive, flammable, radiological, or poisonous, all of which can pose serious dangers to other drivers on American roads. An accident that is catastrophic could occur if the cargo is not properly labelled and secured.
A qualified 18 wheeler crash lawyer will determine the exact reason for your accident and hold any responsible parties that are accountable. These may include the truck driver and the trucking company, the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is called vicarious responsibility.
