Semi Truck Accident Law

A serious injury sustained in a crash with trucks can result in the death of a person with medical costs. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.

It is essential to have a reputable New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after a crash. A skilled lawyer can establish your case through evidence like police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.

Vehicles that aren't maintained properly

Owner-operators and trucking companies typically do not take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good repair. This leads to an astronomical number of preventable accidents each year.

Compared to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis need more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavier loads. Unfortunately, meeting deadlines and maximising profits is often prioritized over the maintenance of the fleet. This is why trucks are susceptible to mechanical failures that cause catastrophic accidents.

The brakes on a truck must be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. When a truck's brake pads, lines, or return springs wear out they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. These parts should be regularly checked and repaired as necessary to maintain their good condition.

A poorly maintained tire can also be a major reason for truck accidents. Worn tires can lose traction and cause the truck to slide or even tip over. If a tire is deficient in any way, for example, having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.

Trucks require regular inspections along with regular maintenance to spot mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop fails to adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines, it could cause a crash. In these situations the company that employed or oversees the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.

Incorrect lights, signals and reflectors are also a frequent reason for truck accidents. These components must function properly in order for drivers to be able to detect and anticipate the speed of the truck, especially when driving in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers may fail to maintain and inspect these elements, or they may not be able to conduct daily safety inspections.

A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer can review your case and determine who is accountable for your damages when you've been injured in an accident caused by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence that proves the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

Distracted Drivers

Accidents involving commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your vehicle and may cause more injuries when they are involved in a collision. Distracted driving is one of many factors that contribute to accidents. A driver who is distracted can lose control of the vehicle or miss an accident on the road and cause serious and life-threatening injuries.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting and using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers abide by the rules, they could still be distracted and cause an accident. This could be because of manual distractions like taking a hand off the wheel, or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.

Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but few know that other activities, such as eating, changing radio stations, or conversing with passengers, could also be considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they could wander off into another lane, or miss an obstruction in front of them. If a truck driver's focus is diverted, it only takes just a few seconds for a huge vehicle to hit a motorist car.

When a truck collision occurs due to a distracted driver it is crucial to take photographs of the crash scene and gather the name and contact information of witnesses. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the company for which they work and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This could affect who is liable for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for securing competent and skilled semi truck accident lawyer drivers. If the trucking company is found to be at least partially responsible for the accident, they may be responsible for your economic and non-economic damages.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions with trucks are quite common and can cause serious injuries. These accidents can happen in many different circumstances like at a stop sign or an intersection when the trucker does not check behind him for any traffic that is coming up. It can also happen when a car cuts across the truck's path, forcing the driver of the truck to stop at a rapid pace without warning. The trucker could then hit the car from behind.

It is often difficult to prove fault in an accident that occurs at the rear, as it's not always clear which vehicle caused the accident. A skilled attorney can help gather evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving with a distraction. This evidence can include photos as well as police reports and semi truck accident eyewitness testimony, aswell markings from skids on the road.

The driver in front of the car may be held accountable for the incident. This could occur if they cut someone off or fail to use a turn signal as any reasonable person. In these situations modified comparative negligence laws can be applied. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. The damages are then lowered accordingly.

Lacerations and Bruises

In a rear-end accident, the rear end of the vehicle is the one that suffers the most impact. This means that the passengers are at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the interior of the car. The injuries to the spine are often severe. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that control the body. Therefore, any damage to the spinal column can cause significant and permanent issues for the victims.

In addition to these types of injuries, the victim may also experience psychological and emotional trauma from being in a horrific crash. They may have difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can result in anxiety and depression. If they're unable to work due to the extent of their injury, this can add stress and financial hardship. An attorney can investigate the possible causes of liability to assist the victim to receive fair compensation for their loss.

Troublesome trailer hitches

It doesn't matter if you're driving the vehicle of a car, truck, a van or a flatbed, all vehicles must to be securely connected to their trailers. When a trailer becomes unexpectedly unhitched, it could result in catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or even death. If you've been injured in an accident that involved the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents that specializes in cases of failure of the hitch as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

A faulty trailer hitch can be the result of a variety of things, from improper secured to faulty design. It could also be due to a defect on the part of the manufacturer, in which case, product liability laws may apply. The person or company at the fault for a trailer that is defective is responsible for victims' medical bills and auto repair costs and other damages resulting from the incident.

For example there was a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came out of the truck and careened through the air into two cars that were behind it. Initial investigations suggested that the crash was due to the driver's negligence for not inspecting and secure the hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch that was involved in the crash -- an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a significant proportion of times.

The trailer hit the side of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers.

The truck driver who was involved in the accident was convicted of vehicular homicide, but experts believe that he could have avoided the crash in the event that he had conducted an extensive inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were tight. The failure of trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These accidents are typically high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In these situations the trailer can deform the frame of a vehicle and force sharp metal pieces to strike the passengers inside.