What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents with commercial truck drivers, their rigs, and 18 wheeler accident lawsuit wheelers are covered under the law governing 18 wheelers. These huge vehicles must adhere to strict federal guidelines for maintenance as well as safety and training.

Trucking companies often force their drivers to work longer and alter logbooks. This can lead accidents with trucks that are catastrophic.

Weight Regulations

It is essential to be aware of the weight limits for semi-trucks. Most states have both single axle and group axle weight limits that must be observed. Weigh stations are prevalent on interstates, where truckers are weighed to ensure that they don't over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a truck driver is found to be in violation of these limits, they could be fined or even jailed based on the state of their residence and criminal record.

Axle groups have a greater limit of weight since the vehicle is more secure when the weight is spread across more axles. This also allows for the transportation of more cargo. For example, a single tire on an axle may weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are two tires on the same axle, it could be measured at 1300 pounds per tire.

There are restrictions on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while other states only allow triple or twin trailers. A lot of states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer, which is a plate that sits over the drive wheels, and connects (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. There are day cabtractors as well as sleeper cabs, which incorporate a sleeping area inside the tractor unit and are specifically designed to be used for hauling over the road.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to limitations on lane width, truck drivers must also comply with speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks aren't able to travel at the same speed as passenger vehicles and even if they do, they could cause accidents. In most cases, 18 Wheeler Accident Lawsuit it is the truck driver at fault. Truck drivers may be driving for longer than they are permitted to, breaking hours-of-service regulations and/or being asleep or distracted behind the wheel.

Another important restriction on lane usage is that truck drivers aren't allowed to drive in the left lane. Trucks are slower to brake than cars for passenger use. This could be a dangerous situation, particularly for cars with smaller wheels that could get stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

There are states that specifically exclude big trucks and block them from using the left lane, and other states limit the use of the lane under specific circumstances. In certain instances the laws are based on weight and axel limits, while in other they could be based on the description of the vehicle or directions.

Although there's no statewide law regarding lane restrictions you should still look over the local rules and follow them. Also, you should move to the right when you see trucks blocking the lane.

Ownership

Companies operating 18 wheelers and trucking have a wealth of resources at their disposal to force victims of accidents into accepting less than they deserve. They have teams of insurance adjusters and lawyers who represent them before they know if the accident victim will take legal action.

Because they carry huge loads and are larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheeler accident wheelers frequently cause massive injuries and property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is particularly the case when they collide with motor vehicles. It is important to have a seasoned attorney defend your rights and recovery against these massive, powerful corporations.

Large truck accidents require an understanding of complex concepts that are derived from biology, chemistry, physics and federal trucking regulations medical standards, and driving. Our lawyers are able to discover violations of these laws and explain to the jury how they contributed to your accident.

Multiple parties could be accountable for truck accidents involving 18-wheelers. Our NY 18 wheeler accident attorneys-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties accountable and ensure that they are responsible for your present and future costs. This includes trucking firms owners, maintenance contractors, owners and even drivers themselves. Our team will also study weather conditions that may have contributed to the accident.

Insurance

The trucking industry has a wealth of resources available to them and can quickly deploy teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and even engineers to help defend the victims of accidents. They begin this process before they even decide if you will to seek legal recourse. It is crucial to hire an attorney who is capable of matching their resources and helping them decrease in size.

A lawyer who has expertise in dealing with 18-wheeler accidents will relieve you of the burden and help you get the compensation you're entitled to. The money could be used to pay for expenses such as high medical bills or vehicle damage, the loss of earnings due to a lack of work, and other damages such as pain and suffering.

18 wheelers are extremely complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to ensure their safety on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and keep accurate records could result in tragic accidents.

Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials, which requires special training and special licensing for transport. These materials could be explosive or flammable or radiological or poisonous. They all pose a major risk to other drivers traveling on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could cause a devastating accident.

A qualified 18-wheeler crash attorney can determine the cause and blame any individuals who could be accountable. This could include the truck driver, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is referred to as vicarious responsibility.