semi truck accident lawsuit Truck Accident Law

A serious injury sustained in a crash with a semi truck accident truck can bury the victim in medical costs. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.

It is crucial to have a skilled New York truck accident lawyer by your side after an accident. A lawyer with experience can help to prove your case using evidence like police reports and surveillance camera footage and lawsuit more.

Poorly maintained vehicles

Trucking companies and owners-operators often don't take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good repair. This leads to a high percentage of preventable accidents occurring every year.

As compared to passenger cars tractor-trailers and semis require more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavier loads. Unfortunately the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits may take precedence over the maintenance of the fleet. This is why trucks are susceptible to mechanical breakdowns that can cause catastrophic accidents.

The brakes of a truck are particularly important 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 return lines on a truck fail they can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries. These components should be regularly inspected and repaired in order to keep them in good condition.

Tires that aren't properly maintained can be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can cause traction issues and cause the truck to skid or even rollover. Tires that aren't working because of incorrect tread design or air pressure can fail catastrophically.

In addition to regular maintenance, trucks require regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. However, if the inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop doesn't adhere to the guidelines of the manufacturer it could lead to a crash. In such cases the company that employed or supervising the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.

Poorly functioning lights, signals and reflectors are another frequent reason for truck accidents. These devices must be correctly working to enable drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or at night. Drivers and trucking companies could fail to maintain and inspect these equipment, or may not perform daily safety checks.

A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer can review your case and determine who could be responsible for your losses should you be injured in an accident caused by a poorly maintained commercial truck. Investigating your case can uncover evidence that proves the negligence of the defendant in your crash and help you recover the compensation you're entitled to.

Distracted Drivers

The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be devastating. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your vehicle and may cause more serious injuries when they are involved in a collision. Distracted driving is just one of the many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize an accident on the road, which could lead to severe and life-changing injuries.

Truck drivers are required to adhere to strict rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting and using cell phones while driving. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they could be distracted and result in an accident. This could be due to accidental distractions, such as turning your back on the steering wheel, or by cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.

While the majority of people are aware that it is dangerous to text and drive, many are aware that other activities such as eating or changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with a passenger can also be deemed as distracting. If a trucker is distracted, they may wander off into a different track and not see the traffic jam ahead. It takes only a split second for a big truck to collide with a vehicle when the driver's attention is diverted.

It is important to collect details about witnesses and also take pictures of the scene of the accident when a distracted driver causes a truck crash. It is also beneficial to find out the name of the truck driver and the company they work for, as well in determining who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. This could have an impact on who is liable for the incident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking business to recruit competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially at fault for your accident, they may be held accountable for your financial as well as non-economic damages.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can happen in a variety of circumstances such as at the stop sign or a red light when a trucker doesn't check behind him for oncoming traffic. They can also happen when a car comes in front of the truck, forcing the driver to apply their brakes without warning. The trucker could then hit the car from behind.

It is often difficult to prove the cause of an accident that occurs at the rear, as it's not always clear which vehicle caused the crash. A skilled attorney can help gather evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving distracted. This can include evidence like photos, police reports eyewitness testimony and skid marks on the road.

Sometimes the driver in front could be found to be responsible for the accident in addition. This can happen if they cut someone off or fail to use a turn signal as any other reasonable person. In this type of scenario an amended comparative negligence law can be applied. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. The damages are then reduced according to.

Bruises and Lacerations

The rear end of the vehicle has the greatest impact in a rear-end collision, so occupants are more likely to suffer serious injuries after hitting their head against the back window or dashboard. The force of the crash may also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the inside of the vehicle. Spinal injuries can be extremely severe. Damage to the spine can be serious and have long-lasting impacts on the victims.

In addition to these types of injuries, the victim might also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma from having been involved in a terrible crash. They may experience difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could lead them to depression and anxiety. They could also be facing financial hardship and stress when they cannot work because of an injury. An attorney can investigate the possible sources of liability to assist a victim in receiving fair compensation for their loss.

The trailer is not working properly

Whatever vehicle you're driving, a car, a van, truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles need to be securely attached to their trailers. Unintentionally removing a trailer's hitch can cause catastrophic accidents that lead to severe injuries, or even death. If you've been injured in a collision involving the trailer that has run away, contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents with a specialization in cases of hitch failure as soon as you can to discuss your legal options.

A damaged trailer hitch could result from a variety factors, ranging from inadequate secured to faulty design. It could be due to an error on the part of the manufacturer in which case, product liability law could be applicable. The company or the person who is at fault for a faulty trailer can be held liable for the medical bills of the victims as well as auto repair costs as well as other losses that result from the incident.

For example, in a deadly crash that took place in January 2014 on an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came loose from the truck and crashed over two cars ahead of it. Initial investigations suggested that the crash was due to the truck driver's negligence for failing to inspect and secure the hitch. However, in June of 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 number of occasions.

Due to the malfunctioning hitch caused by the defective hitch, the trailer smashed into the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. This resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.

The driver of the truck that was involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, but experts say he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles had he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were in good order. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes, since they typically involve a substantial amount of speed, and they can wipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In such instances the trailer could distort the car's frame, and cause razor sharp metal fragments to strike the passengers inside.