What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law deals with accidents involving commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These huge vehicles are subject to federal regulations regarding maintenance, safety and training.

Companies that transport trucks often force their drivers to work longer and alter logbooks. This can cause catastrophic trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits for semi trucks is essential. Most states have single axle and group axle weight limits which must be adhered to. Weigh stations are common along interstates, and truckers are weighed to ensure that they don't exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is found breaking these limits and is fined, they could be penalized and even sent to jail depending on their criminal history and the state.

Axle groups have a higher limit of weight since the vehicle is safer when the weight is distributed across multiple axles. This also allows for the transport of more cargo. A single tire on an wheel can only weigh up to 665 pounds per inch however, if two tires are mounted on the same axle, they can be weighed up to 1300 pounds.

There are limitations on the kinds of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while other states only permit triple or twin trailers. In addition, many states require the fifth wheel to be installed on the trailer which is a circular plate over the drive wheels that couples (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cabtractors as well as sleeper cabs, which incorporate a sleeping area into the tractor unit. They are designed to haul over the road.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must obey traffic rules and speed limits in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks are not able to drive at the same speed as vehicles for passengers and even if they do, they could cause accidents. In many cases, the truck driver is the culprit in these accidents. Truck drivers may be driving longer than they are allowed to, violating hours-of-service rules and/or being asleep or distracted behind the driving.

Truck drivers are also banned from driving in the left side of the road. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This can be a very risky situation, particularly for cars that are smaller and could get stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

Certain states specifically exclude big trucks and block them from using the left lane, and others only restrict the use of the lane only in specific situations. These laws can be based either on weight or axel limit. In other instances, they could be based solely on the vehicle description.

Even if there is no law that is statewide however, you must check local regulations regarding limitations on lane usage and follow the rules. You should also move over to the left if you spot a truck in the pass lane, so that it does not block faster cars from passing you.

Ownership

Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have a wealth of resources to pressure victims of accidents into accepting less than they deserve. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, engineers, 18 Wheeler accident and experts that work on their behalf before they know if the victim of an accident will seek legal remedy.

In accidents 18-wheelers can be blamed for severe injuries and property damage due to the fact that they carry such hefty loads and are huge when compared to passenger cars. This is especially relevant when these trucks are involved in collisions with other motor vehicles. It is vital to hire an attorney who is experienced in fighting for your rights against these powerful, huge corporations.

Accidents involving large trucks require an understanding of complex concepts from the fields of biology, chemistry and physics and federal trucking regulations, medicine, and driving standards. Our lawyers have the experience to discover violations of these laws and show the jury how it led to your accident.

18 wheeler accident attorney-wheeler truck accidents are usually caused by the negligent or reckless actions of multiple parties. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure they pay their fair share of your current and anticipated costs. This includes owners of trucking companies, trucking companies, maintenance contractors, and even drivers themselves. Our team will also examine weather conditions that might have played a part in your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies can send large teams of lawyers, adjusters engineers, experts and adjusters quickly. They start this process even before they are aware of whether you'll need legal recourse. That is why it is so important to immediately retain an experienced attorney who can match their resources and cut them to size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer will relieve the burden of dealing with these corporations off your shoulders and focus on obtaining the compensation you deserve. The money could be used to pay medical costs, vehicle damage, lost income from missed work and other non-economic losses like pain and suffering.

18 wheelers are highly complex vehicles and require high-level, systematic maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to keep accurate documents and carry out this maintenance can cause devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers are commonly used for transporting hazardous materials, which require special training and licensing. They can be flammable or explosive or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a major risk to other motorists on American highways. A catastrophic accident could also occur if the load is not properly labelled and secured.

A competent 18-wheeler accident attorney can determine the cause and blame any individuals responsible. These could include the truck driver or 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.