What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents with commercial truck drivers, their rigs and 18 wheelers are covered by the law governing 18 wheelers. These huge vehicles must be subject to strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.

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

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits for semi trucks is essential. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are determined by the majority of states. Weigh stations are common along interstates, and truckers are weighed to ensure that they do not over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a truck driver gets discovered to be violating these limits, they could be fined or even jailed depending on the location and criminal record.

Axle groups have a greater limit on weight because the vehicle is more secure when the weight is spread over a wider range of axles. This also permits the transportation of more cargo. A single tire on a wheel can weigh up to 650 pounds per inch however, if two tires are on the same axle, it can be weighed up to 1300 pounds.

There are also restrictions on the type of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Some states will only allow one trailer, while other states only allow triple or twin trailers. Many states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer, which is a piece of metal that sits above the drive wheels, and connects (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs that incorporate a sleeping area inside the tractor unit and are specifically designed for over-the-road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must adhere to speed limits and traffic signals in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks cannot travel at the same speed as passenger cars. If they do, accidents are likely to occur. In many cases, the truck driver is the primary culprit in these accidents. Truck drivers could be driving for longer than they are allowed to, or breaking the hours-of service regulations or simply being tired or distracted behind the steering wheel.

Another important restriction on lane usage is that truck drivers aren't permitted to drive in the left side of the lane. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This can be a dangerous issue, especially for those in smaller cars who may be stuck behind a truck if it slows or stops suddenly.

There are some states that specifically exempt large trucks and prevent them from using the left lane, whereas others limit the use of the lane under certain circumstances. These laws could be based on axel or weight limits. In other cases they may be based solely on vehicle's description.

Even if there isn't a statewide law on lane restrictions, you should still look over the local rules and abide by the rules. Also, you should move to the right if you see a truck in the passing lane, so that it does not hinder faster vehicles from overtaking you.

Ownership

The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have an array of resources they can use in order to force victims of accidents to accept less than they are entitled to. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters, engineers, and experts working for their clients even before they know whether an accident victim will seek legal remedy.

Because they can carry massive loads and are so much larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheeler accident lawyer wheelers often cause a lot of injuries and huge property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is particularly true when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is important to hire an an experienced attorney defend your rights and recover against these powerful, large corporations.

Accidents involving large vehicles require an in-depth understanding of the concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology, federal regulations for trucking and medicine, driving standards and many other related areas. Our lawyers have the knowledge to discover violations of these laws and explain to the jury how they contributed to your accident.

18 wheeler accident lawyers-wheeler truck crashes are typically caused by the careless or reckless actions of a variety of parties. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure that they are liable for their fair part of your current and expected costs. This includes trucking firms, owners as well as maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also look into the weather conditions that may have contributed to your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have vast options available and can quickly send teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters, engineers, and experts to develop a strategy for defense against the victims of accidents. They begin this process before they know whether you will seek legal recourse. It is essential to find an attorney who can match their resources and reducing them in size.

A lawyer with expertise in handling 18-wheeler accidents can relieve you of the burden and assist you in getting the compensation you're entitled to. This money can cover costs such as high medical bills or vehicle damage, lost wages from missing work, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

18-wheelers are highly complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to keep them on the road. Failure to maintain detailed documents and carry out this maintenance can lead to disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers often carry hazardous material, which requires special training and specialized certification to transport. They can be explosive or flammable or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a serious risk to other motorists on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also result in a catastrophic accident.

A qualified 18-wheeler crash attorney can determine the cause and blame any individuals accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, 18 wheeler Accident lawyer the trucking company as well as the owner of the trailer, as well as the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.