What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law covers accidents with commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These huge vehicles must be subject to strict federal guidelines for maintenance safety, training, and maintenance.

Unfortunately, trucking companies frequently press their drivers to complete longer hours and alter log books. This can lead to catastrophic trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

It is important to understand the weight limits for semi trucks. The majority of states have single axle and group axle weight limits that must be adhered to. There are numerous weigh stations along interstates, where truckers are weighed to ensure they don't over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is caught in violation of these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined and even sent to jail subject to their criminal history and the state.

Axle groups have a higher limit of weight since the vehicle is more secure when the weight is spread over a wider range of axles. This also permits the transport of more cargo. For instance a single tire mounted on an axle is able to weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel's diameter. However, when there are two tires on that same axle it can be weighted at 1300 pounds for each tire.

There are also limitations on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Some states will only allow one trailer, while other states only permit twin or triple trailers. Some states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer that is a piece of metal that sits above the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors and sleeper cabs that have sleeping areas inside the tractor unit and are specifically designed to haul over the road.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must obey speed limits and traffic signals in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks aren't permitted to drive at the same speed as cars used by passengers. If they do, accidents could occur. In most instances, it's the driver of the truck who is responsible. Truck drivers could be driving for longer than they are allowed to, or breaking the hours-of service regulations and/or being tired or distracted behind the steering wheel.

Another important limitation on lane is that truck drivers are not allowed to drive in the left or right. This is due to the fact that trucks take longer trucks to stop than passenger vehicles. This can be a very dangerous situation, particularly for smaller vehicles that could get stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

There are some states that specifically single out large trucks and prevent them from using the left lane. However, others limit the usage of the lane in certain circumstances. In some cases, these laws are based on weight and axel limits, while in other they could be based on the description of the vehicle or directions.

Even if there's no statewide law regarding lane restrictions you should still check the local rules and adhere to the rules. Also, you should move to the left if you spot trucks passing in the lane, so that it does not block faster cars from overtaking you.

Ownership

Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have a vast array of resources to force victims of accidents into accepting less than they should. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and lawyers who work on their behalf before they know if an accident victim is going to seek legal relief.

In accidents 18-wheelers are frequently responsible for a plethora of injuries and property damage because they carry such large loads and are so large in comparison to passenger vehicles. This is especially relevant when these trucks are involved in collisions with other motor vehicles. It is important to have experienced lawyers defend your rights and recoveries against these massive, powerful corporations.

Large-scale accidents require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology and federal regulations for trucking and medical practices, driving regulations and many other related areas. Our lawyers have the knowledge to find violations of these laws, and then show the jury how they contributed to your accident.

Multiple parties can be responsible for the 18-wheeler truck crash. Our NY attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure they are liable for their fair share of your current and expected costs. This includes trucking companies owners, maintenance contractors, owners and even drivers themselves. Our team will also examine the weather conditions that could have contributed to the accident.

Insurance

The trucking industry has a wealth of resources available and can swiftly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and lawyers to build a defense against the victims of accidents. They begin this process before they know if you'll need legal recourse. That's why it's vital to immediately hire an experienced attorney who will match their resources and cut them to size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer-wheeler crash lawyer will take the burden of dealing with these corporations off your hands and concentrate on securing the compensation you are entitled to. This money can be used to pay for medical expenses, vehicle damage as well as lost income from missing work and other damages that are not economic such as suffering and pain.

18 wheelers are extremely complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to keep them safe on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and keep accurate logs can lead to catastrophic accidents.

Tractor-trailers frequently carry hazardous materials that requires specialized training and specialized licensing to transport. These materials may be explosive or flammable and radiological as well as poisonous. They all pose a serious risk to other motorists on American highways. An accident that is catastrophic could happen if the load is not properly labelled and secured.

A qualified 18-wheeler accident lawyer can determine the precise cause of your crash and hold liable any parties who may be responsible. These could include the driver of the truck as well as the trucking company, the owner of the trailer, and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.