What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

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

Trucking companies often require their drivers to work for longer and alter logbooks. This can cause catastrophic trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

It is essential to understand the weight limitations for semi-trucks. Weight limits for single axles and group axles are set by the majority of states. It is common to see weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed in order to ensure that they aren't exceeding the maximum weight limit for their vehicle and load. If a trucker is caught in violation of these limits, they could be fined and even put in jail subject to their criminal history and the state.

Axle groups have a greater limit on weight because the vehicle is safer when the weight is distributed over more axles. This also permits the transportation of more cargo. For example, a single tire on an axle can weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on that 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 a tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while others only permit triple or twin trailers. Many states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer that is a plate that sits over the drive wheels and couples (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors and sleeper cabs that have a sleeping area inside the tractor unit and are designed for over-the-road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must adhere to traffic rules and speed limits in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks aren't allowed to operate at the same speed as passenger vehicles. If they do, accidents could occur. In a lot of cases, it is the truck driver that is the one to blame. Truck drivers might be driving for longer than they are permitted to, or breaking the hours-of service regulations and/or being asleep or distracted behind the wheel.

Truck drivers are also forbidden from driving in the left the lane. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This can be a serious problem, particularly for those with smaller cars who could be stranded behind a truck if it stops abruptly or slows down.

Certain states restrict the use of lanes under certain situations, while other states restrict it to large trucks. In certain cases the laws are determined by weight and axel limits, while in others they may be based upon vehicle description or directions.

Even if there isn't a statewide law on lane restrictions, you should still look over the local rules and follow them. You should also shift to the right when you see trucks blocking the lane.

Ownership

The trucking and 18-wheeler businesses have a wealth of resources to use in order to force accident victims to accept less than they are entitled to. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who represent them before they know if the accident victim will pursue legal action.

In the event of an accident, 18-wheelers are often responsible for catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage due to the fact that they are able to carry heavy loads and are incredibly large relative to passenger vehicles. This is especially relevant when they collide with motor vehicles. It is crucial to have a lawyer who has experience fighting for your rights against these powerful, huge corporations.

Accidents involving large vehicles require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology as well as federal regulations for trucking, medicine, driving standards and related areas. Our lawyers have the knowledge to identify violations of these laws, and then show the jury how it led to your accident.

18-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 that they pay their fair share of your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking companies, owners, maintenance contractors, and even drivers themselves. Our team will also examine weather conditions that may have played a part in your accident.

Insurance

The trucking industry has a wealth of resources available to them and can quickly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters, engineers, and experts to create a defense against accident victims. They start this process before they even know if you intend to pursue legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who is capable of matching their resources and helping them decrease in size.

A lawyer with expertise in dealing with 18-wheeler accidents can relieve you of the burden and help you receive the compensation you're due. The money could be used to pay for expenses like steep medical bills and vehicle damage, as well as lost wages due to missing work, as well as non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.

18 wheeler accident law firms wheelers are complex vehicles and require high-end, systematic maintenance to keep them safe on the road. Failure to keep accurate records and perform this maintenance can cause devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers often are used for transporting hazardous materials, that require specialized training and a license. The material could be explosive, flammable, radiological or poisonous, all of which can pose serious dangers to other drivers on American roads. A fatal accident could occur if the cargo is not properly labelled and secured.

A qualified 18-wheeler crash attorney can pinpoint the exact cause of the accident and pinpoint any parties who are responsible. This could include the driver of the truck as well as the trucking company, the owner of the trailer and the manufacturer of the truck or its components. This is known as vicarious liability.