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What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

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

Trucking companies often require their drivers to work for longer and manipulate logbooks. This can lead trucking accidents to be catastrophic.

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits for semi-trucks is crucial. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are determined by the majority of states. There are numerous weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed to ensure that they don’t exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is caught in violation of these limits and is fined, they could be penalized and even sentenced to jail according to their criminal record and the state.

Axle groups are granted a higher limit because distributing the weight across multiple axles makes the vehicle safer and allows more cargo to be carried. A single tire on a wheel is only weighed up to 700 pounds per inch, however, if two tires are mounted on the same axle, they can be weighed to 1300 pounds.

There are restrictions on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with a tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, while others allow triple or twin trailers. In addition, many states require the fifth wheel to be installed on the trailer. This is a circular plate over the drive wheels, which connects (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Both day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs can be found. They both include sleeping spaces in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to limitations on lane width truck drivers also must follow speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks aren’t able to travel at the same speed as vehicles for passengers and, should they do, they may cause accidents. In many cases the truck driver is the one at fault in these accidents. This is because truck drivers may drive for longer than allowed or break the rules of hours-of-service, or become tired or distracted behind the driving.

Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left right lane. Trucks brake more slowly than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This could create a dangerous situation, especially for cars that are smaller and could get stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

There are some states that specifically single out big trucks and block them from using the left lane, whereas others restrict the use of the lane under specific situations. In some instances the laws are based on weight and axel limits, whereas in others, they may be based on vehicle description or direction signs.

Even if there’s no statewide law regarding lane restrictions you should still look over the local rules and follow the rules. Also, you should move to the right side if you see trucks in the passing lane in order to not hinder cars taking over.

Ownership

The trucking and 18-wheeler businesses have an abundance of resources to use in order to force accident victims to accept less than what they are entitled to. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and lawyers working on their behalf before they know whether the victim of the accident will seek legal remedy.

In accidents 18-wheelers can be blamed for a plethora of injuries and property damage because they carry such large load and are so massive relative to passenger vehicles. This is particularly so when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is important to hire an experienced lawyers fight for your rights and recovery against these massive, powerful corporations.

Large truck accidents require an understanding of complicated concepts in the fields of biology, chemistry and physics and federal trucking regulations medical standards, and driving. Our lawyers have the knowledge to find violations of these laws, and then show the jury why it led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents are often caused by the careless or reckless actions of a variety of parties. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all liable parties and make sure they are liable for their fair share of your current and anticipated expenses. This includes trucking companies, owners, maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also analyze weather conditions that could have played a part in the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have a wealth of resources available and can quickly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and lawyers to create a defense against the victims of accidents. They begin this process before they even know whether you will to seek legal recourse. This is why it’s crucial to hire an experienced lawyer who can match their resources and bring them down to size.

A seasoned 18-wheeler crash lawyer will take the burden of dealing with these corporations off your shoulders and focus on getting you the compensation you deserve. This money can be used to cover medical costs, vehicle damage, lost income from missed work as well as other non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

18 wheelers are complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Inability to keep detailed records and to perform maintenance can lead to disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers are commonly used to transport hazardous materials, that require special training and licenses. The material may be explosive, flammable, or poisonous, and all of these could pose a significant risk for other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could result in a fatal accident.

A trained 18 wheeler accident lawsuits wheeler accident lawyer can pinpoint the exact cause of your accident and liable for any party that are accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company, the owner or the trailer as well as the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is also known as vicarious liability.