What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler accident lawyers wheeler law protects against accidents that involve commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These massive vehicles are subject to federal regulations regarding maintenance, safety and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies often require their drivers to work longer hours and manipulate log books. This can cause accidents that happen in trucks to be catastrophic.

Weight Regulations

It is important to understand the weight limitations for semi-trucks. Weight limits for single axles and group axles are determined by the majority of states. Weigh stations are common along interstates, where truckers are weighed to ensure they do not exceed the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a trucker gets found to be in violation of these limits, they could be fined, or even jailed depending on the state of their residence and criminal record.

Axle groups have a higher limit of weight since the vehicle is safer when the weight is spread over a wider range of axles. This also permits the transportation of more cargo. For example, a single tire on an axle can only be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel's diameter. However, when there are two tires on that same axle it can be weighed at 1300 pounds per tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Some states allow only one trailer while some states allow twin or triple trailers. Many states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer, which is a plate that sits above the drive wheels and joins (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. Day cab tractor models as well as sleeper cabs can be found. They both come with a sleeping space in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must observe traffic signals and speed limits in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks aren't allowed to travel at the same speed as passenger cars. If they do, accidents could occur. In most instances, it is the driver of the truck at fault. This is due to the fact that truck drivers can drive for longer than allowed or break the rules of hours-of-service, or become tired or distracted behind the driving.

Another important restriction on lane use is that truck drivers are not allowed to drive in the left lane. This is because it takes a lot longer for trucks to brake than cars. This can be a serious issue, particularly for those in cars that are smaller and could be stuck behind the truck when it slows or stops abruptly.

Certain states restrict the use of lanes under certain situations, while other states restrict it for big trucks. In some cases these laws are determined by weight and axel limits, whereas in other they may be based on vehicle descriptions or directions.

Even if there isn't a statewide law on lane restrictions, you should still be aware of local rules and follow the rules. You should also move over to the right if you see trucks passing in the lane in order to not hinder faster vehicles from passing you.

Ownership

The 18-wheeler and trucking firms have many resources they can employ to pressure accident victims into accepting less than what they're entitled to. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters, engineers, and experts who advocate on their behalf even before they know whether an accident victim will seek legal remedy.

Due to their massive load and are so much larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers can cause a lot of injuries and huge property damage in accidents. This is especially relevant when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is crucial to have a lawyer who has experience fighting for your rights against these large, powerful corporations.

Accidents involving large trucks require an understanding of complicated concepts that are derived from physics, chemistry, biology and federal trucking regulations, medical standards, and driving. Our lawyers are able to uncover violations of these laws and explain to the jury how they contributed to your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents can be caused by the negligence or reckless actions of several parties. Our NY attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all liable parties and make sure they pay their fair part of your current and expected expenses. This includes trucking firms, owners, maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also examine weather conditions that may have contributed to your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies can deploy large teams of adjusters, lawyers engineers, and experts quickly. They start the process before they decide if you will to seek legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who can match their resources and reducing them in 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 are entitled to. This can be used to cover expenses such as medical bills that are costly car damage, lost wages from missing work, and non-economic damages such as suffering and pain.

18 wheelers are complex vehicles that require high-end, consistent maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to keep accurate logs and perform the necessary maintenance could lead to catastrophe-causing accidents.

Tractor-trailers often are used for transporting hazardous materials, that require special training and licenses. They can be explosive or flammable and radiological as well as poisonous. They all pose a risk to other drivers traveling on American highways. Failure to properly label and secure the load could result in a catastrophic accident.

A trained 18 wheeler accident lawyer will determine the exact cause of your accident and hold liable any parties who are responsible. These may include the driver of the truck or the trucking company the owner of the trailer and the manufacturer of the truck or its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.