What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
18 wheeler law protects against accidents involving commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These huge vehicles are subject to strict federal guidelines regarding maintenance, safety, and training.
Trucking companies often require their drivers to work longer and alter logbooks. This can cause catastrophic trucking crashes.
Weight Regulations
It is essential to understand the weight limitations for semi trucks. Most states have both single axle and group axle limits on weight that must be observed. Weigh stations are prevalent along interstates, and truckers are weighed to ensure they do not exceed the weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is found in violation of these limits, they could be fined or even imprisoned according to their criminal record and the state.
Axle groups have a greater limit on weight because the vehicle is safer when the weight is spread over a wider range of axles. This also allows for the carriage of more cargo. A single tire on an wheel is only weighed up to 650 pounds per inch, however, when two tires are mounted on the same axle, it could be weighed up to 1300 pounds.
There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states permit only one trailer while others only allow twin or triple trailers. Many states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer that is a piece of metal that sits over the drive wheels and couples (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. Day cab tractor models as well as sleeper cabs are readily available. They both include a sleeping space inside the tractor unit.
Lane Restrictions
In addition to the lane restrictions, truck drivers must also be aware of speed limits as well as traffic lights. Trucks are not able to drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles and should they do, they could cause accidents. In a lot of cases, it's the driver of the truck who is at fault. This is because truck drivers often be driving for longer than is permitted or break the rules of hours-of-service, or become tired or distracted behind the steering wheel.
Another important lane restriction is that truck drivers aren't allowed to drive in the left or right. This is because trucks take a lot longer trucks to brake than cars. This can be a dangerous issue, particularly for those in smaller cars who may be stranded behind trucks when it slows or stops suddenly.
Certain states specifically target large trucks and restrict them from using the left lane. However, others limit the use of the lane under certain circumstances. These laws can be based on weight or axel limit. In other cases they may be based solely on vehicle's description.
Even if there isn't a statewide law regarding lane restrictions you should still check the local rules and observe them. You should also shift to the left if you see a truck in the pass lane to ensure that it does not hinder cars passing you.
Ownership
The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have many resources they can utilize to force accident victims to accept less than they're entitled. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and lawyers who advocate for their clients even before they know if an accident victim will pursue legal action.
Due to their massive load and are larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers often cause massive injuries and property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is particularly true when these trucks collide with other motor vehicles. It is essential to find an attorney who has experience fighting for your rights against these powerful, large corporations.
Large-scale accidents require an understanding of the most complex concepts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, federal regulations for trucking as well as medical standards, driving and many other related areas. Our lawyers are able to find violations of these laws and explain to the jury how it led to your accident.
Many parties could be at fault for 18-wheeler truck crashes. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties at fault and ensure that they are responsible for your present and future costs. This includes trucking companies, owners as well as maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also examine the weather conditions that may have contributed to your accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies are able to put together large teams of lawyers, adjusters engineers, experts and adjusters quickly. They begin this process before they even know whether you will to pursue legal recourse. This is why it is essential to get an experienced attorney who can match their resources and reduce them to size.
An experienced 18-wheeler crash lawyer can help you deal with these big corporations off your shoulders and focus on getting you the compensation you deserve. This can be used to cover expenses such as medical bills that are costly car damage, lost wages from missing work, and also non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
18 wheelers are extremely complex vehicles and require high-end, systematic maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and keep accurate records can result in disastrous accidents.
Tractor-trailers often carry hazardous material that requires specialized training and specialized licenses to transport. These materials can be explosive or flammable or radiological, as well as poisonous. 18 wheeler accident lawyer fullerton pose a serious risk to other drivers traveling on American highways. In the absence of proper labeling and secure the load could cause a devastating accident.
A qualified 18-wheeler crash attorney will determine the exact causes and blame any other individuals accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking firm, the owner or the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is known as vicarious liability.