What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law regulates accidents which involve commercial truck drivers as well as their rigs. These massive vehicles are subject to federal regulations regarding maintenance, safety, and training.

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

Weight Regulations

Knowing the weight limits for semi trucks is essential. Many states have single axle and group axle weight limits which must be observed. Weigh stations are prevalent along interstates, where truckers are weighed to ensure they don't exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a truck driver is caught violating these limitations they may be fined or even imprisoned based on the state and their criminal record.

Axle groups are given an increased limit because spreading the weight across multiple axles makes the vehicle safer and allows more cargo to be carried. For example a single tire on an axle is able to be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are two tires on the same axle, it can be weighted at 1300 pounds for each tire.

There are restrictions on the kinds of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while others allow triple or twin trailers. Additionally, a lot of states require a fifth wheel on the trailer, which is a round plate above the drive wheels which joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cab tractor and sleeper cabs that have sleeping areas inside the tractor unit and are specifically designed for over the road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must obey traffic rules and speed limits in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks are not able to drive at the same speed as cars and, when they do, they might cause accidents. In most cases, it's the truck driver that is the one to blame. Truck drivers may be driving longer than they are allowed to, violating hours-of-service rules or be distracted or asleep behind the driving.

Truck drivers are also banned from driving in the left right lane. This is because trucks take a lot longer trucks to stop than cars. This could be a risky issue, especially for those in cars that are smaller and could be stranded behind the truck when it slows or stops abruptly.

Certain states specifically exempt large trucks and prohibit them from using the left lane, while others limit the use of the lane only in specific situations. These laws could be based either on axel or weight limits. In other cases they could be based solely on the vehicle description.

Even if there's no state-wide law on lane restrictions, you should still look over the local rules and abide by them. You should also shift to the right when you see a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

The trucking and 18-wheeler businesses have an abundance of resources to employ to pressure accident victims into accepting less than what they are entitled to. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers, engineers, and experts who advocate for their clients even before they know whether an accident victim will pursue legal action.

Because they can carry massive loads and are so much larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers often cause severe injuries and massive property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is particularly so when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an an experienced attorney defend your rights and recover against these massive, powerful corporations.

Large vehicle accidents require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry and trucking regulations from the federal government as well as medical standards, driving and many other related fields. Our lawyers are able to discover violations of these laws and demonstrate to the jury why it led to your accident.

There are many parties that can be responsible for truck accidents involving 18-wheelers. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all liable parties and make sure they are paid their fair portion of your current and expected costs. This includes trucking companies, owners as well as maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also examine weather conditions that may have played a part in the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have vast resources available to them 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 know if you intend to pursue legal recourse. This is why it is so important to immediately retain an experienced lawyer who can match their resources and cut them to size.

An attorney who has expertise in dealing with 18-wheeler accidents will relieve you of the burden and help you receive the compensation you're due. The money will cover costs such as high medical bills and vehicle damage, as well as lost wages from missing work, and also non-economic injuries like suffering and pain.

18 wheelers are a complex vehicle and require a high-level, 18 wheeler accident lawsuits systematic maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and maintain detailed records could result in disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers can be used to transport hazardous substances, that require special training and licenses. These materials can be flammable or explosive, radiological or poisonous. They all pose a serious risk to other drivers traveling on American highways. In the absence of proper labeling and secure the load could also result in a catastrophic accident.

A competent 18 Wheeler Accident Lawsuits-wheeler accident attorney can pinpoint the exact cause and blame the parties that may be accountable. These may 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 obligation.