What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

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

Unfortunately, trucking companies often force their drivers to work longer hours and alter log books. This can result in catastrophic trucking crashes.

Weight Regulations

It is important to understand the weight limitations of semi trucks. Most states have single axle and group axle weight limits that must be adhered to. It is typical to see weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed to confirm that they aren't exceeding the maximum limits for their vehicle and load. If a trucker is found violating these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined and even put in jail depending on their criminal record and the state.

Axle groups are granted a higher limit as distributing the weight across more axles makes the vehicle more secure and allows more cargo to be carried. A single tire on a wheel can only weigh up to 665 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 kinds of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, while other states only permit triple or twin trailers. Many states also require a fifth-wheel on the trailer, which is a plate that is placed above the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer with the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractor and sleeper cabs, which incorporate a sleeping area inside the tractor unit and are specifically designed to haul over the road.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must observe traffic rules and speed limits in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks cannot travel at the same speed as passenger cars. If they do, accidents are likely to occur. In many cases the truck driver is at fault in these accidents. Truck drivers could be driving longer than they are permitted to, ignoring the hours-of-service regulations, or being tired or distracted behind the driving.

Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left lane. Trucks are slower to brake than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This could be a risky situation, particularly for smaller vehicles that could be stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

Certain states prohibit the use of lanes under certain circumstances, while others restrict the use of lanes for large trucks. These laws could be based either on weight or axel limits. In other situations, they could be solely based on the vehicle's description.

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

Ownership

The 18-wheeler and trucking firms have many resources they can utilize to force victims of accidents to accept less than they are entitled to. They have teams of insurance adjusters and lawyers who act on their behalf before they even know whether the victim of the accident will pursue legal action.

Because they can carry massive loads and are larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers can cause a lot of injuries and huge property damage in accidents. This is especially true when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is important to have a skilled attorney fight for your rights and recover against these large, powerful corporations.

Accidents involving large trucks require an understanding of complex concepts from the fields of physics, chemistry, biology as well as federal trucking regulations medical standards, and driving. Our lawyers are able discover any infringements of these laws, and present to the jury the circumstances that led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents are often caused by the careless or reckless acts of a number of parties. Our NY attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all responsible parties and ensure they pay their fair share of your current and anticipated expenses. This includes trucking firms, owners of maintenance contractors, even drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that could have contributed to your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have a wealth of options available and can quickly send teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, firms experts, and even engineers to help defend the victims of accidents. They start the process before they know whether you will to pursue legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who can match their resources and bringing them down in size.

A lawyer who has expertise in handling 18-wheeler accidents will relieve you of the burden and assist you in getting the compensation you're due. This money can be used to pay medical expenses, vehicle damages, lost income from missed work, and other non-economic damages like suffering and pain.

18-wheelers are extremely complex vehicles that require a high-level, structured maintenance to keep them on the road. Inability to maintain this maintenance and maintain accurate logs can lead to tragic accidents.

Tractor-trailers often are used to transport hazardous materials that require specialized training and certification. This material can be flammable, explosive, radiological or poisonous, and all of these pose significant risks for other drivers on American roads. In the absence of proper labeling and secure the load could also result in a catastrophic accident.

A competent 18 wheeler accident attorney-wheeler accident attorney can pinpoint the exact causes and blame any other parties who are accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking firm and the owner of the trailer as well as the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is referred to as vicarious responsibility.