What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents that involve commercial truck drivers, their rigs, and 18 wheelers are covered by the law governing 18 wheelers. These massive vehicles must follow strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies often pressure their drivers to work longer hours and manipulate log books. This can lead accidents involving trucks to be devastating.

Weight Regulations

It is important to understand the weight limits for semi-trucks. Most states have both single axle and group axle weight limits that must be adhered to. It is common to see weigh stations along interstates, where truck drivers are weighed in order to make sure they do not exceed the maximum weight limit for their vehicle and load. If a trucker gets found to be in violation of these limits, they may be fined or even imprisoned, based on the state they reside in and their criminal record.

Axle groups have an upper limit due to the fact that distributing the weight over more axles makes the vehicle safer and allows more cargo to be carried. For instance one tire on an axle can weigh 650 pounds per inch of wheel's diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on that same axle it could be weighed at 1300 pounds per tire.

There are restrictions on the kinds of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, and others only permit twin or triple trailers. In addition, some states require five wheels on the trailer. It is a rounded plate on top of the drive wheels that joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Day cab tractor models and sleeper cabs are offered. They both include sleeping spaces in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must obey traffic rules and speed limits in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks aren't permitted to travel at the same speed as cars used by passengers. If they do, accidents could occur. In most instances, it's the truck driver that is the one to blame. This is because truck drivers may drive longer than they are allowed to, break hours-of-service rules, or become sleepy or distracted behind the wheel.

Another important lane restriction is that truck drivers aren't allowed to drive in the left right lane. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars for passenger use. This can be a serious problem, especially for people in cars that are smaller and could be stranded behind the truck when it stops abruptly or slows down.

Some states restrict the use of lanes under certain circumstances, and some restrict it to large trucks. These laws could be based either on axel or weight limits. In other instances, they could be based solely on vehicle description.

Even if there's no statewide law that you can follow, you should be aware of local regulations regarding the lane restrictions and adhere to them. You should also move over to the right when you see trucks in the passing lane to ensure that it does not block faster cars from passing you.

Ownership

The 18-wheeler and trucking firms have an array of resources they can make use of to force accident victims into accepting less than they are entitled to. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who act on their behalf before they even know if the victim of an accident will pursue legal action.

Because they carry huge loads and are larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers often cause massive injuries and property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is especially relevant when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is important to have a seasoned attorney fight for your rights and Attorneys recovery against these massive, powerful corporations.

Accidents involving large trucks require an understanding of complicated concepts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and federal trucking regulations medicine, and driving standards. Our attorneys have the expertise to uncover violations of these laws and explain to the jury the circumstances that led to your accident.

Multiple parties can be responsible for the 18-wheeler truck crash. Our NY 18 wheeler accident law firms wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all accountable parties and ensure they pay their fair part of your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking companies and owners, maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate weather conditions that may have contributed to the accident.

Insurance

The trucking industry has a wealth of resources available and can swiftly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters, engineers, and experts to develop a strategy for defense against the victims of accidents. They start the process before they know whether you will to seek legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who can match their resources and bringing them down in size.

A lawyer who has experience in handling 18-wheeler crashes can relieve you of the burden and help you receive the compensation you're due. This money can be used to pay medical expenses, vehicle damages as well as lost income from missing work as well as other non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

18-wheelers are complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to keep them on the road. Failure to keep accurate logs and perform the necessary maintenance can result in devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials that requires specialized training and specialized certification to transport. The material may be flammable, explosive, radiological, or poisonous, all of which pose significant risks for other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also result in a catastrophic accident.

A competent 18 wheeler accidents-wheeler accident attorney can pinpoint the exact cause and blame the parties that may be responsible. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking firm, the owner or the trailer, as well as the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is also known as vicarious liability.