Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck collision can result in serious injuries that could cost a person a fortune in medical expenses. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is essential to have a qualified New York truck accident lawyer on your side following an accident. A professional lawyer can assist you in proving your case with evidence like police reports and surveillance footage.
Vehicles that are not maintained properly
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often don't take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good shape. This can lead to a high percentage of preventable accidents occurring every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars because of their larger dimensions and larger load. However the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits often takes precedence over maintaining the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that can lead to devastating accidents.
The brakes on trucks are especially important because they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at a moment's notice. When brake pads, lines or return springs on a truck get worn out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. These parts should be regularly checked and repaired when necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
Tires that are not maintained properly can be a major reason for truck accidents. Tires that are worn out could lose traction, causing the truck to overturn or skid. If a tire is deficient in any way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's instructions it could lead to an accident. In these cases the company that employed or directed the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
Another cause of truck accidents is faulty signals, lights, and reflectors. These components must be in good working to enable drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas or after dark. However, trucking companies may not inspect and maintain these components or the driver could fail to conduct regular safety checks.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer can review your case and determine which parties may be accountable for your injuries when you've been injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence of negligence by the defendant and help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There are few things more devastating than an accident with a commercial truck. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and can cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in an accident. While a variety of factors can contribute to accidents but distracted driving is among of the most common and risky. A distracted truck driver can lose control of the vehicle or miss an opportunity to avoid a road accident that could result in serious and life-threatening injuries.
Truck drivers must follow strict rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition against texting or using mobile phones while driving. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they may be distracted and cause an accident. This can be a result of manual distractions such as taking their hands off the steering wheel or mental distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but few know that other activities, such as eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers could also be considered to be distracting. When a truck driver gets distracted, they could get lost in a lane or not be able to see an obstruction in front of them. It takes only a split second for a big truck to crash into a vehicle when the trucker's attention wanders.
If a car accident is caused by distracted driving, it is important to take photos of the scene of the crash as well as collect the contact details and name of any witnesses. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the company for which they work and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This can have an influence on who is responsible for the accident, because it is the responsibility of the trucking company to find competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partly responsible for the accident, they may be liable for your economic and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of situations such as the stop sign or a an intersection when the trucker does not check behind him for any traffic that is coming up. They may also occur when a car is able to cut in front of the truck, which forces the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
It can be hard to establish fault when there's rear-end collisions as it's not always evident who was at fault. An experienced lawyer can gather evidence to show that the driver behind caused the crash by following too closely or driving in a distracted manner. This can include evidence like photos, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the road.
The driver in the front of the car could also be held responsible for the accident. This can happen if they cut off someone else or fail to make use of a turn signal, as would any other reasonable person. This kind of situation is where modified comparative negligence laws can come into play, where the jury assigns a percentage to each party, and damages are reduced accordingly.
Lacerations and Bruises
The rear-end of the car is the most impacted area in a rear-end collision, which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries as they smash their head against the dashboard or back window. The force of the crash may cause broken bones when the occupants of the vehicle are thrown around the inside of the vehicle. Spinal injuries can be severe. Injuries to the spine can be serious and have long-lasting consequences for victims.
A person who has been involved in a serious accident may also experience emotional and psychological trauma. They may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating. melbourne semi truck accident lawyer can cause anxiety and depression. If they're unable to work due to the degree of their injury this can cause pressure and financial hardship. An attorney can examine all possible causes of liability and assist the victim in seeking an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.
A problem with trailer hitches
All vehicles, whether they are a car, van, truck flatbed, van are required to be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally removing a trailer's hitch can cause catastrophic accidents, leading to serious injuries or death. If you've been injured in a car accident caused by a truck that has run away and you are in need of an experienced attorney who is experienced in cases of hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
The cause of a faulty trailer hitch could be due to a variety of factors that can be traced to improper security or design. It could be caused by a defect on the part of the manufacturer, where case-by-case product liability laws may apply. The company or the person responsible for a trailer that is defective is liable for the victim's medical expenses or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses resulting from the incident.
For instance in a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came off the truck and slid over two cars ahead of it. The initial investigation attributed the accident to the truck driver's negligence in failing inspect and secure the hitch. However, in June 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch that was involved in the crash -- an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to malfunction on a large proportion of times.
Due to the faulty hitch caused by the defective hitch, the trailer smashed into the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. This resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck that was involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. However, experts believe that he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles had he done a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were in good order. A faulty hitch on a trailer can lead to major catastrophes, since these types of incidents typically involve a lot of speed and could easily wipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these situations the trailer may distort a car's frame and force the metal to strike the passengers inside.