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 as well as safety and training.

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

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits for semi-trucks is crucial. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are set by most states. Weigh stations are commonplace along interstates, and truckers are weighed to ensure they don't exceed the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is caught breaking these limits they could face fines and even sent to jail depending on their criminal history and the state.

Axle groups are granted an increased limit because spreading the weight across more axles increases the safety of the vehicle and allows more cargo to be carried. A single tire on a wheel can only be weighed up to 650 pounds per inch but when two tires are on the same axle, they can be weighed to 1300 pounds.

There are limitations on the kinds of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Some states allow only one trailer, and others only allow triple or twin trailers. Additionally, a lot of states require fifth wheels on the trailer. This is a rounded plate on top of the drive wheels that couples (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. Both day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs are available. They both include sleeping spaces in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must abide by traffic rules and speed limits in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks are not allowed to drive at the same speed as cars for passengers. If they do, accidents are likely to occur. In a lot of instances, it's the driver of the truck who is at fault. This is because truck drivers often drive for longer than allowed and break hours-of service rules or be distracted or sleepy behind the driving.

Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left lane. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than passenger cars. This can be a very dangerous situation, especially for cars with smaller wheels that could be stuck behind trucks if they suddenly slow down or stop.

Certain states restrict the use of lane lanes in certain circumstances, and some restrict it to large trucks. In certain cases, these laws are built around axel and weight limits, while in other they may be based on vehicle description or directions.

Although there's no statewide law on lane restrictions, you should still check the local rules and observe the rules. Also, you should move to the right when you see trucks in the passing lane so that it does not hinder cars passing you.

Ownership

Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have a wealth of resources at their disposal to force victims of accidents into accepting far less than they should. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who act on their behalf before they know whether the accident victim will pursue legal action.

Because they can carry massive loads and are larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheeler accident lawsuit wheelers often cause severe injuries and massive property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is especially relevant when they collide with motor vehicles. It is important to have an experienced attorney fight for your rights and get you justice against these massive, powerful corporations.

Large vehicle accidents require an understanding of the most complex concepts in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry and federal regulations for trucking as well as medical standards, driving and other related areas. Our attorneys have the expertise to uncover violations of these laws and demonstrate to the jury why it led to your accident.

18-wheeler truck crashes are typically caused by the negligence or reckless actions of a variety of parties. Our NY attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure that they are paid their fair part of your current and expected costs. This includes trucking firms as well as owners, maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that could be a factor in your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies have an abundance of resources at their disposal and can swiftly deploy teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and even engineers to build a defense against the victims of accidents. They start the process before they know if you intend to seek legal recourse. It is essential to find an attorney who can match their resources and helping them decrease in size.

A seasoned 18-wheeler crash lawyer will alleviate the burden of dealing with these corporations off your hands and concentrate on getting you the compensation you deserve. This can be used to cover expenses such as medical bills that are costly, vehicle damage, the loss of earnings due to a lack of work, and other damages like suffering and pain.

18-wheelers are a complex vehicle which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to keep them on the road. Failure to keep accurate records and perform this maintenance could lead to devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers can be used for transporting hazardous materials, which require specialized training and certification. They can be flammable or explosive or radiological or poisonous. They all pose a significant risk to other drivers on American highways. Failure to properly label and Attorneys secure the load could cause a devastating accident.

A skilled 18-wheeler crash lawyer can determine the exact cause of the accident and pinpoint any individuals who could be accountable. These may include the driver of the truck and attorneys the trucking company, the owner of the trailer, and the manufacturer of the truck or its components. This is known as vicarious liability.