Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck crash can result in serious injuries that could cause a person to pay a huge amount in medical bills. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
It is crucial to have a professional New York truck accident lawyer on your side following an accident. A skilled attorney can prove your case by using evidence such as police reports and surveillance camera footage and more.
Vehicles that are not maintained properly
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good shape. This can lead to many preventable accidents every year.
Compared to passenger cars, semis and tractor-trailers require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and weight. load. Unfortunately the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits often takes precedence over maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that can cause catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on trucks are crucial as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at any moment. When brake pads lines, return springs, or lines on a truck are worn out and become damaged, it can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries. These components must be checked and repaired regularly as needed to ensure their good condition.
Tires that aren't properly maintained can also play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that are worn-out can lose traction and cause the truck to flip over or slide. If a tire is damaged in some way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
Regular inspections of trucks are required along with regular maintenance to detect mechanical issues before they lead to an incident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's instructions it could cause an accident. In such cases, a firm that hired the maintenance or repair shop or managed it may be held liable.
Another major cause of truck accidents is the failure of lights, signals and reflectors. These elements must be properly functioning to allow drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies may fail to check and maintain these components or the driver may not be able to complete daily safety inspections.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer can review your case and determine which parties may be liable for your damages should you be injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence proving the defendant's negligence and assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many things more devastating than an accident with a commercial truck. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your vehicle and may cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in collisions. Distracted driving is among the many factors that contribute to accidents. A truck driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an issue on the road, which can lead to life-changing injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition against texting or using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers abide by the rules, they might still be distracted and cause an accident. This could be the result of manual distractions such as dropping a hand off of the steering wheel or mental distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
Although most people know that it is risky to text and drive, few are aware that other activities such as eating or changing the station on the radio or even talking to a passenger could also be considered to be distracting. If a trucker is distracted it is possible that he will drift into a different direction and not notice a traffic jam ahead. When a truck driver's eye is diverted, it only takes one second for a massive vehicle to strike a passenger car.
If a truck crash occurs due to distracted driving it is crucial to snap photos of the scene of collision and gather the name and contact information of any witnesses. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the business 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, as it is the trucking company's responsibility to employ competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partly responsible for your accident, they could be responsible for your economic and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are common and often cause severe injuries. They can occur in a variety of settings for example, at the stop or red light sign when the trucker fails to check behind them for oncoming traffic. They can 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 prove fault in the event of rear-end collisions, as it's not always certain which vehicle was at fault. An experienced attorney can gather evidence to show that the driver in the back caused the crash by following too closely, or driving with a distraction. This evidence can include photos or police reports, eyewitness testimony, aswell being skid marks on the road.
Sometimes, the driver in the front could be liable for the accident in addition. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail to obey their turn signal as a reasonable person would, or put on the brakes at the very last minute and cause the driver behind to crash into the car directly in front of them. In this type of scenario, modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. The damages are then reduced according to.
Bruises & Lacerations
The rear end of the vehicle is the one that is most affected in a rear-end collision meaning that occupants can sustain serious injuries from hitting their head against the dashboard or back windows. The force of the crash may also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the interior of the vehicle. The injuries to the spine are often severe. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that regulate the body, and any damage to the spinal column may cause serious and lasting issues for the victims.
In addition to these types of injuries, a victim may also experience emotional and psychological trauma from the trauma of a crash. They may have difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, which could result in anxiety and depression. If they are unable work due to the seriousness of their injury it can create stress and financial burden. fort collins semi truck accident attorney can examine the possible causes of liability to assist the victim to receive the right amount of compensation for their loss.
Troublesome trailer hitches
All vehicles, whether they're a car or a truck, van flatbed, van, need to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer becomes unhitched, it can result in catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or even death. If you've been injured in a car accident caused by a runaway truck or trailer, consult an experienced attorney who is experienced in cases of hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch can be caused by a variety, ranging from improper securing or defective design. It could be due to an error on the part of the manufacturer, in which case, product liability laws may apply. The person or company at the fault for a defective trailer is liable for victims' medical bills and auto repair costs as well as other losses that result from the incident.
In a fatal crash that occurred on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer slid off of the truck. It then crashed into two cars directly behind it. The initial investigation attributed the crash to the truck driver's lapse in inspect and secure the hitch. However, in June 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch involved in the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large proportion of occasions.
Due to the hitch that was defective The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles, before colliding into them head-on. This led to multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck that was involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, but experts believe he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles if he done a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were in good order. The failure of trailer hitches can cause major accidents. These types of accidents are typically fast and can easily smack motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In such instances, the trailer can distort the car's frame, and cause steel fragments that are razor-sharp to impale passengers inside.