What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

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

Unfortunately, trucking companies frequently require their drivers to work longer hours and alter log books. This can lead accidents with trucks that are catastrophic.

Weight Regulations

Knowing the weight limits for semi-trucks is crucial. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are set by the majority of states. It is typical to see weigh stations along interstates where truckers are weighed in order to verify that they do not exceed maximum limits for their vehicle and load. If a trucker is found breaking these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined or even imprisoned depending on their criminal record and the state.

Axle groups have a greater limit of weight since the vehicle is more secure when the weight is spread over a wider range of axles. This also permits the transport of larger cargo. For instance one tire on an axle may be weighed at 650lbs per inch of wheel's diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle it could be measured at 1300 pounds per tire.

There are limitations on the kinds of trailers that can be used with the tractor. Some states only allow one trailer while some states allow triple or twin trailers. Many states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer, which is a plate that sits over the drive wheels and connects (hooks up) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs that have a sleeping area into the tractor unit and are designed for over the road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must adhere to traffic rules and speed limits in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks aren't able to travel at the same speed as vehicles for passengers and, should they do, they can cause accidents. In many cases, the truck driver is at fault in these accidents. This is because truck drivers often drive longer than the limit or violate the hours-of-service regulations, or be distracted or sleepy behind the vehicle.

Truck drivers are also banned from driving in the left right lane. This is due to the fact that trucks take a lot longer trucks to stop than cars. This could create a dangerous situation, especially for smaller vehicles that could be stranded behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

There are states that specifically exclude large trucks and restrict them from using the left lane, whereas others restrict the use of the lane only in certain circumstances. In certain cases these laws are built around axel and weight limits, whereas in others they could be based on vehicle descriptions or directions.

Even if there's no statewide law however, you must check local rules on limitations on lane usage and follow the rules. Also, you should move to the right when you notice a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

The 18-wheeler and trucking firms have many resources they can use in order to force accident victims into accepting less than what they're entitled to. They have teams of insurance adjusters and lawyers who advocate on their behalf before they know whether the victim of the accident will pursue legal action.

In accidents 18-wheelers are usually responsible for severe injuries and property damage due to the fact that they are able to carry heavy loads and are incredibly large compared to passenger vehicles. This is particularly relevant when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is imperative to hire an attorney who has experience fighting for your rights against these powerful, large corporations.

Accidents involving large vehicles require a thorough understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, federal regulations for trucking, medicine, driving standards, and other related fields. Our lawyers have the knowledge to discover violations of these laws and show the jury how it led to your accident.

Many parties could be at fault for truck accidents involving 18-wheelers. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the accountable parties and ensure they are paid their fair portion of your current and expected expenses. This includes trucking firms and owners, maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also examine the weather conditions that may have contributed to the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies are able to provide large teams of adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts and adjusters quickly. They begin this process before they even know whether you are going to seek legal recourse. It is essential to retain an attorney who can match their resources and helping them decrease in size.

An experienced 18 wheeler crash lawyer will help you deal with these large corporations off your shoulders and concentrate on getting you the compensation you're due. This can be used to cover expenses such as high medical bills or vehicle damage, lost wages due to missing work, and 18 wheeler accident also non-economic injuries like suffering and pain.

18-wheelers are extremely complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and maintain accurate records could lead to catastrophic accidents.

Tractor-trailers are commonly used for transporting hazardous materials, that require special training and licenses. The material may be explosive, flammable, radiological or poisonous, and all of these present significant dangers to other drivers on American roads. An accident that is catastrophic could happen if the load is not properly labelled and secured.

A qualified 18 wheeler accident law firms-wheeler accident lawyer can pinpoint the exact causes of your accident and hold liable any parties that are accountable. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company and the owner of the trailer, as well as the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is also known as vicarious liability.