Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident could cause serious injuries that could cost a person a lot in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
It is essential to have a qualified New York truck accident lawyer by your side after a crash. A qualified attorney will assist you in proving your case by using evidence like police reports or surveillance footage, for instance.
Vehicles that are poorly maintained
Owner-operators and trucking companies often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good working order. This leads to an increase in the number of preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars because of their larger size and heavier weight. However, the pressure of completing deadlines and maximizing profits often takes precedence over maintaining the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that could lead to devastating accidents.
The brakes on trucks are of particular importance since they have to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. If the brake pads of a truck lines, lines or return springs wear out they could cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is essential to have these parts regularly inspected and replaced when necessary to ensure they are in good condition.
Tires that aren't maintained may be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can cause the tires to lose traction and cause the truck to slide or even roll over. Tires that aren't working or damaged, whether due to inadequate air pressure or tread design, can fail catastrophically.
The inspections are routine for trucks in addition to regular maintenance to identify mechanical issues before they lead to an incident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop doesn't adhere to the guidelines of the manufacturer, it could cause an accident. In these cases, the company that hired or supervised the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
The malfunctioning of signals, lights and reflectors are another frequent cause of truck accident. These items must be properly functioning to allow drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies could fail to maintain and inspect these components or the driver might not be able to complete daily safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident lawyer will investigate your situation and determine who could be responsible for your damages in the event that you are injured by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence to prove the negligence of the defendant in the accident and assist you receive the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many events more damaging than an accident that involves a commercial truck. These massive vehicles can weigh as much as 25 times more than a car and cause much worse injuries in an accident. Distracted driving is among the many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see the dangers on the road, which can lead to life-changing injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition against texting or using cellular phones while driving. But even if truckers adhere to the rules, they can still become distracted and cause crash. This can be caused by accidental distractions, such as not having your hands on the steering wheel or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
While the majority of people are aware that it is risky to text and drive, very few realize that other activities, such as eating or changing the radio station, and even conversing with the other driver can also be considered distracting. If the trucker is distracted, he may drift into another lane and fail to notice a traffic jam ahead. If a truck driver's focus is diverted, it only takes one second for a massive vehicle to hit a motorist car.
If a truck crash is caused by distracted drivers it is crucial to capture photos of the scene of collision as well as collect the name and contact information of any witnesses. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the company that they work for and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This could impact the person who is responsible for your accident since the trucking company is responsible for securing skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible in your accident, it may be held accountable to you for any economic as well as non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are frequent and frequently cause severe injuries. They can happen in a variety of situations, such as at an intersection, a stop signal when the trucker fails to observe the road ahead for oncoming traffic. It can also happen if a car cuts across the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to stop suddenly and without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove the cause of an accident that occurs at the rear, as it's not always clear what vehicle caused the accident. However, an experienced attorney can help gather evidence that shows the driver in the rear caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving while distracted. fort lauderdale semi truck accident attorney could include evidence such as photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks left on the roadway.
Sometimes, the driver in the front could be found to be responsible for the accident as well. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail to obey their turn signal as a reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes at the last minute, causing 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 determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. The damages will be reduced accordingly.
Lacerations, Bruises and Bruises
The rear-end of the vehicle has the greatest impact during a rear-end collision which means that occupants may suffer serious injuries after hitting their head against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the interior of the car. Spinal injuries can be severe. The damage to the spine could have long-lasting and serious effects on victims.
A person who is a victim of a fatal accident may also suffer from emotional and psychological trauma. They may have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can result in anxiety and depression. They may also face financial hardship and stress if they are unable work because of an injury. An attorney can look into all possible causes of liability and help a victim seek fair compensation for their loss.
The trailer hitches are faulty.
Regardless of whether you're driving a car, a truck, a van or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it could cause a catastrophic accident that could result in severe injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a collision involving an unhitched trailer, call a qualified vehicle accident attorney specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as you can to discuss your legal options.
A malfunctioning trailer hitch may be the result of a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate securing to defective design. It could also be due to an error by the manufacturer and, in this case, products liability laws could apply. The company or the person who is at responsible for the malfunction of a trailer could be held accountable for victims' medical bills as well as auto repair costs as well as other losses that result from the incident.
In the fatal crash that took place on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014, the trailer slid off of the truck. It then crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the driver's negligence in failing to examine and secure the hitch. However, in June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch at the center of the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large proportion of occasions.
The trailer struck the side of the vehicles, and then crashed into them. This led to multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver in the incident was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However, experts say that he could've avoided the collision in the event that he had conducted an extensive inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were in good order. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause serious accidents, since these incidents often involve a substantial amount of speed and could easily sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these cases the trailer could distort the car's frame and result in sharp metal fragments to impale any passengers.