Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury resulting from an accident with a semi-truck can leave a person with medical bills. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
After a crash, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A qualified attorney can help establish your case through evidence such as police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.
Vehicles that aren't maintained properly
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often do not take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This leads to many accidents that could have been avoided every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their larger size and heavier load. Unfortunately, the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits can overtake maintaining the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that can cause catastrophes.
The brakes on a truck must be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a moments notice. When brake pads lines, return springs, or lines on a truck wear out and become damaged, it can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is essential that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced when necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
Tires that aren't well maintained may be a major factor in truck accidents. Worn tires can lose traction, which causes the truck to skid or even flip over. If a tire is damaged in any way, for example, having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
Regular inspections of trucks are required in addition to regular maintenance to identify mechanical issues prior to causing an incident. If an inspection is conducted improperly or the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's guidelines, it can cause a crash. In these instances, the company that employed the repair or maintenance shop or managed it may be held responsible.
The malfunctioning of signals, lights and reflectors are a common reason for truck accidents. These components must be in good working to enable drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. Drivers and trucking companies could fail to maintain and inspect these equipment, or may not be able to conduct daily safety checks.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer can review your case and identify who might be accountable for your injuries when you've been injured in an accident caused by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence that proves the negligence of the defendant in the accident and assist you recover the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and could cause more injuries when they are involved in collisions. Distracted driving is among the many factors that can cause accidents. A driver who is distracted could lose control of the vehicle or overlook an accident on the road which could lead to serious and life-altering injuries.
Truck drivers must adhere to strict rules and regulations formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition on texting and using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers adhere to the rules, they may still be distracted and cause an accident. This is often caused by mechanical distractions like getting your hands off the steering wheel, or by cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving is risky, but not many know that other activities, such as eating, changing radio stations, or talking to passengers, could also be considered to be distracting. If a trucker gets distracted, it is possible that he will drift into a different track and not see the traffic jam ahead. It only takes a fraction of a second for a large truck to collide with a vehicle when the trucker's focus is diverted.
When a truck accident occurs due to a distracted driver It is essential to snap photos of the scene of collision and gather the contact details and name of witnesses. It is also beneficial to know the name of the driver who is driving the truck and the company they work for, as well the owner of the truck, if it's an independent contractor. This will affect who is accountable for your incident since the trucking company is responsible for securing competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partly responsible for the accident, they could be held accountable for your financial and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are common and can cause serious injuries. They can occur in a variety situations like at an intersection or stop sign, when the trucker fails to look behind them for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. They can also occur when a car is able to cut in front of the truck, which forces the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker could then hit the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault in rear-end crashes, as it's not always clear which vehicle was responsible for the crash. An experienced attorney can find evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving distracted. This evidence could include photos of the scene, police reports, eyewitness testimony, aswell as skid marks in the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be liable for the accident. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail make use of a turn signal, as would any other reasonable person would do. In this kind of situation modified comparative negligence laws can be applied. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each party. west virginia semi truck accident lawyer are then reduced accordingly.
Lacerations and Bruises
In a rear-end accident, the rear-end of the car is the part that takes the most impact. This means that passengers are at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the inside of the vehicle. Spinal injuries can be severe. Spinal injuries can cause serious and lasting effects on victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, victims may also experience psychological and emotional traumas as a result of having been involved in a terrible crash. They may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating. This can cause anxiety and depression. They may also experience stress and financial strain when they cannot work due to an injury. An attorney can examine the potential sources of liability to help a victim receive an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.
The trailer is not working properly
No matter if you're driving a car, a truck, a van or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause a catastrophic accident that could cause serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a collision involving the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced attorney for vehicle accidents with a specialization in cases of hitch failure promptly to discuss your legal options.
A defective trailer hitch could result from a variety factors, ranging from inadequate securing to 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 that is at the fault for a defective trailer can be held liable for the cost of medical bills and auto repair expenses, and other losses arising from the incident.
For example in a fatal crash that took place in January 2014 on an Ohio road referred to locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came out of the truck and crashed through the air into two cars that were behind it. Initial investigations pointed out that the accident was due to the truck driver's negligence for failing to inspect and secure hitch. In June 2015, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch the Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason for the crash.
Due to the malfunctioning hitch The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. This led to numerous deaths and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck involved in the crash was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts suggest that he could've avoided the collision in the event that he had conducted an in-depth inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were in good order. The failure of a trailer's hitches can result in major disasters, as these incidents often involve a lot of speed and can easily sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In such instances the trailer could distort the car's frame and push razor sharp metal fragments to crush passengers inside.