Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury sustained in an accident with trucks can result in the death of the victim in medical expenses. It can also result in permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
Following a collision, it is essential to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A qualified attorney can assist you in proving your case by using evidence such as police reports, surveillance footage, etc.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In a lot of cases trucking companies and owner-operators do not take the appropriate steps to make sure their vehicles are in good condition. This negligence leads to many avoidable accidents each year.
In comparison to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis need more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavier load. However, the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits often over maintaining the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical problems that can cause devastating accidents.
The brakes on trucks are especially important because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at any moment. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck fail they can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital to have these parts regularly checked and replaced as required to keep them in good working order.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major reason for truck accidents. Tires that are worn down could lose traction, causing the truck to roll over or slide. If a tire is damaged in some way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks need regular inspections to identify mechanical problems before they lead to an accident. However, if an inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's guidelines this could result in an accident. In such cases the company that employed or supervising the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
Incorrect lights, signals and reflectors are a common cause of truck accident. These devices must be correctly working to enable drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. However, trucking companies might not inspect and maintain these equipments or the driver may fail to conduct regular safety checks.
A Houston truck accident lawyer can review your case and determine who could be accountable for your losses in the event that you were injured by a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence that shows the negligence of the defendant in the accident and assist you receive the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many events as devastating as an accident involving a commercial truck. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and could cause much greater injuries when they are involved in a collision. Distracted driving is just one of the many factors that cause accidents. A distracted driver of a truck can lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an accident on the road which could lead to serious and life-altering injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and the use of cell phones while operating their vehicles. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they may be distracted and cause an accident. This could be the result of distractions caused by manual actions like getting off the wheel or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving is dangerous, but they are not aware that other activities, like eating or changing radio stations or chatting with passengers, are also considered to be distracting. When the trucker is distracted, they may wander off into a different track and not see the traffic jam ahead. It only takes a split second for a huge truck to crash into a vehicle when the trucker's focus wanders.
It is crucial to gather information about any witnesses and take photos of the scene of the crash when the driver is distracted, which can cause an accident with a truck. It is essential to know the name of the driver, the company that they work for, and who owns the vehicle, if it's an independent contractor. This can affect who is liable for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partially responsible for your accident, they may be held accountable for your financial and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are common and can cause serious injuries. These accidents can happen in many different circumstances like at a stop sign or red light, when the trucker doesn't check ahead for traffic coming in. They may also occur when a car comes in front of the truck, forcing the driver to use their brakes without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions as it's not always clear the vehicle that was at fault. An experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that proves the driver in the rear caused the crash because they followed too closely or being distracted while driving. This evidence can include photos, police reports and eyewitness testimony as well as skid marks on the road.
Sometimes the driver in front may be found to be liable for the accident in addition. This could happen if they cut off someone else or fail to use a turn signal as any reasonable person. In this kind of situation, modified comparative negligence laws may be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. The damages are then reduced according to.
Bruises and Lacerations
In a rear-end crash, the rear end of the vehicle is the area that receives the most impact. This means that occupants are at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They can also suffer broken bones due to being thrown around the interior of the vehicle by the force of the collision. The injuries to the spine can be particularly severe. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that control the body, so any injury to the spinal column may cause long-lasting and serious problems for victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, a victim may suffer from psychological and emotional traumas as a result of being involved in a devastating crash. They may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating, which could result in anxiety and depression. They may also face stress and financial difficulties if they are unable work due to an injury. An attorney can look into any possible liability sources and help the victim seek fair compensation for their expenses.
A problem with trailer hitches
It doesn't matter if you're driving either a car, truck, a van, or a flatbed, all vehicles need to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer goes unhitched, it could cause catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or death. If you've been injured in a vehicle accident caused by a runaway truck get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is specialized in cases involving hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
The cause of a faulty trailer hitch could be due to a variety of factors which can range from inadequate secured or defective design. It could be caused by an error on the part of the manufacturer, in which case the product liability law could be applicable. The person or company at the fault for a trailer that is defective can be held liable for the medical bills of the victims as well as auto repair costs and other losses arising from the incident.
In a fatal crash on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 an unattached trailer was spotted on the truck. It crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigations linked the incident to the truck driver's negligence for failing to inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch the Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.
The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and crashed into them. This resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
phoenix semi truck accident law firm in the accident was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However experts believe that he could have avoided the crash if he'd performed an extensive inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were in good order. The failure of a trailer's hitches can result in catastrophic accidents, as these incidents often involve a large amount of speed, and they can cause a collision with smaller vehicles or motorcycles. In such cases the trailer may distort a car's frame and force the metal to strike the passengers inside.