Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident could cause an injury that is serious enough to cost a person a lot in medical bills. It can also cause permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
It is important to have a skilled New York truck accident lawyer by your side after an accident. A lawyer with experience can help prove your case by using evidence like police reports or surveillance camera footage and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often do not take the proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good shape. This leads to many preventable accidents each year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars because of their larger dimensions and larger weight. Unfortunately working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits may take precedence over maintaining a fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that could result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on trucks are crucial because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. If the brake pads of a truck, lines, or return springs wear out they could cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components should be checked regularly and repaired when necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
Tires that aren't properly maintained can play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out may lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even rollover. If a tire is not properly designed in some way, for example, having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
Regular inspections of trucks are required along with regular maintenance to spot mechanical issues before they lead to an accident. However, if the inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop doesn't adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines the result could be an accident. In these cases, a company that employed the maintenance or repair shop or supervised it could be held responsible.
Another reason for truck accidents is the failure of lights, signals, and reflectors. These devices must function properly so that drivers can observe and anticipate the truck's movements particularly in rural areas or at night. Drivers or trucking companies may not be able to maintain and inspect these elements, or they may not be able to conduct daily safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident attorney can review your situation and determine who could be responsible for your damages in the event you were injured by a deteriorated maintenance of a commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence that proves the defendant's negligence and assist you in obtaining the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There are few things more devastating than an accident that involves a commercial truck. These massive vehicles can weigh as much as 25 times the weight of your vehicle and cause far more injuries in an accident. Distracted driving is one of many factors that contribute to accidents. A distracted driver of a truck can lose control of their vehicle or overlook an opportunity to avoid a road accident and cause life-threatening injuries.
Truck drivers must follow strict rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting or using cellular phones while driving. Even if truckers obey the rules, they may still be distracted and cause an accident. This can be caused by mechanical distractions like taking your hand off the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
While most people understand the dangers of using text and drive, very few are aware that other activities, such as eating or changing the radio station or even talking to the other driver can also be deemed to be distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they could drift into another lane or not be able to see an obstruction in front of them. It takes only a split second for a big truck to crash into a vehicle if the trucker's mind wanders.
It is important to collect details on any witnesses and take photos of the scene after an accident if the driver is distracted and causes the truck to crash. It is important 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 have an impact on who's responsible for the accident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking company to find competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible for your accident, they may be responsible for your economic and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and often cause serious injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of circumstances such as at a stop sign or red light when a trucker does not check the road ahead for oncoming traffic. They can also occur when a car comes in front of the truck, causing the driver to slam on 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 isn't always clear who was at fault. An experienced attorney can gather evidence to show that the driver in the rear caused the crash by following too closely or driving while distracted. This can include evidence such as photos, police reports eyewitness testimony and skid marks on the roadway.
The driver in front of the car may be held accountable for the accident. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to obey their turn signal in the manner that a reasonable person would, or slam on the brakes at the last minute and cause the driver in the back to crash into the vehicle directly in the front. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws can be used, in which the jury assigns a percentage of blame to each party, and damages are reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
In a rear-end crash, the rear-end of the car is the area that receives the most impact. This means that people in the car are at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They can also suffer broken bones as they are torn around inside the car due to the force of the collision. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it can be severe. The spinal cord houses a number of nerves that regulate the body, so any injury to the spinal column can cause permanent and significant problems for victims.
lawrence semi truck accident law firm who is a victim of a fatal accident might also suffer emotional and psychological trauma. They may have difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, which could cause anxiety and depression. They may also experience stress and financial burdens when they are unable to work due to an injury. An attorney can research the possible sources of liability and assist the victim in seeking fair compensation for their losses.
Troublesome trailer hitches
All vehicles, whether they are a car or a truck, van flatbed, van should be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer becomes unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries or even death. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a runaway truck, contact an experienced attorney who is skilled in cases involving the failure of a hitch to discuss your legal options.
A faulty trailer hitch can result from a variety things, from improper security to design flaws. It could be caused by an error on the part of the manufacturer, in which case, product liability laws may apply. The company or the person responsible for a defective trailer can be held accountable for the victims' medical expenses or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses resulting from the incident.
In the fatal crash that took place on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 a trailer detached from the truck. It crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigation linked the crash to the truck driver's negligence in failing to examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch in the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama -- to malfunction on a large number of occasions.
The trailer hit the side of the vehicles and then crashed into them. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries for the drivers.
The driver of the truck involved in this accident was convicted of vehicular manslaughter, but experts believe he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles if he completed a thorough inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were secure. Faulty trailer hitches can cause major accidents. These kinds of incidents are usually high-speed and can easily sidewipe motorcycles or smaller cars. In such cases the trailer can deform a car's frame and force sharp metal pieces to impale passengers inside.