What Is 18 Wheeler Law?
Accidents caused by commercial truck drivers their rigs, and 18 wheelers are covered by the law of 18 wheels. These huge vehicles are subject to strict federal guidelines regarding maintenance, safety and training.
Companies that transport trucks often force their drivers to work longer and manipulate logbooks. This can lead to devastating trucking accidents.
Weight Regulations
Understanding the weight limits for semi trucks is essential. Many states have single axle and group axle weight limits which must be adhered to. Weigh stations are prevalent along interstates where truckers are weighed to ensure they don't exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is found violating these limits and is fined, they could be penalized and even sentenced to jail subject to their criminal history and the state.
Axle groups have an increased limit because spreading the weight over more axles makes the vehicle more secure and allows for more cargo to be transported. For instance a single tire on an axle can be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle it could be weighted at 1300 pounds for each tire.
There are also restrictions on the type of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Some states allow only one trailer while others only allow twin or triple trailers. Furthermore, many states require the fifth wheel to be installed on the trailer. This is a rounded plate on top of the drive wheels that couples (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractor and sleeper cabs which include an area for sleeping inside the tractor unit. They are designed for over-the-road hauling.
Lane Restrictions
Truck drivers must abide by traffic signals and speed limits in addition to lane restrictions. Trucks are not allowed to drive at the same speeds as passenger cars. If they do, accidents are likely to occur. In a lot of instances, it is the driver of the truck at fault. This is due to truck drivers being able to drive longer than they are allowed to or break the rules of hours-of-service, or become tired or distracted behind the driving.
Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left right lane. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than passenger cars. This can be a dangerous issue, particularly for those in cars that are smaller and could be stranded behind trucks when it slows or stops abruptly.
Some states limit the use of lane lanes in certain circumstances, while some states limit it for big trucks. These laws can be based either on weight or axel limit. In other cases they may be solely based on vehicle description.
Even if there's no statewide law that you can follow, you should be aware of local regulations regarding the lane restrictions and adhere to them. It is also recommended to move to the right side if you spot a truck in the pass lane, so that it does not hinder cars passing you.
Ownership
The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have an array of resources they can make use of to force accident victims into accepting less than what they're entitled to. They have teams of insurance adjusters and lawyers who act on their behalf before they even know if the victim of the accident will take legal action.
In accidents 18-wheelers are frequently responsible for catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage due to the fact that they carry such hefty load and are so massive when compared to passenger cars. This is especially so when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is essential to find an attorney who has experience fighting for your rights against these massive, powerful corporations.
Large vehicle accidents require a thorough understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics and chemistry, biology as well as federal regulations for trucking, medicine, driving standards and many other related areas. Our lawyers are able to find violations of these laws and explain to the jury how they contributed to your accident.
18-wheeler truck accidents are usually caused by the negligence or reckless actions of multiple parties. 18 wheeler accident case seattle will investigate all of the liable parties and make sure they pay their fair share of your current and expected expenses. This includes trucking firms, owners, maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also examine weather conditions that may have contributed to your accident.
Insurance
Trucking companies are able to provide large teams of lawyers, adjusters engineers, experts and adjusters quickly. They start this process even before they know if you will 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 can relieve the burden of dealing with these corporations off your hands and focus on obtaining the compensation you are entitled to. The money will cover costs such as medical bills that are costly and vehicle damage, as well as lost wages due to missing work, and also non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
18 wheelers are extremely complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to ensure their safety on the road. Failure to keep accurate documents and carry out this maintenance could lead to devastating accidents.
Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials, which requires special training and specialized certification to transport. The material is explosive, flammable, radiological or toxic, all of which could pose a significant risk to other drivers on American roads. In the absence of proper labeling and secure the load could also cause a devastating accident.
A competent 18-wheeler accident attorney will determine the exact cause and blame the individuals responsible. This may include the driver of the truck, the trucking company, the owner or the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck and its components. This is referred to as vicarious responsibility.