Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck collision can result in serious injuries that could cost a person a fortune in medical expenses. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is crucial to have a professional New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after a crash. A skilled attorney can to prove your case using evidence such as police reports and surveillance camera footage and more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Trucking companies and owners-operators often don't take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good working order. This negligence leads to an overwhelming number of preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport because of their larger size and heavier weight. However the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits often over maintaining the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical problems that can cause catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on trucks are especially important because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at a moment's notice. If the brake pads of a truck lines, lines, or return springs wear out, they can cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is vital to have these parts regularly inspected and replaced as necessary to ensure they are in good working order.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major cause of truck accidents. Tires that are worn out may lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even tip over. Tires that are defective because of incorrect tread design or air pressure, can fail catastrophically.
Trucks require regular inspections along with regular maintenance to identify mechanical issues before they lead to an incident. However, if the inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop does not adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines the result could be a crash. In these situations, a company that hired the repair or maintenance company or managed it may be held accountable.
Another reason for truck accidents is the failure of lights, signals and reflectors. These elements must be properly functioning to allow 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 elements, or they may not carry out regular safety checks.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer can investigate your case to determine which parties may be responsible for your losses when you've been injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence to prove the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you obtain the compensation you're due.
Distracted Drivers
The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your vehicle and can cause much greater injuries when they are involved in a collision. While many factors cause accidents and injuries, distracted driving is one of the most common and dangerous. A driver who is distracted could lose control of the vehicle or fail to notice a road danger which could lead to serious and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers are required to follow strict rules and regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition against texting or using cellular phones while driving. Even if truckers follow the rules, they could be distracted and cause an accident. This can be the result of distractions caused by manual actions like taking their hands off the wheel or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.
While most people understand that it is dangerous to text and drive, few realize that other activities such as eating or changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with passengers can be deemed to be distracting. If the trucker is distracted, it is possible that he will drift into a different track and not see an impending traffic jam. It takes only a split second for a big truck to crash into a vehicle when the trucker's focus wanders.
It is crucial to gather information about any witnesses and also take pictures of the scene after an accident if the driver is distracted, which can cause a truck crash. 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 accountable for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for securing skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found partially responsible for your accident, it could be liable to you for any economic as well as non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are common and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can occur in many different circumstances such as a stop sign or an intersection when the trucker does not check ahead for traffic coming in. They can also happen when a car comes in front of the truck, forcing the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.
It can be hard to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions as it isn't always clear the vehicle that was at fault. However, an experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that shows the driver in the rear caused the crash through following too closely or being distracted while driving. This evidence could include photos of the scene, police reports, eyewitness testimony as well being skid marks on the road.
Sometimes, the driver in the front could be at fault for the crash also. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to make use of a turn signal, as would any other reasonable person would do. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws could be applied, in which the jury assigns a percentage to each party and damages are lowered accordingly.
Bruises & Lacerations
In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the area that receives the most impact. This means that passengers are at risk of serious injuries if hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They could also break bones due to being bounced around the interior of the car as a result of the force of the collision. Spinal injuries can be serious. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that regulate the body, and any damage to the spinal column can cause significant and permanent problems for victims.
In addition to these types of injuries, the victim may also be suffering from emotional and psychological trauma from being in a horrific crash. They may experience difficulties getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can lead them to anxiety and depression. They may also face financial hardship and stress in the event that they are unable to work because of an injury. An attorney can investigate the possible sources of liability and ensure that the victim receives fair compensation for their loss.
Faulty Trailer Hitches
Regardless of whether you're driving the vehicle of a car, truck, a van or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it could cause a catastrophic accident that could result in severe injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries 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 is many things such as inadequate securing or defective design. It can be the result of a defect in the manufacturing process or a manufacturing defect, in which case the products liability laws could apply. The person or company responsible for a trailer's defect could be held responsible for the victims' medical expenses along with auto repair expenses and other losses resulting from the incident.
For instance, in a deadly crash that took place in January 2014 on an Ohio road known locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came out of the truck and crashed directly into two cars in front of it. Initial investigations linked the incident to the truck driver's carelessness for failing to inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch the Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the cause of the crash.
austin semi truck accident lawyer slammed into the side of the vehicles and then crashed into them. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries for the drivers.
The truck driver who was involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts believe that he could have avoided the collision in the event that he had conducted an extensive inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were tight. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major accidents. These incidents are often high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In these cases the trailer could distort the frame of a car and result in sharp metal fragments that can impale passengers.