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What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law covers accidents that involve commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These massive vehicles are subject to strict federal guidelines regarding maintenance, safety, and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies often press their drivers to complete longer hours and manipulate log books. This can lead to devastating trucking crashes.

Weight Regulations

Understanding the weight limits for semi trucks is vital. Many states have single axle and group axle weight limits that must be adhered to. Weigh stations are commonplace on interstates, where truckers are weighed to ensure they do not over the weight limit for their vehicle or load. If a trucker gets found to be in violation of these limits, they could be fined or even jailed based on the location and criminal record.

Axle groups are granted a higher limit because distributing the weight across multiple axles increases the safety of the vehicle and allows for more cargo to be transported. A single tire on a wheel is only weighed up to 665 pounds per inch but when two tires are mounted on the same axle, it can be weighed as high as 1300 pounds.

There are also limitations on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with a tractor. Some states allow only one trailer, while others only allow triple or twin trailers. Furthermore, many states require the fifth wheel to be installed on the trailer, which is a rounded plate on top of the drive wheels that couples (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cab tractors as well as sleeper cabs, which incorporate a sleeping area into the tractor unit and are specifically designed to haul over the road.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to lane restrictions truck drivers also must adhere to speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks aren't allowed to operate at the same speed as passenger cars. If they do, accidents can occur. In many instances, the truck driver is the one at fault in these accidents. Truck drivers could be driving for longer than they are permitted to, or breaking the hours-of service regulations or simply being tired or distracted behind the driving.

Truck drivers are also barred from driving in the left side of the road. Trucks brake more slowly than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This could be a risky situation, especially for smaller cars that may be stuck behind trucks if they suddenly slow down or stop.

There are states that specifically exempt large trucks and restrict them from using the left lane, and others restrict the use of the lane in certain circumstances. These laws can be based on weight or axel limit. In other situations, they could be solely based on vehicle's description.

Even if there isn't a statewide regulation on lane limits, you must still review the local rules and abide by the rules. Also, you should move to the right when you spot trucks blocking the lane.

Ownership

The trucking and 18 wheeler accident law firms-wheeler companies have a wealth of resources to use in order to force victims of accidents to accept less than what they're entitled to. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and even engineers who work on their behalf before they know whether the victim of an accident will pursue legal action.

Because they can carry massive loads and are larger than passenger automobiles, 18 wheelers typically cause a lot of injuries and huge property damage in accidents. This is particularly so when they collide with motor vehicles. It is vital to hire an attorney who is experienced in fighting for your rights against these powerful, large corporations.

Large-scale accidents require an understanding of the most complex concepts in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, federal regulations for trucking and medicine, driving standards and many other related areas. Our lawyers are able uncover any violations of these laws, and present to the jury the circumstances that led to your accident.

There are many parties that can be responsible for the 18-wheeler truck crash. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure they are paid their fair portion of your current and expected costs. This includes owners of trucking companies, trucking companies as well as maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that may have played a part in the accident.

Insurance

The trucking industry has a wealth of resources available and can quickly send teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and even engineers to develop a strategy for defense against accident victims. They begin this process before they know whether you'll seek legal recourse. That is why it is crucial to hire an experienced lawyer who can match their resources and reduce them to size.

An experienced 18 wheeler accident lawyer can take the burden of dealing with these corporations off your shoulders and focus on obtaining the compensation you deserve. This money can be used to pay for medical costs, vehicle damage as well as lost income from missing work and other damages that are not economic like suffering and pain.

18-wheelers are highly complex vehicles that require a high-level, structured maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Failure to do this maintenance and maintain detailed logs can lead to catastrophic accidents.

Tractor-trailers frequently carry hazardous materials that requires specialized training and special licensing for transport. The material may be flammable, explosive, radiological, or toxic, all of which could pose a significant risk to other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also cause a devastating accident.

A competent 18-wheeler accident attorney can pinpoint the exact cause and blame the individuals responsible. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer and the company that manufactures the truck or its components. This is also known as vicarious liability.