Semi Truck Accident Law

A severe injury sustained in a crash with semi-trucks can cost the victim in medical costs. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
It is essential to have a professional New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after a crash. A qualified attorney can help prove your case by using evidence such as police reports or surveillance camera footage and much more.
Vehicles that are poorly maintained
In a lot of cases trucking companies as well as owner-operators do not take the appropriate steps to make sure their vehicles are in good working condition. This causes many preventable crashes every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers due to their larger dimensions and larger load. Unfortunately the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits often take precedence over maintaining the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical problems which could lead to disastrous accidents.
The brakes on a truck must be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. If the brake pads of a truck, lines, or return springs fail they could cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is essential to have these parts regularly inspected and replaced as necessary to ensure they are in good condition.
Tires that are not properly maintained can also play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that are worn down could lose traction, causing the truck to overturn or skid. If a tire is damaged in some way, for example, having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks require regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues before they cause an accident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's guidelines this could result in a crash. In these situations the company that employed or supervising the maintenance or repair shop could be held responsible.
Faulty lights, signals and reflectors are also a frequent cause of truck accident. These devices must function properly to enable drivers to see and anticipate the movements of the truck especially in rural areas or at night. However, trucking firms may neglect to inspect and maintain these elements or the driver might fail to conduct regular safety checks.
A Houston truck accident lawyer will investigate your case and determine who could be responsible for your injuries in the event you were injured by a poorly maintained commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence that proves the defendant's negligence and assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
There are few things more devastating than an accident which involves a commercial vehicle. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your vehicle and can cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in a collision. While many factors cause accidents and injuries, distracted driving is one of the most prevalent and dangerous. A distracted truck driver can lose control of the vehicle or fail to notice an accident on the road, which can lead to life-threatening injuries.
Truck drivers are required to adhere to strict rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting or using cell phones while driving. But even if truckers obey the rules they are still prone to be distracted and cause crash. This can be a result of manual distractions, such as taking a hand off the wheel or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be risky, but many do not realize that other activities, like eating, changing radio stations, or chatting with passengers, could also be considered to be distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they could drift into another lane or fail to see an obstruction in front of them. It takes only a split second for a big truck to collide with a vehicle when the trucker's attention is diverted.
If a truck crash occurs due to distracted driving it is vital to take photographs of the scene of the crash as well as collect the contact details and name of any witnesses. It is also important to find out the name of the truck driver and the company they are employed by, as and who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. This will affect the person who is responsible for your accident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and competent truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partly responsible for your accident, they may be liable for your economic and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are common and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of situations such as at a stop sign or red light when the trucker does not check ahead for traffic coming in. They can also occur when a car comes in front of the truck, which forces the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker could then crash into the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove fault in rear-end collisions, since it is not always obvious which vehicle caused the crash. A skilled attorney can help find evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the crash by following too closely or driving in a distracted manner. This evidence could include photos or police reports, eyewitness testimony, as well markings from skids on the road.
The driver in the front of the car could be held accountable for the collision. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to make use of a turn signal, as would any reasonable person. In tempe semi truck accident law firm modified comparative negligence laws can be applied. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. The damages are then reduced accordingly.
Lacerations & Bruises
In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the area that receives the most force. This means that the drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the crash may cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the interior of the vehicle. Spinal injuries can be serious. Injuries to the spine can cause serious and lasting effects on victims.
A person who has been involved in a serious accident could also be suffering from psychological and emotional trauma. They might have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating, which could result in anxiety and depression. If they are unable to work due to the degree of their injury this could cause pressure and financial hardship. An attorney can research any possible liability sources and help a victim seek fair compensation for their expenses.
The trailer is not working properly
Regardless of whether you're driving a car, a van, truck, 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 cause serious injuries or death. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a truck that has run away or trailer, consult 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 securing to defective design. It could also be due to a defect on the part of the manufacturer where case-by-case product liability laws may apply. The company or person accountable for a defective trailer is liable for the victim's medical costs, auto repair costs and other losses resulting from the incident.
For instance the fatal crash that took place in January 2014 on an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came loose from the truck and crashed directly into two cars in front of it. Initial investigations suggested that the crash was due to the driver's negligence in failing to properly inspect and secure hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a defect in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
The trailer hit the side of the vehicles, and then crashed into them. This led to numerous deaths and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck that was involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts say he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles if he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were secure. The failure of a trailer's hitches can result in catastrophic accidents, as these incidents often involve a lot of speed and can easily cause a collision with smaller vehicles or motorcycles. In these instances, the trailer may distort the frame of a car and result in sharp metal fragments that can impale passengers.