Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck collision can result in serious injuries that could cost a person a lot in medical bills. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
After a crash, it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A qualified lawyer will help you prove your case using evidence such as police reports and surveillance footage.
Vehicles that aren't maintained properly
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often do not take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good repair. This leads to an increase in the number of preventable accidents occurring every year.
In comparison to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis will require more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavier load. However, meeting deadlines and maximising profits may take precedence over the maintenance of the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical problems which could result in catastrophes.
The brakes on trucks are of particular importance as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. When a truck's brake pads, lines, or return springs wear out, they can cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is vital that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced as required to keep them in good working order.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major contributor to truck accidents. Tires that are worn out could lose traction, causing the truck to flip over or slide. Tires that aren't working or damaged, whether due to improper air pressure or tread design could fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require routine inspections to detect mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or if the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's recommendations it could lead to an accident. In these instances the company that employed or oversees the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
Another major cause of truck accidents is faulty lights, signals, and reflectors. These devices must be correctly working to enable drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers could fail to maintain and inspect these elements, or they may not perform daily safety checks.
A Houston truck accident lawyer can review your situation and determine who could be responsible for your injuries in the event that you are injured by a poorly maintained commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence that shows the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you recover the compensation you're due.
Distracted Drivers
The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be devastating. These massive trucks can weigh up to 25-times more than your vehicle and cause far more injuries in a crash. Distracted driving is one of many factors that cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see the dangers on the road, which could lead to serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting or using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers obey the rules, they could be distracted and cause an accident. This could be due to manual distractions like taking your hand off the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
While most people are aware that it is risky to text and drive, many realize that other activities such as eating, changing the radio station or conversing with passengers can be considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they may wander off into a different track and not see a traffic jam ahead. It only takes a fraction of a second for a large truck to strike a passenger vehicle when the trucker's focus is diverted.
It is essential to collect information on witnesses and take photos of the scene of the crash when the driver is distracted and causes the truck to crash. It is also beneficial to find out the name of the truck driver as well as the company they work for, as well as who owns the truck, if it's an independent contractor. This could have an impact on who is liable for the incident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking firm to hire competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible for the accident, they may be held accountable for your financial and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are quite common and can result in severe injuries. They can happen in a variety of situations for example, at an intersection, a stop signal, where the trucker is unable to look behind them for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. It could also happen when cars cross the truck's path, forcing the driver of the truck to stop at a rapid pace without warning. The trucker can then slam into the car from behind.
It can be hard to prove fault in the event of rear-end collisions because it isn't always evident the vehicle that was at fault. An experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that proves the driver in the rear caused the crash by following too closely or driving distracted. This can include evidence like photos, police reports eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the road.
The driver in the front of the car could also be accountable for the accident. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal like any other reasonable person. In these situations modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. The damages will be reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
The rear end of the vehicle is the most impacted area in a rear-end crash, which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries after hitting their head against the dashboard or back windows. The force of the collision can cause broken bones when the occupants are thrown about the interior of the vehicle. Spinal injuries can be very serious. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that regulate the body, therefore any damage to the spinal cord could cause significant and permanent problems for victims.
springfield semi truck accident lawyer who is a victim of a fatal accident may also suffer from emotional and psychological trauma. They may experience difficulties sleeping or concentrating which can lead them to anxiety and depression. They may also face financial hardship and stress when they are unable to work due to their injury. An attorney can look into the possible sources of liability and help the victim seek fair compensation for their expenses.
Faulty trailer hitches
All vehicles, whether they are a car or a truck, van flatbed, van, or are required to be securely connected to their trailers. Unexpectedly unhitching a trailer can result in catastrophic accidents that lead to serious injuries or death. If you've been injured by a runaway trailer, contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents with a specialization in cases of hitch failure as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
A malfunctioning trailer hitch may result from a variety factors, ranging from inadequate secured to faulty design. It can also be the result of an issue with the manufacturer, in which case laws governing product liability could apply. The person or company at the fault for a trailer that is defective can be held liable for the medical bills of the victims and auto repair costs and other losses arising from the incident.
In an accident that killed a person on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 a trailer detached from the truck. It then crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the driver's negligence in failing to check and secure the hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch at the center of the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a significant proportion of times.
Due to the defective hitch, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.
The truck driver who was involved in the crash was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However, experts suggest that he could've avoided the crash in the event that he had conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were tight. Faulty trailer hitsches can cause major disasters, as they typically involve a substantial amount of speed and can easily wipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these cases the trailer could deform the car's frame and result in sharp metal fragments that can impale passengers.