Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident could cause serious injuries that could cost a person a fortune in medical expenses. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following a collision, it is essential to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A qualified lawyer will assist you in proving your case by using evidence such as police reports and surveillance footage.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In many instances, trucking companies and owners-operators do not take appropriate steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This can lead to many preventable accidents occurring every year.
In comparison to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis need more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavier loads. However working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits may take precedence over maintaining a fleet. This is why trucks are more prone to mechanical failures that cause catastrophic accidents.
The brakes of a truck need to be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. If the brake pads of a truck lines, lines or return springs fail they could cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components should be checked and repaired regularly as necessary to maintain their good condition.
Tires that aren't maintained can also play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can lose traction and cause the truck to rollover or slide. If a tire is not properly designed in any way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks require routine inspections to detect mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is done incorrectly or if the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's recommendations, it can cause an accident. In these instances the company that employed or oversees the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
The malfunctioning of signals, lights and reflectors are another common cause of truck accident. loveland semi truck accident law firm must be properly functioning to allow drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas and after dark. Trucking companies or drivers could fail to maintain and inspect these items, or may not carry out regular safety checks.
A Houston truck accident attorney will review your case and determine who may be responsible for your injuries in the event that you are injured from a poorly maintained commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence that proves the defendant's negligence and assist you in obtaining the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating. These massive trucks can weigh up to 25 times more than your car and cause a lot more injuries in a crash. Distracted driving is one of many factors that contribute to accidents. A distracted driver of a truck can lose control of the vehicle or overlook a road danger, which can lead to serious and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers are required to follow strict rules and regulations formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition on texting and using cell phones while operating their vehicles. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they may still be distracted, causing an accident. This can be caused by manual distractions like turning your back on the steering wheel or cognitive distractions such as 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, such as eating or changing radio stations or chatting with passengers, can also be considered distracting. If a trucker is distracted the driver could drift off into another area and not be aware of a traffic jam ahead. When a trucker's attention is diverted, it takes only just a few seconds for a huge vehicle to crash into a passenger car.
It is essential to collect details on any witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the crash when the driver is distracted and causes a crash of a truck. It is crucial to know the name of the driver, the company for which they work, and who owns the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This could impact who is liable for your incident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partially at fault for your accident, they may be held accountable for your financial and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are frequent and frequently result in severe injuries. These accidents can occur in many different circumstances, including at a stop sign or red light when the trucker fails to check behind him for oncoming traffic. 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 might then slam into the car from behind.
It can be hard to prove the fault of a driver in a rear-end collision, because it isn't always certain which vehicle was responsible. However, a skilled attorney can help gather evidence that proves that the driver at the rear was responsible for the crash because they followed too closely or distracted driving. 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 liable for the collision. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal like any other reasonable person. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws can be applied, in which the jury assigns a percentage to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.
Lacerations & Bruises
The rear-end of the vehicle has the greatest impact during a rear-end collision which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries as they smash their head against the dashboard or back windows. The force of the crash can cause broken bones when the occupants are thrown around the interior of the vehicle. Spinal injuries can be extremely severe. Damage to the spine can have serious and long-lasting consequences for victims.
A person who is the victim of a serious accident may also suffer from emotional and psychological trauma. They may have difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could cause depression and anxiety. They may also face financial hardship and stress when they cannot work because of an injury. An attorney can examine the possible sources of liability to assist a victim in receiving fair compensation for their loss.
Troublesome trailer hitches
It doesn't matter if you're driving the vehicle of a car, truck, a van, or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries in a collision involving the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents that specializes in cases of failure of the hitch as soon as you can to discuss your legal options.
The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch can be a variety of things, ranging from improper securing or defective design. It could be due to an error on the part of the manufacturer, where case-by-case product liability laws may apply. The company or individual responsible for a defective trailer is liable for the victims' medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
For example in a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck, and was thrown over two cars ahead of it. Initial investigations linked the incident to the driver's negligence in failing to properly inspect and secure hitch. But in June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch involved in the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large proportion of times.
Due to the malfunctioning hitch, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before crashing into them head-on. This resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts believe that he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles if he had performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were secure. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These accidents are typically high-speed, and they can easily cause a collision with motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In these instances, the trailer can distort a car's frame and force the metal to strike the passengers inside.