10 Things People Hate About Semi Truck Lawsuit
Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident can cause a serious injury that can cost the victim a significant amount in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is important to have a skilled New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after a crash. A qualified attorney can help you prove your case by using evidence like police reports or surveillance footage, for instance.
Vehicles that aren't maintained properly
In many instances trucking firms and owner-operators fail to take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good condition. This leads to a high percentage of preventable accidents each year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their dimensions and larger weight. However the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits can overtake maintaining the fleet. As a result, trucks can be susceptible to mechanical breakdowns that can cause catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on a truck are particularly important because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. When the brake pads on a truck, lines or return springs wear out they could result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components should be checked and repaired regularly as needed to ensure their good condition.
Tires that are not properly maintained can contribute to truck accidents. Tires that are worn out may lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even rollover. Tires that aren't working because of an insufficient air pressure or tread design can fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks require regular inspections to spot mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's guidelines it could lead to a crash. In these instances the company that employed or directed the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
Another reason for truck accidents is malfunctioning lights, signals and reflectors. These items must function properly so that drivers can observe and anticipate the movements of the truck particularly when driving in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies might not inspect and maintain these equipments or the driver might not be able to complete daily safety checks.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will analyze your case to determine who could be liable for your damages should you be injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence proving the defendant's negligence and help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These huge vehicles can weigh up 25-times more than your car and cause much worse injuries in accidents. Distracted driving is one of many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to spot an accident on the road, which could lead to life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers are required to follow strict rules and regulations that have been formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition on texting or using cellular phones while driving. Even if truckers obey the rules, they could be distracted and result in an accident. This can be a result of distractions caused by manual actions like taking their hands off the wheel or mental distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.
While most people are aware that it's dangerous to text and drive, few realize that other activities such as eating or changing the station on the radio or conversing with the other driver can also be considered distracting. When a trucker gets distracted, the driver could drift off into another direction and not notice the traffic jam in front of him. It only takes a fraction of a second for a big truck to strike a passenger vehicle when the trucker's attention wanders.
It is important to collect details about witnesses and take photos of the scene after an accident if a distracted driver causes the truck to crash. It is also beneficial to know the name of the driver of the truck and the company they are employed by, as the owner of the truck if they are an independent contractor. This can have an influence on who is responsible for the incident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking firm to find competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partly responsible for your accident, they could be held responsible for your economic as well as non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are frequent and frequently cause severe injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of circumstances such as an intersection or at a red light when the trucker is not checking ahead for traffic coming in. It can also happen when a car cuts across the truck's route, causing the driver of the truck to stop suddenly and without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
It can be difficult to establish fault when there's a rear-end collision, because it isn't always evident the vehicle that was at fault. An experienced lawyer can gather evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the accident due to following too closely or driving with a distraction. This evidence could include photos, police reports and eyewitness testimony as well as skid marks on the road.
The driver in the front of the car could also be held responsible for the accident. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to use their turn signal as any reasonable person would, or hit on the brakes at the very last minute, causing the driver in the back to crash into the car directly in the front of them. In this kind of situation the modified comparative negligence laws can be applied. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each party. The damages are then lowered accordingly.
Bruises & Lacerations
In a rear-end accident, the rear-end of the car is the area that receives the most impact. This means that the passengers are at risk of serious injuries if they strike their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the crash can cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the inside of the vehicle. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it can be severe. Spinal injuries can have long-lasting and serious consequences for victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, victims may suffer from psychological and emotional traumas as a result of the trauma of a crash. They may have trouble being able to sleep or concentrate, which can result in anxiety and depression. They may also face stress and financial strain when they are unable to work because of an injury. An attorney can examine all possible sources of liability and help the victim seek fair compensation for their expenses.
Problematic Trailer Hitches
No matter if you're driving either a car, truck, a van, or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely connected to their trailers. Unexpectedly unhitching a trailer can cause catastrophic accidents that lead to severe injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident involving the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced vehicle accident lawyer specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
A damaged trailer hitch could be caused by many different things, from improper securement to a defective design. It could be due to an error on the part of the manufacturer in which case product liability laws may apply. The person or company at the fault for a defective trailer is liable for the cost of medical bills, auto repair costs, and other losses arising from the incident.
For example in a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 along an Ohio road that is locally referred to as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came loose from the truck and slid through the air into two cars that were behind it. melbourne semi truck accident case attributed the accident to the truck driver's inattention to examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch, an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason for the crash.
The trailer hit the side of the vehicles and crashed into them. The result was numerous deaths and serious injuries to the drivers.
The truck driver in the accident was convicted of vehicular homicide. However experts believe that he could have avoided the crash by conducting an in-depth inspection of his trailer to make sure that all connections were secure. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause serious accidents, since these incidents often require a significant amount of speed and may sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these situations the trailer may distort the car's frame and push razor sharp metal fragments to impale passengers inside.