What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents caused by commercial truck drivers their rigs, and 18 wheelers are covered under the law governing 18 wheelers. These huge vehicles are subject to strict federal guidelines regarding maintenance, safety, and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies often pressure their drivers to work longer hours and manipulate log books. This can cause accidents involving trucks to be devastating.

Weight Regulations

It is crucial to know the weight limitations of semi trucks. Most states have both single axle and group axle weight limits which must be observed. It is not uncommon to find weigh stations along interstates, where truck drivers are weighed to confirm that they do not exceed maximum weight limits for their vehicle and load. If a trucker is found violating these limits and is found guilty, they may be fined and even sent to jail according to their criminal record and the state.

Axle groups are given a higher limit as distributing the weight over more axles makes the vehicle safer and allows more cargo to be carried. For instance a single tire on an axle can be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle it could be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, and others only permit triple or twin trailers. Many states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer that is a plate that sits above the drive wheels and couples (hooks up) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cab tractor and sleeper cabs which include sleeping areas inside the tractor unit. They are made for over-the-road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must adhere to traffic signals and speed limits in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks aren't permitted to operate at the same speed as passenger vehicles. If they do, accidents can occur. In most cases, it is the truck driver who is at fault. Truck drivers might be driving longer than they are entitled to, or breaking the hours-of service regulations and/or being distracted or lawyers asleep behind the driving.

Another important restriction on lane usage is that truck drivers aren't allowed to drive in the left or right. Trucks brake at a much lower speed than cars that are primarily passenger vehicles. This could result in a risky situation, especially for cars that are smaller and could be stuck behind trucks when they suddenly slow down or stop.

Some states limit the use of lanes in specific situations, while other states restrict it to large trucks. In some cases these laws are based on weight and axel limits, while in others they could be based on the description of the vehicle or directions.

Even if there is no statewide law that you can follow, you should be aware of local rules about limitations on lane usage and follow them. It is also recommended to move to the right if you see a truck in the pass lane, so that it does not hinder faster vehicles from passing you.

Ownership

The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have an array of resources they can employ to pressure accident victims to accept less than they're entitled. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts, and lawyers who work on their behalf before they know whether an accident victim will pursue legal recourse.

Due to their massive load and are so much larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers frequently cause a lot of injuries and huge property damage in accidents. This is particularly true when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an an experienced attorney defend your rights and recovery against these powerful, large corporations.

Accidents involving large vehicles require a thorough understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry and federal regulations for trucking and medicine, driving standards and many other related fields. Our lawyers are able identify any violations of these laws and present to the jury the circumstances that caused your accident.

18-wheeler truck accidents can be caused by the negligent or reckless actions of multiple parties. Our NY attorney for accidents involving 18 wheels will investigate all of the liable parties and make sure they are paid their fair portion of your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking firms, owners, maintenance contractors, and even drivers themselves. Our team will also look into the weather conditions that could have contributed to the accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies can put together large teams of lawyers, adjusters engineers, experts and adjusters quickly. They begin this process before they decide if you will to seek legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who can match their resources and helping them decrease in size.

An attorney who has experience in handling 18-wheeler crashes can ease the burden and assist you in getting the compensation you deserve. The money could be used to pay for medical expenses, vehicle damages, lost income from missed work and other non-economic losses such as pain and suffering.

18 wheeler accident lawsuit-wheelers are highly complex vehicles that require high-level, systematic maintenance to keep them on the road. Failure to maintain detailed documents and carry out this maintenance could lead to devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers typically carry dangerous materials, which requires special training and specialized certification to transport. These materials can be flammable or explosive and radiological as well as poisonous. They all pose a serious risk to other drivers on American highways. An accident that is catastrophic could occur if the load was not properly labelled and secured.

A competent attorney for 18-wheelers can determine the exact cause and blame the parties that may be responsible. This may include the driver of the truck, the trucking firm or the owner of the trailer, as well as the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.