Now That You've Purchased Semi Truck Lawsuit ... Now What?
Semi Truck Accident Law A serious injury sustained in collision with a semi truck can bury a person with medical bills. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy. It is crucial to have a reputable New York truck accident lawyer on your side following an accident. A qualified lawyer will assist you in proving your case with evidence such as police reports, surveillance footage, etc. Poorly maintained vehicles Owner-operators and trucking companies often don't take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good working order. This negligence results in an astronomical number of preventable accidents every year. Comparatively to passenger vehicles, tractor-trailers and semis require more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavy loads. However, meeting deadlines and maximising profits is often prioritized over maintaining a fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical issues that could lead to catastrophes. The brakes of trucks are of particular importance because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. When brake pads, lines or return springs on a truck are worn out and break, it could lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. These components should be checked and repaired regularly as needed to ensure their good condition. Tires that aren't maintained may play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that have worn out could lose traction, causing the truck to rollover or skid. If a tire is damaged in any way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it could fail catastrophically. In addition to regular maintenance, trucks must undergo regular inspections to spot mechanical issues before they cause an accident. If an inspection was performed incorrectly or if the repair shop doesn't adhere to the manufacturer's specifications it could cause an accident. In these cases, the company that hired or supervised the maintenance or repair shop could be held responsible. Another reason for truck accidents is malfunctioning signals, lights, and reflectors. These devices must be correctly functioning to allow drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or after dark. Drivers or trucking companies may fail to maintain and check these elements, or they may not perform daily safety inspections. A Houston truck accident lawyer can investigate your case and determine who could be responsible for your damages in the event that you are injured by a badly maintained commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence of negligence by the defendant and help you receive the compensation you're due. Distracted Drivers There aren't many events as devastating as an accident involving a commercial truck. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and can cause more serious injuries when they are involved in an accident. Distracted driving is just one of the many causes of accidents. A truck driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see an issue on the road, which can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries. Truck drivers must adhere to strict rules and regulations that have been formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting and the use of cell phones while operating their vehicles. However, even when truckers obey the rules they may still be distracted and cause crashes. This is often caused by mechanical distractions like taking your hand off the steering wheel or mental distractions such as thinking about something other than driving. Many people are aware that texting while driving is risky, but not many know that other activities, like eating, changing radio stations, or chatting with passengers, can also be considered distracting. When a trucker gets distracted, they may wander off into a different direction and not notice the traffic jam ahead. It only takes a split second for a large truck to hit a passenger vehicle when the driver's attention is diverted. If a truck crash occurs due to an unintentionally distracted driver it is vital to snap photos of the scene of collision and gather the contact details and name of witnesses. It is important to determine 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 the person who is responsible for your accident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and competent truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found to be partially responsible for your accident, it may be held accountable to you for economic and non-economic damages. Rear-End Collisions Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can cause serious injuries. They can happen in a variety settings, such as at a red light or stop signal when the trucker fails to check behind them for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. They may also occur when a car crashes into front of the truck, which forces the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker can then slam into the car from behind. It can be difficult to prove fault when there is a rear-end collision, because it isn't always clear which vehicle was responsible. However, an experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that proves that the driver in the rear caused the crash due to following too closely or driving distracted. This could include evidence such as photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony and skid marks left on the roadway. Sometimes the driver in front might be at fault for the crash also. This could happen if they cut off someone else or fail to utilize their turn signal as any reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes at the last minute and cause the driver behind to crash into the car directly in the front of them. In these situations an amended comparative negligence law could be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each party. Damages are then reduced accordingly. Bruises & Lacerations The rear-end of the vehicle is the one that is most affected in a rear-end crash, which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries as they smash their head against the dashboard or back window. The force of the crash can cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the inside of the vehicle. Injuries to the spine can be extremely severe. nebraska semi truck accident law firm to the spine could have long-lasting and serious effects on victims. In addition to these kinds of injuries, the victim may suffer from psychological and emotional traumas as a result of being in a horrific crash. They may have difficulty being able to sleep or concentrate, which can result in anxiety and depression. If they are unable to work due to the seriousness of their injury this could cause stress and financial burden. An attorney can examine the possible causes of liability to help a victim receive fair compensation for their loss. A problem with trailer hitches It doesn't matter if you're driving an automobile, a van, truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles must to be securely attached to their trailers. Unexpectedly unhitching a trailer can cause catastrophic accidents that lead to severe injuries, or even death. If you've been injured in a vehicle accident caused by a runaway truck get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is experienced in cases of hitch failure to discuss your legal options. A faulty trailer hitch can result from a variety factors, ranging from inadequate securing to defective design. It can also be the result of a manufacturer's defect, in which case products liability laws could apply. The company or person responsible for a trailer that is defective could be held responsible for the victim's medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses resulting from the incident. In a fatal crash that occurred on a road in Ohio known as “Devil's Backbone” in January 2014 a trailer detached from the truck. It crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the truck driver's inattention to examine and secure the hitch. However, in June 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch in the crash — an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama — to malfunction on a high number of occasions. Due to the malfunctioning hitch, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. This led to numerous deaths and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles. The driver of the truck involved in the crash was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, but experts say he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles if he had conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were secure. Faulty trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These kinds of incidents are usually high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorcycles or smaller cars. In these instances the trailer can deform a car's frame and force razor sharp metal fragments to crush passengers inside.