Semi Truck Accident Law

A severe injury sustained in the crash of a semi truck accident law firms-truck can leave an individual in medical expenses. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.

It is vital to have a skilled New York truck accident lawyer by your side after an accident. A skilled attorney can establish your case through evidence such as police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.

Poorly-Maintained Vehicles

Owner-operators and trucking companies typically do not take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good shape. This leads to an overwhelming number of avoidable accidents each year.

Comparatively to passenger vehicles, tractor-trailers and semis require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavy load. However working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits can often take precedence over the maintenance of a fleet. In the end, trucks can become prone to mechanical failures that cause catastrophic accidents.

The brakes on trucks must be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck get worn out and become damaged, it can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital to have these parts regularly inspected and replaced when needed to keep them in good working condition.

Tires that are not maintained properly can be a major contributor to truck accidents. Tires that are worn down could lose traction, causing the truck to roll over or slide. Tires that are defective, whether it's due to improper tread design or air pressure could fail catastrophically.

In addition to regular maintenance, trucks need regular inspections to identify mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is conducted in a way that is not correct or if the repair shop does not adhere to the manufacturer's specifications it could cause a crash. In these instances, the company that hired or supervised the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.

Incorrect lights, signals and reflectors are another common reason for truck accidents. These elements must be properly working to enable drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas or at night. Drivers and trucking companies could fail to maintain and inspect these equipment, or may not perform daily safety inspections.

A Houston truck accident lawyer can review your case and determine who may be responsible for your injuries in the event you were injured by a poorly maintained commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence that proves the defendant's negligence and help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

Distracted Drivers

There aren't many things more devastating than an incident with a commercial truck. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and can cause more serious injuries when they are involved in a collision. Distracted driving is one of many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted might lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see an issue on the roadway, which could lead to life-changing injuries.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and the use of cell phones while operating their vehicles. However, even when truckers follow the rules, they can still become distracted and cause an accident. This could be the result of manual distractions like dropping a hand off of the wheel or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.

Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but they are not aware that other activities, such as eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers are also considered to be distracting. If a truck driver is distracted, they could get lost in a lane or miss a traffic jam up ahead of them. If a truck driver's focus is diverted, it only takes a split-second for a large vehicle to strike a passenger car.

When a truck collision is caused by distracted driving, it is important to capture photos of the scene of the crash as well as collect the name and contact information of any witnesses. It is also beneficial to know the name of the truck driver as well as the company they are employed by, as well as who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. This could influence on who is responsible for the accident, as it is the trucking company's responsibility to hire competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially at fault for the accident, they could be liable for your economic and non-economic injuries.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions with trucks are common and can cause serious injuries. They can occur in a variety situations like at an intersection or stop signal when the trucker fails to check their surroundings for oncoming traffic. It can also happen when vehicles cross the truck's path, forcing the driver of the truck to brake suddenly and without warning. The trucker could then crash into the car from behind.

It can be difficult to prove the cause of an accident that occurs at the rear, as it's not always clear what vehicle caused the accident. However, an experienced attorney can help gather evidence that proves that the driver behind caused the crash by following too closely or being distracted while driving. This can include evidence such as photos, police reports eyewitness testimony, and skid marks in the road.

Sometimes the driver in front might be liable for the accident in addition. This could occur if they cut someone off or fail to utilize a turn signal in the same manner as any other reasonable person. In this scenario the modified comparative negligence laws may be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each party. The damages are then reduced according to.

Lacerations and Bruises

In a rear-end crash, 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 hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They also may break bones due to being bounced around the interior of the car by the force of the crash. Spinal injuries can be extremely severe. Damage to the spine can cause serious and lasting effects on victims.

In addition to these kinds of injuries, the victim may also experience emotional and psychological trauma from being in a horrific crash. They may have trouble being able to sleep or concentrate, which can result in depression and anxiety. They may also face stress and financial burdens if they are unable work due to an injury. An attorney can investigate the possible sources of liability to ensure that the victim receives the right amount of compensation for their loss.

Problematic Trailer Hitches

All vehicles, whether they are a car or a truck, van, semi truck accident flatbed, or van must be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries or death. If you've been injured in an accident involving a runaway trailer, contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney with a specialization in cases of hitch failure as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

A faulty trailer hitch can be the result of a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate securement to a defective design. It could also be due to a defect on the part of the manufacturer, where case-by-case product liability laws may apply. The person or company at responsible for the malfunction of a trailer is responsible for the cost of medical bills and auto repair costs and other losses arising from the incident.

For instance, in a deadly crash that occurred in January 2014 along an Ohio road known locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came loose from the truck and slid head-on into two cars behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the truck driver's negligence in failing inspect and secure the hitch. However, in June 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch at the center of the crash -- an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large percentage of occasions.

Due to the hitch that was defective The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before crashing into them head-on. The result was numerous deaths and serious injuries to the drivers.

The driver of the truck that was involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts say he could have prevented the collision with other vehicles had he performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were tight. A faulty hitch on a trailer can lead to serious accidents, since these incidents often involve a substantial amount of speed and may hit smaller cars or motorcycles. In these situations, the trailer may distort the car's frame and cause razor-sharp metal fragments to entrap passengers.