Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident can cause a serious injury that can cause a person to pay a huge amount in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
Following a collision, it is important to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A lawyer with experience can help establish your case through evidence such as police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.
Poorly-Maintained Vehicles
In a lot of cases trucking companies as well as owner-operators don't take the appropriate steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This negligence results in an astronomical number of avoidable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars due to their dimensions and larger load. However the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits often takes precedence over maintaining the fleet. As a result, trucks are susceptible to mechanical breakdowns that can result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes of trucks are of particular importance because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck are worn out and break, it could lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. anchorage semi truck accident lawyer is essential to have these parts regularly checked and replaced as necessary to ensure they are in good working order.
Tires that are not properly maintained may contribute to truck accidents. Tires that are worn-out may lose traction and cause the truck to flip over or slide. Tires that aren't working either because of an insufficient air pressure or tread design could fail catastrophically.
Trucks need routine inspections in addition to regular maintenance to identify mechanical issues prior to causing an incident. If an inspection was performed improperly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's instructions this could result in a crash. In these situations the company that hired or oversees the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.
The malfunctioning of signals, lights and reflectors are another common cause of truck accident. These components must function properly to allow drivers to observe and anticipate the speed of the truck particularly when driving in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers could fail to maintain and inspect these equipment, or may not perform daily safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident attorney can investigate your case and determine who could be responsible for your injuries in the event that you are injured by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence of the defendant's negligence and assist you in obtaining the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These huge vehicles can weigh up 25 times more than your car and can cause more severe injuries in an accident. Distracted driving is one of many factors that contribute to accidents. A truck driver who is distracted might lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see the dangers on the road, which can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting or using cell phones while driving. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they may be distracted and cause an accident. This can be a result of manual distractions like taking a hand off the 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, like eating, changing radio stations, or chatting with passengers, are also considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they could wander off into another lane, or not be able to see a traffic jam up ahead of them. It takes only a split second for a huge truck to strike a passenger vehicle when the driver's attention wanders.
If a car accident occurs due to a distracted driver it is vital to take photographs of the scene of the crash and collect the name and contact information of any witnesses. It is essential to know the name of the driver, the company that they work for and who owns the vehicle, if it's an independent contractor. This could have an influence on who is responsible for the accident, as it is the responsibility of the trucking firm to find competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partly responsible for your accident, they may be responsible for your economic and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are quite common and can cause serious injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of situations like at the stop sign or a an intersection when the trucker is not checking behind him for oncoming traffic. They may also occur when a car cuts in front of the truck, causing the driver to apply their brakes without warning. The trucker could then smash the car from behind.
It can be difficult to establish fault when there's rear-end collisions because it isn't always clear the vehicle that was at fault. An experienced attorney can help gather evidence that proves the driver in the rear caused the crash by following too closely or distracted driving. This can be evidence in the form of photos of the scene, police reports, eyewitness testimony, as well as skid marks in the road.
The driver in the front of the car could also be accountable for the incident. This could occur if they cut someone off or fail to make use of a turn signal, as would any reasonable person would do. This kind of situation is where modified comparative negligence laws be applied, in which the jury assigns a percentage of blame to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.
Lacerations and Bruises
In a rear-end accident, the rear end of the vehicle is the area that experiences the most impact. This means that occupants are at risk of serious injuries if hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can cause broken bones if the occupants of the vehicle are thrown around the interior of the car. Spinal injuries can be very serious. Damage to the spine can have long-lasting and serious effects on victims.
A victim of a serious accident could also be suffering from emotional and psychological trauma. They may have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating. This can lead to depression and anxiety. They may also experience stress and financial strain if they are unable work due to an injury. An attorney can investigate the possible sources of liability and help a victim seek fair compensation for their losses.
The trailer is not working properly
All vehicles, regardless of whether they are a car or van, truck, flatbed, or van should be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer goes unhitched, it could cause a catastrophic accident that could result in serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a vehicle accident caused by a truck that has run away, contact an experienced attorney who is experienced in cases of hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
A malfunctioning trailer hitch may be the result of a variety of things, from improper securing to defective design. It can also be the result of a manufacturer's defect, in which case lawful product liability may apply. The person or company at the fault for a defective trailer is responsible for the medical bills of the victims and auto repair costs as well as other losses that result from the incident.
In a fatal crash on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer slid off of the truck. It crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigations attributed the crash to the truck driver's lapse in examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch the Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
As a result of the hitch that was defective The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and then crashed into them head-on. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.
The driver of the truck involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts say that he could've avoided the crash if he'd performed a thorough inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were in good order. The failure of trailer hitches could cause major problems. These accidents are typically high-speed, and they can easily cause a collision with motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In these situations the trailer could deform the frame of a car and create sharp metal fragments to entrap passengers.