Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident can cause an injury that is serious enough to cause a person to pay a huge amount in medical expenses. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
It is vital to have a skilled New York truck accident lawyer by your side after a crash. A skilled attorney can prove your case by using evidence such as police reports, surveillance camera footage, and more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Trucking companies and owners-operators often do not take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good repair. This can lead to a large percentage of avoidable accidents each year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their larger dimensions and larger weight. Unfortunately, the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits can overtake maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks are more prone to mechanical malfunctions that can result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes of trucks are crucial as they must 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 fail and become damaged, it can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries. These parts must be checked regularly and repaired when necessary to ensure they are in good condition.
Tires that are not maintained properly can be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that have worn out can lose traction and cause the truck to roll over or skid. Tires that are defective, whether it's due to incorrect tread design or air pressure can fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require routine inspections to detect mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. However, if the inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop fails to adhere to the guidelines of the manufacturer this could result in a crash. In such cases, the company that hired or supervising the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
Poorly functioning lights, signals and reflectors are also a frequent reason for truck accidents. These items must be properly functioning to allow drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. Drivers and trucking companies could fail to maintain and inspect these items, or may not carry out regular safety inspections.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer will examine your case to identify who might be accountable for your damages when you've been injured in an accident involving a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence that shows the defendant's negligence in the accident and help you obtain the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many things that can be more damaging than an accident that involves a commercial truck. These huge trucks can weigh up to 25 times more than a car and cause a lot more injuries in accidents. Distracted driving is among the many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see the dangers on the road, which could lead to serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting or using cell phones while driving. However, even when truckers obey the rules they may still be distracted and cause crashes. This could be the result of manual distractions, such as taking a hand off the steering wheel or mental distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
While the majority of people are aware that it is risky to text while driving, a few are aware that other activities like eating, changing the station on the radio or conversing with the other driver can also be considered distracting. If a truck driver is distracted, they might wander off into another lane, or miss a traffic jam up ahead of them. It takes only a split second for a big truck to strike a passenger vehicle if the trucker's mind is diverted.
It is crucial to gather details on any witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the accident when the driver is distracted, which can cause the truck to crash. It is also helpful to find out the name of the driver of the truck and the company they work for, aswell and who owns the truck, if it's an independent contractor. This could have an effect on who is accountable for the incident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking business to find competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be at least partially responsible for the accident, they may be held accountable for your financial as well as non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can result in serious injuries. They can occur in a variety of situations like an intersection or stop signal when the trucker fails to check their surroundings for oncoming traffic. They can also occur when a car cuts in front of the truck, forcing the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker can then slam into the car from behind.
austin semi truck accident case can be difficult to prove the fault of a driver in rear-end collisions as it's not always clear the vehicle that was at fault. A knowledgeable attorney can collect evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash by following too closely, or driving distracted. The evidence can include photographs, police reports and eyewitness testimony as well being skid marks on the road.
Sometimes, the driver in the front could be responsible for the accident also. This can happen if they cut off someone else or fail make use of a turn signal, as would any reasonable person. In this kind of situation, modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. The damages are then lowered accordingly.
Lacerations and Bruises
The rear end of the vehicle is the one that is most affected in a rear-end collision so occupants are more likely to suffer serious injuries after hitting their head against the dashboard or back window. The force of the collision can cause broken bones when the occupants are thrown about the interior of the car. Spinal injuries can be very serious. Injuries to the spine can be serious and have long-lasting consequences for victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, the victim might also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma as a result of the trauma of a crash. They may have difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, which could cause anxiety and depression. They may also experience stress and financial burdens when they cannot work due to their injury. An attorney can investigate the potential sources of liability to help a victim receive the right amount of compensation for their loss.
Faulty Trailer Hitches
All vehicles, whether they are a car or van, truck, flatbed, or van must be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally unhitching a trailer could cause catastrophic accidents that can lead to serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a vehicle accident caused by a truck that has run away get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is specialized in cases involving hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch is many things that can be traced to improper security or design. It could also be the result of an issue with the manufacturer or a manufacturing defect, in which case the laws governing product liability could apply. The person or company at responsible for the malfunction of a trailer can be held liable for victims' medical bills and auto repair expenses, and other losses related to the incident.
For instance the fatal crash that took place in January 2014 on an Ohio road referred to locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck and crashed directly into two cars in front of it. Initial investigations suggested that the crash was due to the driver's negligence in failing to properly inspect and secure hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch at the center of the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to malfunction on a high proportion of times.
As a result of the faulty hitch The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. This led to numerous deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver who was involved in the accident was convicted of vehicular murder, however experts say that he could've avoided the collision by conducting an in-depth inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were tight. Faulty trailer hitsches can cause major disasters, as these incidents often involve a lot of speed and may hit smaller cars or motorcycles. In these instances the trailer may distort the frame of a vehicle and force sharp metal pieces to strike the passengers inside.