Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident could cause an injury that is serious enough to cost the victim a significant amount in medical expenses. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
After a collision, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney at your side. A qualified attorney can help you prove your case by using evidence such as police reports and surveillance footage.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and trucking companies typically do not take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good repair. This leads to an astronomical number of preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport because of their larger dimensions and larger weight. However the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits can overtake maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks can become prone to mechanical failures that cause catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on a truck are particularly important as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. When brake pads, lines or return springs on a truck wear out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. These components must be regularly checked 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 are worn-out can lose traction and cause the truck to rollover or skid. If a tire is damaged in some way, such as having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it could fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks must undergo regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is conducted improperly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's guidelines, it can cause an accident. In such cases, a company that hired the repair or maintenance shop or supervised it could be held responsible.
Poorly functioning lights, signals and reflectors are another frequent cause of truck accident. These components must be in good working to enable drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers may not be able to maintain and inspect these elements, or they might not conduct regular safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident attorney will review your situation and determine who could be responsible for your damages in the event that you were injured by a badly maintained commercial truck. Investigating your case can uncover evidence to prove the defendant's negligence in the crash and help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be devastating. These huge vehicles can weigh up to 25 times more than your car and can cause more severe injuries in accidents. Distracted driving is just one of the many factors that can cause accidents. A driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an accident on the road and cause serious and life-threatening injuries.
Truck drivers are required to adhere to strict rules and regulations that have been formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition on texting or using cell phones while driving. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they can still be distracted and cause an accident. This could be due to accidental distractions, such as taking your hand off the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions like 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 or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers, could also be considered to be distracting. When a trucker gets distracted, the driver could drift off into another track and not see an impending traffic jam. When a truck driver's attention is diverted, it only takes just a few seconds for a huge vehicle to collide with a car.
If a truck crash occurs due to a distracted driver It is essential to take photographs of the scene of the crash and note down the name and contact information of witnesses. It is essential to know the name of the driver, the company that they work for, and who is the owner of the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This could affect who is accountable for your accident as the trucking company is responsible for hiring competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found to be partially responsible in your accident, they could be held accountable to you for economic and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are quite common and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can happen in many different circumstances such as at a stop sign or red light, when the trucker doesn't check ahead for traffic coming in. It can also happen when an automobile crosses the truck's path, causing the driver of the truck to stop at a rapid pace without warning. The trucker might then slam the car from behind.
It can be hard to prove the fault of a driver in rear-end collisions because it isn't always evident which vehicle was responsible. A skilled attorney can help gather evidence to show that the driver in the back caused the crash due to following too closely or driving erratically. This can include evidence like photos, police reports eyewitness testimony, and skid marks left on the roadway.
Sometimes, the driver in the front could be at fault for the crash also. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal as any other reasonable person would do. In this scenario the modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each party. Damages are then reduced accordingly.
Bruises & Lacerations
In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the area that experiences the most force. This means that the occupants are at risk of serious injuries if they crash their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They can also suffer broken bones as they are torn around inside the vehicle by the force of the crash. Spinal injuries can be very serious. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that control the body, and any injury to the spinal column can cause long-lasting and serious issues for the victims.
A person who is the victim of a serious accident could also be suffering from psychological and emotional trauma. livonia semi truck accident attorney may experience difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could result in depression and anxiety. If they are unable to work due to the extent of their injury, it can create stress and financial burden. An attorney can look into all possible sources of liability and assist the victim in seeking fair compensation for their expenses.
Troublesome trailer hitches
Whatever vehicle you're driving, the vehicle of a car, truck, a van, or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it could cause a catastrophic accident that could result in serious injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident involving an unhitched trailer, call an experienced vehicle accident lawyer specializing in hitch failure cases immediately to discuss your legal options.
The reason behind a defective trailer hitch is many things that can be traced to improper securing or defective design. It could also be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer, in which case product liability laws may apply. The company or person at responsible for the malfunction of a trailer is responsible for the cost of medical bills, auto repair costs, and other losses related to the incident.
In an accident that killed a person on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014, a trailer detached from the truck. It then crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the driver's negligence in failing to properly inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and crashed into them. This resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver in the crash was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However experts say he could have avoided the crash in the event that he had conducted an exhaustive inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were tight. Faulty trailer hitches can cause major accidents. These accidents are typically fast and can easily smack motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In these cases, the trailer may distort the car's frame and cause razor-sharp metal fragments to entrap passengers.
