What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents involving commercial truck drivers, their rigs and 18 wheelers are covered by the law of 18 wheels. These massive vehicles must follow strict federal guidelines for maintenance, safety, and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies often require their drivers to work longer hours and alter log books. This can result in catastrophic trucking accidents.

Weight Regulations

It is crucial to know the weight restrictions for semi trucks. The majority of states have single axle and group axle limits on weight that must be observed. Weigh stations are commonplace along interstates where truckers are weighed to ensure that they do not exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is discovered to be violating these limits, they could be penalized or even imprisoned based on the state they reside in and their criminal record.

Axle groups have a greater weight limit due to the fact that the vehicle is more secure when the weight is spread across multiple axles. This also allows for the transport of larger cargo. For instance one tire on an axle may be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter, but when there are two tires on that same axle it can be weighted at 1300 pounds for each tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while others only allow triple or twin trailers. Furthermore, many states require five wheels on the trailer. This is a circular plate over the drive wheels that joins (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are both day cab tractors and sleeper cabs, which incorporate a sleeping area into the tractor unit and are specifically designed for over the road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to restrictions on lane usage Truck drivers must also follow speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks aren't able to travel at the same speed as cars and, should they do, they can cause accidents. In most cases, it's the truck driver who is responsible. Truck drivers might be driving longer than they are permitted to, breaking hours-of-service regulations or simply being distracted or sleepy behind the driving.

Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left right lane. Trucks are slower to brake than cars for passenger use. This can be a dangerous problem, particularly for those in smaller cars who may be stuck behind trucks when it stops abruptly or slows down.

Some states specifically exclude large trucks and prevent them from using the left lane, while others restrict the use of the lane under specific situations. These laws may be based either on weight or axel limit. In other cases they may be solely based on vehicle's description.

Even if there is no statewide law, you should check local rules on the lane restriction and adhere to them. You should also move to the right when you notice trucks blocking the lane.

Ownership

The trucking and 18-wheeler companies have an array of resources they can make use of to force accident victims into accepting less than what they're entitled to. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who represent them before they even know whether the victim of an accident will take legal action.

Due to their massive load and are much bigger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers can cause massive injuries and property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is particularly true when these trucks collide with motor vehicles. It is imperative to hire an attorney who has experience fighting for your rights against these large, powerful corporations.

Large truck accidents require an understanding of complicated concepts that are derived from biology, chemistry, physics, federal trucking regulations, medical regulations, and driving rules. Our lawyers are able to uncover any violations of these laws and then show the jury the factors that caused your accident.

18-wheeler truck crashes are typically caused by the negligent or reckless actions of multiple parties. Our NY attorney for 18 wheeler accidents will investigate all of the responsible parties and ensure that they pay their fair share of your current and expected costs. This includes trucking firms, owners and maintenance contractors, and even drivers themselves. Our team will also analyze the weather conditions that may have contributed to your accident.

Insurance

The trucking industry has a wealth of resources available to them and can quickly deploy teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and even engineers to develop a strategy for defense against the victims of accidents. They begin this process before they are aware of whether you'll be seeking legal recourse. That is why it is so important to immediately retain an experienced attorney who can match their resources and cut them to size.

An experienced 18-wheeler crash lawyer will alleviate the burden of dealing with these big corporations off your hands and focus on obtaining the compensation you are entitled to. This can be used to cover expenses such as medical bills that are costly car damage, the loss of earnings due to a lack of work, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

18 wheeler accident wheelers are extremely complex vehicles that require high-end, consistent maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to keep accurate records and perform this maintenance can cause catastrophic accidents.

Tractor-trailers frequently carry hazardous materials, which requires special training and specialized licenses to transport. These materials could be explosive or flammable and radiological as well as poisonous. They all pose a major risk to other motorists on American highways. A fatal accident could occur if the load was not properly labeled and secured.

A skilled 18 wheeler accident lawyers-wheeler crash lawyer can pinpoint the exact cause and blame any parties that may be responsible. This could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company, the owner or the trailer and the manufacturer of the truck and its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.