melbourne semi truck accident law firm Truck Accident Law

A shenandoah semi Truck accident lawyer-truck collision can result in an injury that is serious enough to cost a person a fortune in medical expenses. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.

It is important to have a skilled New York truck accident lawyer at your side following an accident. A qualified attorney will help you prove your case with evidence such as police reports and surveillance footage, among others.

Vehicles that are poorly maintained

In a lot of cases trucking firms and owner-operators don't take the proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good working condition. This causes a large percentage of preventable crashes every year.

Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars due to their larger dimensions and larger weight. Unfortunately keeping deadlines and increasing profits can often take precedence over the maintenance of the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical problems that could cause disastrous accidents.

The brakes on a truck must be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a minute's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs, or lines on a truck get worn out they can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced as required to ensure that they remain in good working order.

A poorly maintained tire can also be a major contributor to truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can cause traction issues, which causes the truck to skid or even flip over. If a tire is damaged in any way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it could fail catastrophically.

In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections to spot mechanical problems before they lead to an accident. If an inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop does not adhere to the guidelines of the manufacturer, it could cause an accident. In these instances, the company that commissioned the maintenance or repair shop or supervised it could be held liable.

Poorly functioning lights, signals and reflectors are also a frequent reason for truck accidents. These devices must function properly to allow drivers to see and anticipate the truck's movements, especially when driving in rural areas or at night. However, trucking firms may not inspect and maintain these components or the driver could fail to perform daily safety inspections.

A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine which parties may be accountable for your injuries after you've been injured during an accident involving a badly maintained commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence that proves the defendant's negligence and help you receive the compensation you're due.

Distracted Drivers

The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be catastrophic. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 25-times more than your car and cause much worse injuries in accidents. Distracted driving is one of many causes of accidents. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize the dangers on the roadway, which could lead to severe and life-changing injuries.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and using cell phones while operating their vehicles. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they could be distracted and cause an accident. This is often caused by manual distractions such as turning your back on the steering wheel or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.

While most people understand that it's dangerous to text while driving, a few realize that other activities like eating or changing the radio station, and even conversing with a passenger can also be deemed as distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they might get lost in a lane or fail to see an obstruction in front of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a big truck to collide with a vehicle when the trucker's attention is diverted.

It is important to collect details on any witnesses and take photos of the scene of the crash when the driver is distracted, which can cause the truck to crash. It is also important to determine the name of the truck driver as well as the company they are employed by, as well and who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. This could have an impact on who's responsible for the accident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking firm to employ competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found partially responsible for your accident, they could be liable to you for any economic and non-economic damages.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and often result in serious injuries. These accidents can happen in a variety of situations like at an intersection or at a red light, when the trucker fails to check ahead for traffic coming in. They may also occur when a car crashes into front of the truck, which forces the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.

It is often difficult to prove the cause of an accident that occurs at the rear, as it's not always clear which vehicle caused the crash. However, an experienced attorney can gather evidence to show that the driver in the rear caused the crash by following too closely or distracted driving. This can be evidence in the form of photos, police reports and eyewitness testimony, aswell markings from skids on the road.

The driver in the front of the car could be held accountable for the accident. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail to use their turn signal as any reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes at the last moment and causing the driver in the back to crash into the car directly in the front. In this type of scenario the modified comparative negligence laws can be applied. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. Damages are then lowered accordingly.

Lacerations & Bruises

In a rear-end crash the rear of the car is the area that experiences the most impact. This means that 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 due to being thrown around the interior of the vehicle by the force of the crash. The injuries to the spine can be extremely severe. The spinal cord houses a number of nerves that regulate the body. Therefore, any injury to the spinal column may cause serious and lasting issues for those affected.

A victim of a serious accident could also be suffering from psychological and emotional trauma. They may have difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can lead them to depression and anxiety. If they are unable to work due to the extent of their injury, this can add pressure and financial hardship. An attorney can look into possible sources of liability to help a victim receive an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.

Problematic Trailer Hitches

All vehicles, whether they are a car, van, truck flatbed, van should be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause a catastrophic accident that could cause serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident that involved the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents who specializes in cases involving hitch failure as soon as you can to discuss your legal options.

The cause of a faulty trailer hitch can be caused by a variety that can be traced to improper secured or defective design. It can also be the result of an error by the manufacturer and in that case, products liability laws could apply. The company or individual accountable for a defective trailer is liable for the victims' medical expenses, auto repair costs and 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 then crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the driver's negligence for failing to inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the cause of the crash.

As a result of the defective hitch due to the hitch's failure, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and then crashed into them head-on. The result was numerous fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.

The truck driver involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular homicide, but experts suggest that he could've avoided the crash if he'd performed an exhaustive inspection of his trailer to ensure that all connections were secure. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes, since these accidents typically involve a lot of speed, and they can cause a collision with smaller vehicles or motorcycles. In these situations the trailer can deform the frame of a vehicle and force razor sharp metal fragments to crush passengers inside.