Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury resulting from the crash of a semi-truck can leave a person in medical costs. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is important to have a qualified New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after an accident. A skilled attorney can prove your case by using evidence such as police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.
Vehicles that are not maintained properly
In many instances trucking companies as well as owners-operators do not take appropriate steps to make sure their vehicles are in good working condition. This leads to a large percentage of preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers because of their larger dimensions and larger load. However, the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits often over maintaining the fleet. In the end, trucks are susceptible to mechanical malfunctions that can lead to devastating accidents.
The brakes of trucks are especially important as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. If the brake pads of a truck lines, lines or return springs wear out they could result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components should be regularly inspected and repaired when necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
Tires that are not maintained properly can be a major cause of truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can lose traction and cause the truck to overturn or skid. Tires that aren't working because of an insufficient tread design or air pressure could fail catastrophically.
The inspections are routine for trucks along with regular maintenance to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an incident. However, if an inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's instructions it could lead to a crash. In these cases, a company that employed the repair or maintenance company or was the one who supervised it could be held accountable.
Another reason for truck accidents is defective lights, signals, and reflectors. These elements must function correctly in order for drivers to be able to detect and anticipate the speed of the truck especially in rural areas or at night. However, trucking firms may fail to check and maintain these components or the driver could not perform regular safety checks.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer will analyze your case to determine which parties may be accountable for your injuries when you've been injured in an accident caused by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence that shows the negligence of the defendant in your crash and help you get the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be devastating. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and cause a lot more injuries in a crash. Distracted driving is one of many factors that cause accidents. A driver who is distracted can lose control of the vehicle or fail to notice an accident on the road which could lead to life-threatening 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 may still be distracted, causing an accident. This could be due to manual distractions like not having your hands on the steering wheel or mental distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
While most people are aware that it's dangerous to text and drive, few realize that other activities such as eating or changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with a passenger could also be deemed as distracting. When a truck driver gets distracted, they could wander off into another lane, or not be able to see the traffic jam ahead of them. When a trucker's attention is diverted, it takes only an instant for a large vehicle to strike a passenger car.
When a truck accident occurs due to distracted drivers It is essential to take photographs of the scene of the accident as well as collect the name and contact details of any witnesses. It is also beneficial to know the name of the driver of the truck and the company they are employed by, as in determining who owns the truck, if it's an independent contractor. This can have an impact on who's responsible for the accident, as it is the trucking company's responsibility to find competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found partially responsible for your accident, it could be held accountable to you for economic and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are quite common and can cause serious injuries. They can happen in a variety of situations, such as at an intersection or stop sign, when the trucker fails to observe the road ahead for any traffic that is coming up. They can also happen when a car crashes into front of the truck, forcing the driver to use their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault in a rear-end crash, as it is not always obvious which vehicle caused the crash. A knowledgeable attorney can find evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash by following too closely or driving in a distracted manner. This evidence could include photos, police reports and eyewitness testimony, as well as skid marks in the road.
jacksonville semi truck accident law firm in the front of the car could also be liable for the incident. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to make use of a turn signal, as would any reasonable person would do. In this kind of situation the modified comparative negligence laws can be applied. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each party. The damages are then reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
In a rear-end collision, the rear end of the vehicle is the part that takes the most impact. This means that the passengers are at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They also may break bones as they are scattered around the interior of the vehicle by the force of the crash. Spinal injuries can be very serious. Damage to the spine can have long-lasting and serious impacts on the victims.
A person who is a victim of a fatal accident may also experience emotional and psychological trauma. They may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating, which can lead to depression and anxiety. They may also face stress and financial difficulties in the event that they are unable to work due to an injury. An attorney can examine any possible liability sources and assist the victim in seeking fair compensation for their expenses.
The trailer hitches are faulty.
Regardless of whether you're driving an automobile, a van, truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles must to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer goes unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that result in serious injuries or death. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a runaway truck or trailer, consult an experienced attorney who is specialized in cases involving hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
The cause of a faulty trailer hitch is many things, ranging from improper securing or defective design. It can be the result of a defect in the manufacturing process, in which case laws governing product liability could apply. The company or the person accountable for a defective trailer could be held responsible for the victim's medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
For example, in a deadly crash that was reported in January 2014 on an Ohio road known locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck and slid over two cars ahead of it. The initial investigation attributed the accident to the driver's negligence in failing inspect and secure the hitch. But in June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch involved in the crash -- an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama -- to malfunction on a high number of occasions.
The trailer struck the side of the vehicles and then crashed into them. 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 homicide, but experts say he could have avoided the crash had he conducted an in-depth inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were tight. The failure of trailer hitches could cause major problems. These kinds of incidents are usually fast and can easily smack motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In these situations the trailer can deform a car's frame and force the metal to impale passengers inside.