14 Common Misconceptions About Semi Truck Lawsuit
Semi Truck Accident Law A serious injury sustained during a crash with semi-trucks can cost someone with medical costs. It could also cause permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy. After a crash, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A skilled lawyer can establish your case through evidence such as police reports and surveillance camera footage and more. Vehicles that aren't maintained properly In a lot of cases trucking firms and owner-operators fail to take the appropriate steps to make sure their vehicles are in good condition. mobile semi truck accident lawsuit leads to many preventable accidents every year. In comparison to passenger cars, semis and tractor-trailers require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavier load. Unfortunately the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits often takes precedence over maintaining the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical issues that could cause catastrophic accidents. The brakes of a truck need to be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a moments notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck are worn out they can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries. These parts must be regularly inspected and repaired as needed to ensure their good condition. Inadequately maintained tires can be a major cause of truck accidents. Tires that are worn down may lose traction and cause the truck to overturn or skid. If a tire is deficient in any way, such as having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it could fail catastrophically. In addition to regular maintenance, trucks require regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is performed in a way that is not correct or if the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's instructions, it can cause an accident. In these instances the company that hired or directed the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable. Faulty lights, signals and reflectors are another frequent cause of truck accident. These components must be in good functioning to allow drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or at night. Drivers or trucking companies may not maintain and inspect these items, or might not conduct regular safety inspections. A Houston truck accident attorney can review your case and determine who might be responsible for your damages in the event that you are injured by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence that shows the defendant's negligence in the accident and assist you get the compensation you are entitled to. Distracted Drivers There are few things more damaging than an accident with a commercial truck. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and can cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in collisions. While many factors contribute to accidents but distracted driving is among of the most frequent and dangerous. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle or fail to spot an issue on the road, which could lead to severe and life-changing injuries. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting and using cell phones while driving. But even if truckers abide by the rules, they could still get distracted and cause an accident. This can be a result of manual distractions like getting off the wheel, or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving. Many people are aware that texting while driving is dangerous, but they are not aware that other activities, such as eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers, can also be considered distracting. When a truck driver gets distracted, they could get lost in a lane or fail to see a traffic jam in front of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a big truck to collide with a vehicle when the driver's attention wanders. It is important to gather information about any witnesses and take photos of the accident scene when an unintentionally distracted driver causes the truck to crash. It is also important to determine the name of the truck driver and the company they are employed by, as the owner of the truck, if it's an independent contractor. This can have an effect on who is accountable for the incident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking company to employ competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be at least partially responsible for your accident, they could be responsible for your economic and non-economic damages. Rear-End Collisions Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety settings for example, at an intersection, a stop signal when the trucker fails to observe the road ahead for oncoming traffic. They can also happen when a car cuts in front of the truck, causing the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker could then hit the car from behind. It can be difficult to prove fault in the event of a rear-end collision, because it isn't always evident which vehicle was at fault. An experienced attorney can collect evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the crash by following too closely, or driving in a distracted manner. This can be evidence in the form of photos as well as police reports and eyewitness testimony, as well as skid marks on the road. Sometimes, the driver in the front could be found to be at fault for the crash in addition. This could happen if they cut off someone else or fail to use their turn signal as a reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes in the last second and cause the driver in the back to crash into the vehicle directly in the front of them. In these situations 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. Bruises and Lacerations In a rear-end collision, the rear end of the vehicle is the area that experiences the most impact. This means that drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They can also suffer broken bones after being scattered around the interior of the car due to the force of the crash. Spinal injuries can be severe. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that regulate the body, and any injury to the spinal column could cause long-lasting and serious problems for victims. A victim of a serious accident may also suffer from emotional and psychological trauma. They may experience difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, which may result in anxiety and depression. If they are unable work due to the extent of their injury, it can create pressure and financial hardship. An attorney can look into possible sources of liability and assist the victim to receive fair compensation for their loss. The trailer is not working properly Whatever vehicle you're driving, either a car, truck, a van, or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally unhitching a trailer could cause catastrophic accidents that lead to serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a truck that has run away or trailer, consult an experienced attorney who specializes in hitch failure cases to discuss your legal options. The reason behind a defective trailer hitch can be a variety of things that can be traced to improper securement or design. It could also be the result a defect in the manufacturing process, in which case products liability laws could apply. The company or person at fault for a faulty trailer can be held liable for victims' medical bills as well as auto repair costs and other losses related to the incident. For instance there was a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road referred to locally as “Devil's Backbone,” a trailer came out of the truck and crashed over two cars ahead of it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the driver's lapse in inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a defect in the hitch the Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason for the crash. Due to the malfunctioning hitch The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers. The truck driver involved in the crash was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However experts say that he could've avoided the collision if he'd performed an extensive inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were tight. The failure of trailer hitches can lead to major disasters. These types of accidents are typically high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In such cases the trailer may distort the car's frame, and cause the metal to crush passengers inside.