Semi Truck Accident Law
A severe injury sustained in an accident with a semi-truck can leave someone in medical bills. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following a collision, it is important to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A lawyer with experience can help establish your case through evidence like police reports and surveillance camera footage and more.
Vehicles that are poorly maintained
Trucking companies and owners-operators often don't take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good shape. This negligence results in a high percentage of preventable accidents each year.
In comparison to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavier load. However working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits may take precedence over the maintenance of a fleet. As a result, trucks can be susceptible to mechanical problems that can result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes of trucks are of particular importance because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck fail they can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced when necessary to ensure they are in good working order.
Tires that aren't well maintained can also play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that are worn-out can lose traction and cause the truck to flip over or slide. Tires that are defective either because of incorrect air pressure or tread design may fail catastrophically.
Trucks require regular inspections along with regular maintenance in order to spot mechanical problems before they cause an accident. However, if the inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop doesn't adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines it could lead to an accident. In these situations, the company that hired or directed the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.
Another common cause of truck accidents is faulty lights, signals, and reflectors. These items must function properly to enable drivers to detect and anticipate the speed of the truck especially in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies may fail to check and maintain these equipments or the driver could fail to perform daily safety inspections.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will investigate your case to determine who could be responsible for your losses if you were injured in an accident caused by a faulty maintenance of a commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence proving the defendant's negligence and assist you in obtaining the compensation you're due.
Distracted Drivers
The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be devastating. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and could cause more serious injuries when they are involved in collisions. While a variety of factors can contribute to accidents and injuries, distracted driving is one of the most frequent and risky. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize a hazard in the road, which can lead to life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting or using mobile phones while driving. However, even when truckers follow the rules, they are still prone to be distracted and cause crashes. This can be the result of distractions caused by manual actions like dropping a hand off of the steering wheel or mental distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
While most people understand that it is dangerous to text and drive, few are aware that other activities such as eating or changing the radio station, and even conversing with passengers can be considered distracting. If the trucker is distracted, he may drift into another track and not see the traffic jam ahead. It only takes a fraction of a second for a huge truck to hit a passenger vehicle when the trucker's focus is diverted.
If a truck crash is caused by a distracted driver it is crucial to snap photos of the scene of collision and collect the contact details and name of witnesses. It is also beneficial to find out the name of the driver who is driving the truck and the company they work for, as well as who owns the truck, if it's an independent contractor. This could impact who is liable for your accident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partly responsible for your accident, they could be liable for your economic and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are frequent and frequently cause serious injuries. They can occur in a variety situations for example, at an intersection or stop sign, when the trucker fails to check their surroundings for any traffic that is coming up. They can also occur when a car crashes into front of the truck, causing the driver to apply their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
greeley semi truck accident lawsuit can be difficult to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions, as it's not always clear which vehicle was at fault. However, an experienced attorney can gather evidence that proves that the driver in the rear caused the crash by following too closely or being distracted while driving. The evidence can include photographs 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 also. This could happen if they cut off someone else or fail to use a turn signal as any other reasonable person would do. In this scenario, modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. Damages are then reduced according to.
Bruises & Lacerations
In a rear-end crash the rear end of the vehicle is the area that receives the most impact. This means that people in the car are at risk of serious injuries if they crash their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They may also break bones as they are bounced around the interior of the vehicle by the force of the crash. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it can be severe. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that regulate the body. Therefore, any damage to the spinal column may cause serious and lasting issues for the victims.
In addition to these types of injuries, a victim may also experience psychological and emotional trauma from being involved in a devastating crash. They may experience difficulty sleeping or concentrating which can lead them to depression and anxiety. They may also experience stress and financial strain when they cannot work because of an injury. An attorney can examine all possible sources of liability and assist the victim in seeking fair compensation for their loss.
The trailer is not working properly
All vehicles, regardless of whether they are a vehicle, a car, a truck, van flatbed, van should be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally pulling a trailer off can cause catastrophic accidents that can lead to severe injuries or even death. If you've been injured by the trailer that has run away, contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents who specializes in cases involving hitch failure immediately to discuss your legal options.
The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch is many things that can be traced to improper secured or defective design. It can be the result of an error by the manufacturer or a manufacturing defect, in which case the product liability laws may apply. The company or person responsible for a defective trailer can be held accountable for the victim's medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses resulting from the incident.
In a fatal crash on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer was detached from the truck. It then crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigation linked the accident to the truck driver's negligence in failing examine and secure the hitch. However, in June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch involved in the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large percentage of occasions.
As a result of the defective hitch caused by the defective hitch, the trailer smashed into the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. This led to multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver who was involved in the crash was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts say that he could've avoided the crash if he'd performed a thorough inspection of his trailer to make sure that all connections were secure. A faulty trailer hitch can cause major accidents. These accidents are typically fast and can easily smack motorcycles or smaller cars. In such cases the trailer may distort the frame of a vehicle and force razor sharp metal fragments to impale passengers inside.