Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury resulting from the crash of a semi truck can bury someone in medical costs. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is important to have a skilled New York truck accident lawyer on your side following an accident. A skilled lawyer can establish your case through evidence such as police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and trucking companies often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good working order. This can lead to an overwhelming number of accidents that could have been avoided every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars because of their larger size and heavier weight. Unfortunately working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits is often prioritized over the maintenance of a fleet. This is why trucks are susceptible to mechanical malfunctions that can cause catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on a truck must be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a moments notice. When brake pads lines, return springs, or lines on a truck get worn out and become damaged, it can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these components are regularly inspected and replaced as required to ensure that they remain in good working order.
Tires that aren't maintained can be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out may lose traction and cause the truck to skid or even roll over. If a tire is not properly designed in some way, such as having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
Trucks need routine inspections in addition to regular maintenance to detect mechanical issues before they lead to an incident. If an inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's guidelines this could result in an accident. In these instances, the firm that hired the maintenance or repair shop or was the one who supervised it could be held accountable.
The malfunctioning of signals, lights and reflectors are also a frequent cause of truck accident. These elements must be properly working to enable drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas and after dark. Drivers or trucking companies may not maintain and inspect these elements, or they may not perform daily safety checks.
A Houston truck accident attorney will investigate your case and determine who could be accountable for your damages in the event that you are injured by a deteriorated maintenance of a commercial truck. Investigating your case can uncover evidence that proves the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be catastrophic. These huge vehicles can weigh up 25 times the weight of your car and can cause more severe injuries in an accident. While many factors 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 spot an accident on the roadway, which could lead to severe and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers must follow strict rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting and the use of cell phones while operating their vehicles. However, even when truckers follow the rules, they are still prone to be distracted and cause an accident. This is often caused by accidental distractions, such as taking your hand off the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
While the majority of people are aware the dangers of using text while driving, a few are aware that other activities, such as eating or changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with the other driver can also be considered distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they may drift into another lane or fail to see a traffic jam up ahead of them. It only takes a split second for a huge truck to crash into a vehicle when the trucker's attention is diverted.
It is important to gather information on witnesses and also take pictures of the scene after an accident if the driver is distracted and causes a truck crash. It is also helpful to know 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 could impact the person who is responsible for your incident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and experienced truck drivers. If kansas city semi truck accident attorney is found to be partly responsible for your accident, it may be liable to you for economic and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are common and can cause serious injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of situations, including at a stop sign or red light, when the trucker fails to check the road ahead for oncoming traffic. They can also happen when a car crashes into front of the truck, causing the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker can then slam into the car from behind.
It can be difficult to establish fault when there's rear-end collisions, as it isn't always evident the vehicle that was at fault. However, an experienced attorney can help gather evidence that shows the driver in the rear caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving while distracted. The evidence can include photographs or police reports, eyewitness testimony as well markings from skids on the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be liable for the incident. This could happen if they cut off someone else or fail use a turn signal as any reasonable person. In these situations modified comparative negligence laws may be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. Damages are then lowered accordingly.
Bruises & Lacerations
In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the area that receives the most force. This means that drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the interior of the car. Spinal injuries can be very serious. Damage to the spine can have long-lasting and serious effects on victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, a victim might also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma as a result of being involved in a devastating crash. They may experience difficulty sleeping or concentrating, which may lead to depression and anxiety. They may also face stress and financial strain when they cannot work because of an injury. An attorney can investigate the possible sources of liability to assist a victim in receiving fair compensation for their loss.
A problem with trailer hitches
Regardless of whether you're driving the vehicle of a car, van, a truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely attached to their trailers. Unintentionally pulling a trailer off can cause catastrophic accidents, leading to severe injuries, or even death. If you've been injured in an accident that involved an unhitched trailer, call an experienced attorney for vehicle accidents with a specialization in cases of hitch failure immediately to discuss your legal options.
The reason behind a defective trailer hitch could be due to a variety of factors which can range from inadequate securement or design. It could be caused by a defect on the part of the manufacturer where case-by-case product liability laws may apply. The company or individual responsible for a trailer that is defective could be held responsible for the victim's medical expenses or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
In a fatal crash on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014, a trailer detached from the truck. It crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigations pointed out that the accident was due to the driver's negligence for failing to inspect and secure hitch. In June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
The trailer struck the sides of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was numerous fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers.
The driver of the truck involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts suggest that he could've avoided the collision had he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were in good order. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major disasters, as these incidents often require a significant amount of speed and can easily cause a collision with smaller vehicles or motorcycles. In these cases, the trailer may distort the car's frame and cause sharp metal fragments to injure passengers.