The Top Reasons People Succeed On The Semi Truck Lawsuit Industry
Semi Truck Accident Law
A severe injury sustained in a crash with semi-trucks can cost the victim in medical expenses. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
It is important to have a professional New York truck accident lawyer at your side following a crash. A lawyer with experience can help establish your case through evidence such as police reports, surveillance camera footage, and more.
Vehicles that are poorly maintained
In a lot of cases trucking firms and owners-operators do not take appropriate steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This leads to an overwhelming number of avoidable accidents each year.
In comparison to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis need more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavier load. Unfortunately the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits may take precedence over the maintenance of the fleet. As a result, trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that can could cause devastating accidents.
The brakes on trucks are of particular importance as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at any moment. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck fail, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. These components should be checked and repaired regularly when necessary to ensure they are in good condition.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can cause traction issues and cause the truck to skid or even flip over. Tires that are defective either because of an insufficient tread design or air pressure, can fail catastrophically.
Trucks need routine inspections along with regular maintenance to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an incident. If an inspection was performed improperly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's instructions, it can cause an accident. In these instances, the company that hired the repair or maintenance company or was the one who supervised it could be held responsible.
Another major cause of truck accidents is the failure of lights, signals, and reflectors. These items must be properly working to enable drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. Drivers or trucking companies may fail to maintain and check these equipment, or may not be able to conduct daily safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident lawyer will investigate your case and determine who might be accountable for your losses in the event you were injured from a poorly maintained commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence proving the defendant's negligence and help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many things more damaging than an accident that involves a commercial truck. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your vehicle and may cause more serious injuries when they are involved in a collision. Distracted driving is among the many factors that can cause accidents. A driver who is distracted could lose control of the vehicle or fail to notice an accident on the road which could lead to serious and life-changing injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting or using cellular phones while driving. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they could still be distracted, causing an accident. This is often caused by mechanical distractions like not having your hands on the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but few know that other activities, like eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers could also be considered to be distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they might wander off into another lane, or fail to see a traffic jam up ahead of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a big truck to hit a passenger vehicle when the driver's attention wanders.
It is crucial to gather information on witnesses and take photos of the accident scene when the driver is distracted and causes a crash of a truck. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the business for which they work, and who owns the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This could impact who is liable for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible in your accident, they could be liable to you for financial as well as non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are quite common and can result in severe injuries. These accidents can happen in a variety of circumstances like at the stop sign or red light when a trucker doesn't check behind him for any traffic that is coming up. They may also occur when a car comes in front of the truck, which forces 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 when there is rear-end collisions because it's not always clear which vehicle was responsible. A knowledgeable attorney can collect evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the accident by following too closely, or driving erratically. This could include evidence such as photos, police reports eyewitness testimony and skid marks on the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be liable for the accident. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail to obey their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or put on the brakes at the last minute which causes the driver in the back to slam into the car directly in the front of them. In this scenario, modified comparative negligence laws may be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. The damages are then reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
The rear-end of the vehicle is the most impacted area during a rear-end collision which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries from hitting their head against the dashboard or back windows. The force of the crash may also cause broken bones if the occupants of the vehicle are thrown around the interior of the car. The severity of spinal injuries can be devastating. The spinal cord houses a number of nerves that control the body, so any damage to the spinal column may cause long-lasting and serious problems for victims.
In addition to these types of injuries, the victim might also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma as a result of being involved in a devastating crash. They may experience difficulties being able to sleep or concentrate, which can cause depression and anxiety. If they are unable work due to the extent of their injury, it can create pressure and financial hardship. An attorney can look into the possible sources of liability and assist a victim in seeking an appropriate amount of compensation for their expenses.
Faulty Trailer Hitches
It doesn't matter if you're driving an automobile, a van, a truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles need to be securely attached to their trailers. Unexpectedly unhitching a trailer can cause catastrophic accidents, leading to severe injuries, or even death. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a truck that has run away get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is experienced in cases of hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
A damaged trailer hitch could result from a variety factors, ranging from inadequate securement to a defective design. It could also be the result of an issue with the manufacturer and, in this case, lawful product liability may apply. The person or company that is at the fault for a trailer that is defective can be held liable for the medical bills of the victims, auto repair costs, and other losses related to the incident.
For salinas semi truck accident lawyer in a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck and slid directly into two cars in front of it. Initial investigation linked the accident to the truck driver's inattention to inspect and secure the hitch. However, in June 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch in the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to malfunction on a high percentage of occasions.
The trailer hit the side of the vehicle and crashed into them. This resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck that was involved in this accident was convicted of vehicular murder, however experts say that he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles if he had performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were tight. Incorrect trailer hitches could cause major problems. These accidents are typically fast and can easily smack motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In these instances the trailer may distort the frame of a vehicle and force the metal to sever the limbs of passengers in.