Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident could cause serious injuries that could cost the victim a significant amount in medical expenses. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
After a collision is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A skilled lawyer can you prove your case with evidence like police reports and surveillance camera footage and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Trucking companies and owners-operators often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good repair. This can lead to an overwhelming number of avoidable accidents each year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars due to their larger dimensions and larger weight. However the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits often over maintaining the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical issues that could result in devastating accidents.
The brakes of trucks are of particular importance since they have to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. When a truck's brake pads, lines, or return springs fail, they can cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components must be regularly checked and repaired in order to keep them in good working condition.
Tires that aren't properly maintained may contribute to truck accidents. Tires that are worn down may lose traction and cause the truck to overturn or skid. If a tire is not properly designed in some way, for example, having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
Trucks require regular inspections along with regular maintenance in order to spot mechanical problems before they cause an accident. If an inspection is performed in a way that is not correct or if the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's guidelines it could cause a crash. In such cases the company that hired or directed the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.
Poorly functioning lights, signals and reflectors are another frequent reason for truck accidents. These components must function properly in order for drivers to be able to observe and anticipate the movements of the truck particularly in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers could not be able to maintain and inspect these items, or may not perform daily safety checks.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who is accountable for your injuries when you've been injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence proving the defendant's negligence and help you obtain the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating. These huge vehicles can weigh up to 25 times more than your car and cause much worse injuries when involved in an accident. While a variety of factors can contribute to accidents but distracted driving is among of the most frequent and dangerous. A driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an opportunity to avoid a road accident and cause serious and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers must follow strict rules and regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting and using cell phones while driving. Even if truckers follow the rules, they might still be distracted, causing an accident. This can be a result of manual distractions such as taking their hands off the wheel, or cognitive distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving is dangerous, but few know that other activities, like eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers can also be considered distracting. When a trucker gets distracted, they may wander off into a different area and not be aware of the traffic jam in front of him. It only takes a fraction of a second for a big truck to strike a passenger vehicle when the trucker's focus wanders.
It is important to collect details about witnesses and take photos of the accident scene when a distracted driver causes the truck to crash. It is also helpful to determine the name of the driver who is driving the truck and the company they work for, aswell as who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. This could have an effect on who is accountable for the accident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking business to find competent and skilled 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 between trucks are frequent and frequently cause serious injuries. They can happen in a variety of settings, such as at a red light or stop signal when the trucker fails to look behind them for traffic coming in. It could also happen when vehicles cross the truck's path, forcing the driver of the truck to brake abruptly without warning. The trucker may then crash into the car from behind.
It can be hard to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions because it's not always certain the vehicle that was at fault. A knowledgeable attorney can collect evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the crash by following too closely, or driving distracted. This evidence could include photos, police reports and eyewitness testimony as well as skid marks in the road.
Sometimes, the driver in the front may be found to be the one responsible for the accident as well. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal like any other reasonable person. In this scenario an amended comparative negligence law can be applied. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. The damages will be reduced accordingly.
Lacerations & Bruises
The rear-end of the vehicle is the one that is most affected in a rear-end crash, which means that occupants may suffer serious injuries after hitting their head against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can cause broken bones when the occupants are thrown around the interior of the car. Injuries to the spine can be particularly severe. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that regulate the body, therefore any injury to the spinal column could cause permanent and significant issues for the victims.
A victim of a serious accident could also be suffering from emotional and psychological trauma. florida semi truck accident lawsuit may have trouble being able to sleep or concentrate, which can cause depression and anxiety. If they are unable work due to the severity of their injury, this can add stress and financial hardship. An attorney can look into possible sources of liability and ensure that the victim receives fair compensation for their loss.
Problematic trailer hitches
All vehicles, whether they are a vehicle, a car, a truck, van flatbed, van are required to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it could cause catastrophic accidents that result in serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a runaway truck and you are in need of an experienced attorney who is specialized in cases involving hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
A damaged trailer hitch could result from a variety things, from improper security to design flaws. It could be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer in which case the product liability laws may apply. The company or person responsible for a trailer's defect is liable for the victims' medical costs, auto repair costs and other losses resulting from the incident.
In the fatal crash that took place on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 an unattached trailer was spotted on the truck. It then crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigation linked the accident to the truck driver's negligence in failing inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch involved in the crash -one of the Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large proportion of occasions.
The trailer struck the side of the vehicles and crashed into them. This resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver in the incident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts suggest that he could've avoided the crash in the event that he had conducted an exhaustive inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were tight. Faulty trailer hitches can cause major accidents. These types of accidents are typically high-speed and can easily sidewipe motorcycles or smaller cars. In such cases the trailer can deform a car's frame and force sharp metal pieces to strike the passengers inside.