Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury resulting from the crash of a semi-truck can leave someone with medical bills. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
After a crash, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney at your side. A qualified attorney can help you prove your case using evidence such as police reports, surveillance footage, etc.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and trucking companies typically do not take the proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This negligence results in a high percentage of preventable accidents each year.
Comparatively to passenger vehicles, tractor-trailers and semis will require more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavier load. However, meeting deadlines and maximising profits is often prioritized over the maintenance of the fleet. In the end, trucks are susceptible to mechanical malfunctions that can could cause devastating accidents.
The brakes of trucks are crucial since they have to stop the vehicle and slow it down at any moment. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck get worn out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced when required to keep them in good condition.
Tires that are not properly maintained can contribute to truck accidents. Tires that have worn out may lose traction and cause the truck to roll over or skid. Tires that aren't working or damaged, whether due to incorrect tread design or air pressure may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections to spot mechanical issues before they cause an accident. If an inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop doesn't adhere to the manufacturer's specifications, it can cause a crash. In such cases, the company that hired or oversees the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
Incorrect lights, signals and reflectors are a common reason for truck accidents. albuquerque semi truck accident lawyer must be correctly functioning to allow drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas or after dark. However, trucking companies may not inspect and maintain these elements or the driver might not perform regular safety checks.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer can investigate your case to determine who is accountable for your damages when you've been injured in an accident involving a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence to prove the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you get the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your vehicle and can cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in collisions. Distracted driving is one of many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted might lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize a hazard in the road, which can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and the use of cell phones while driving. But even if truckers adhere to the rules, they are still prone to be distracted and cause crash. This is often caused by manual distractions such as taking your hand off the steering wheel or mental distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
While most people understand that it is risky to text and drive, very few are aware that other activities, such as eating, changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with a passenger could also be deemed as distracting. When a trucker gets distracted, he may drift into another area and not be aware of the traffic jam ahead. When a truck driver's attention is diverted, it takes only a split-second for a large vehicle to collide with a car.
If a car accident occurs due to an unintentionally distracted driver, it is important to take photos of the scene of the accident as well as collect the name and contact details of witnesses. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the company for which they work, and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This will affect the person who is responsible for your accident since the trucking company is responsible for securing competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible for your accident, it could be liable to you for financial and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are not uncommon and can result in severe injuries. They can occur in a variety settings like the stop or red light signal when the trucker fails to look behind them for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. It can also happen if cars cross the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to stop suddenly without warning. The trucker might then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault in rear-end collisions, since it's not always clear which vehicle caused the crash. An experienced lawyer can gather evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving erratically. This could include evidence like photos, police reports, eyewitness testimony and skid marks on the roadway.
The driver in front of the car may also be held responsible for the incident. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail use a turn signal as any reasonable person would do. In this kind of situation, 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 reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the area that experiences the most impact. This means that the drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if they crash their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The impact of the crash could cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the inside of the vehicle. Spinal injuries can be severe. Damage to the spine can be serious and have long-lasting effects on victims.
A person who is the victim of a serious accident could also be suffering from emotional and psychological trauma. They may have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating. This can result in anxiety and depression. If they are unable to work due to the extent of their injury, this can add anxiety and financial hardship. An attorney can investigate the possible sources of liability and help a victim seek an appropriate amount of compensation for their expenses.
Faulty trailer hitches
No matter if you're driving the vehicle of a car, truck, a van or a flatbed, all cars need 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 suffered injuries in a vehicle accident caused by a runaway truck get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is skilled in cases involving the failure of a hitch to discuss your legal options.
The cause of a faulty trailer hitch is many things, ranging from improper securing or defective design. It can also be the result of an error by the manufacturer, in which case laws governing product liability could apply. The company or person responsible for a trailer's defect can be held accountable for the victim's medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
In an accident that killed a person on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer was detached from the truck. It crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigation linked the accident to the driver's negligence in failing to 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 that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.
The trailer slammed into the side of the vehicles, and then crashed into them. The result was numerous fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.
The driver of the truck involved in the accident was convicted of vehicular homicide, but experts believe that he could have avoided the collision in the event that he had conducted an exhaustive inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were in good order. The failure of a trailer's hitches can result in serious accidents, since these incidents often require a significant amount of speed and could easily hit smaller cars or motorcycles. In these cases the trailer can distort the frame of a car and create sharp metal fragments to entrap passengers.