Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident could cause serious injuries that could cost a person a fortune in medical expenses. It could also cause permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
It is vital to have a skilled New York truck accident lawyer by your side after an accident. A professional lawyer can assist you in proving your case by using evidence like police reports and surveillance footage.
Vehicles that aren't maintained properly
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often don't take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good condition. This leads to an overwhelming number of preventable crashes every year.
As compared to passenger cars tractor-trailers and semis will require more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavy loads. However the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits can often take precedence over maintaining a fleet. This is why trucks can be susceptible to mechanical problems that can could cause devastating accidents.
The brakes on a truck must be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck wear out and break, it could lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is essential that these components are regularly inspected and replaced as required to keep them in good working order.
A poorly maintained tire can also be a major cause of truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can cause the tires to lose traction and cause the truck to skid or even rollover. If a tire is not properly designed in some way, for example, having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks need routine inspections to detect mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's instructions, it can cause an accident. In these situations, a company that employed the maintenance or repair shop or supervised it could be held responsible.
Incorrect lights, signals and reflectors are also a frequent cause of truck accident. These elements must function correctly to allow drivers to be aware of and anticipate the movement of the truck particularly in rural areas or at night. Drivers and trucking companies could fail to maintain and inspect these items, or may not carry out regular safety inspections.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer can analyze your case to determine who could be accountable for your damages should you be injured in an accident involving a badly maintained commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence of the defendant's negligence and help you get the compensation you're due.
Distracted Drivers
There are few things more damaging than an accident that involves a commercial truck. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and cause a lot more injuries in a crash. While a variety of factors can cause accidents that result from distracted driving, it is one of the most frequent and risky. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see an accident on the road, leading to severe and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers are required to adhere to strict rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting or using cellular phones while driving. But even if fairfield semi truck accident law firm abide by the rules, they can still become distracted and cause crash. This can be caused by manual distractions such as getting your hands off the steering wheel or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
While most people understand that it is dangerous to text and drive, few realize that other activities such as eating or changing the radio station or even talking to a passenger can also be deemed to be distracting. When the trucker is distracted, it is possible that he will drift into a different area and not be aware of a traffic jam ahead. It only takes a fraction of a second for a huge truck to collide with a vehicle when the trucker's focus wanders.
When a truck accident occurs due to a distracted driver It is essential to capture photos of the scene of the crash and note down the name and contact details of witnesses. It is also helpful to find out the name of the truck driver and the company they are employed by, as well and who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. This can have an impact on who is liable for the accident, since it is the trucking company's responsibility to recruit competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found to be partly responsible for your accident, it may be held accountable to you for economic and non-economic damage.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can cause serious injuries. They can happen in a variety of settings, such as at the stop or red light signal, where the trucker is unable to check behind them for traffic coming in. They may also occur when a car crashes into front of the truck, which forces the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions as it's not always clear who was at fault. An experienced lawyer can gather evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the accident due to following too closely or driving with a distraction. The evidence can include photographs of the scene, police reports, eyewitness testimony, aswell being skid marks on the road.
The driver in front of the car may be held accountable for the accident. This could happen if they cut off someone else, fail to use their turn signal in the manner that a reasonable person would, or slam on the brakes at the last minute, causing the driver in the back to slam into the car directly in the front. 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. Damages are then reduced accordingly.
Lacerations and Bruises
In a rear-end crash the rear end of the vehicle is the one that suffers the most force. This means that occupants are at risk of serious injuries if they strike their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They also may break bones after being torn around inside the car due to the force of the crash. Spinal injuries can be extremely severe. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that control the body. Therefore, any injury to the spinal column could cause serious and lasting issues for the victims.
A person who is a victim of a fatal accident may also suffer from emotional and psychological trauma. They might have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can result in anxiety and depression. If they are unable to work due to the extent of their injury, this can add pressure and financial hardship. An attorney can examine all possible sources of liability and help a victim seek fair compensation for their losses.
Problematic trailer hitches
All vehicles, whether they are a vehicle, a car, van, truck flatbed, van, or should be securely connected 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 involving the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents who specializes in cases involving hitch failure promptly to discuss your legal options.
A defective trailer hitch could be caused by many different things, from improper secured to faulty design. It could be due to a defect on the part of the manufacturer, in which case, product liability law may apply. The company or person at the fault for a defective trailer can be held liable for victims' medical bills and auto repair costs and other losses related to the incident.
In the fatal crash that took place on a highway 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 investigations linked the incident to the truck driver's negligence for not inspecting and secure the hitch. In June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason for the crash.
The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and crashed into them. This led to multiple deaths and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts believe that he could have avoided the crash if he'd performed an extensive inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were in good order. The failure of trailer hitches can lead to major disasters. These incidents are often high-speed, and they can easily cause a collision with motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In such cases the trailer can deform the frame of a vehicle and force steel fragments that are razor-sharp to impale passengers inside.