Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury sustained during the crash of a semi-truck can leave someone in medical expenses. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is vital to have a skilled New York truck accident lawyer by your side after an accident. A lawyer with experience can help prove your case by using evidence like police reports and surveillance camera footage and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In many cases trucking companies as well as owner-operators fail to take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good condition. This negligence results in an astronomical number of preventable accidents every year.
As compared to passenger cars semis and tractor-trailers require more frequent maintenance due to their size and heavier loads. Unfortunately the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits may take precedence over the maintenance of the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that can result in disastrous accidents.
The brakes of trucks are of particular importance as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. If the pads of a truck's brakes, lines, or return springs fail they could result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components should be regularly checked and repaired as needed to ensure their good working condition.
Tires that are not properly maintained can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out could lose traction, causing the truck to roll over or skid. Tires that aren't working, whether it's due to incorrect air pressure or tread design may fail catastrophically.
Regular inspections of trucks are required in addition to regular maintenance to identify mechanical problems before they cause an accident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or if the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's instructions, it can cause an accident. In these instances the company that employed or supervising the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
Incorrect lights, signals and reflectors are another common reason for truck accidents. These devices must be correctly functioning to allow drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. However, trucking companies might not inspect and maintain these equipments or the driver may fail to perform daily safety checks.
A Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who could be accountable for your losses in the event that you are injured from a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence to prove the defendant's negligence in the crash and help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many events more devastating than an accident involving a commercial truck. These huge trucks can weigh up to 25-times more than your car and cause much worse injuries when involved in an accident. While many factors contribute to accidents and injuries, distracted driving is one of the most prevalent and risky. A distracted driver of a truck can lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice a road danger and cause serious and life-changing injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting or using cellular phones while driving. Even if truckers follow the rules, they may still be distracted and cause crash. This is often caused by manual distractions like taking your hand off the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving is risky, but many do not realize that other activities, such as eating or changing radio stations or chatting 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 the traffic jam ahead of them. It takes only a split second for a big truck to hit a passenger vehicle when the trucker's attention wanders.
When a truck accident is caused by a distracted driver, it is important to take photos of the scene of the crash as well as collect the name and contact information of any witnesses. It is essential to know the name of the driver, the business for which they work, and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This could affect who is liable for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for securing competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be at least partially responsible for the accident, they may be responsible for your economic and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can cause serious injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of situations such as at a stop sign or red light when the trucker doesn't check behind him for oncoming traffic. It could also happen when vehicles cross the truck's path, forcing the driver of the truck to stop abruptly without warning. The trucker can then slam into the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove the cause of a rear-end crash, as it's not always clear which vehicle was responsible for the crash. An experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that proves that the driver in the rear caused the crash through following too closely or driving distracted. This can be evidence in the form of photos, police reports and eyewitness testimony, as well as skid marks in the road.
Sometimes the driver in front may be found to be responsible for the accident also. This can happen if they cut off someone else or fail use a turn signal as any reasonable person would do. This is where modified comparative negligence laws be applied, in which the jury determines a percentage of the fault to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.
pleasanton semi truck accident attorney and Bruises
The rear of the vehicle experiences the most impact during a rear-end collision so occupants are more likely to suffer serious injuries after hitting their head against the back window or dashboard. The force of the crash can cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the interior of the car. Spinal injuries can be serious. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that regulate the body, therefore any injury to the spinal column may cause serious and lasting issues for those affected.
A person who is the victim of a serious accident could also be suffering from psychological and emotional trauma. They may have difficulty being able to sleep or concentrate, which can result in depression and anxiety. If they're unable to work due to the extent of their injury, this could cause stress and financial burden. An attorney can investigate the possible causes of liability to assist the victim to receive fair compensation for their loss.
Problematic trailer hitches
It doesn't matter if you're driving an automobile, a truck, a van, or a flatbed, all vehicles must to be securely attached to their trailers. Unintentionally unhitching a trailer could cause catastrophic accidents that lead to 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 defective trailer hitch could be caused by many different factors, ranging from inadequate security to design flaws. It could also be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer, in which case the product liability laws may apply. The person or company accountable for a defective trailer can be held accountable for the victim's medical costs as well as auto repair costs and other losses resulting from the incident.
In an accident that killed a person on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer slid off of the truck. It crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigations pointed out that the accident was due to the driver's negligence in failing to check and secure hitch. In June 2015, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.
As a result of the hitch that was defective The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and then crashed into them head-on. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries for the drivers.
The driver of the truck that was involved in this accident was convicted of vehicular murder, however experts believe 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 secure. A faulty trailer hitch can cause major accidents. These types of accidents are typically high-speed and can easily sidewipe motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In these instances the trailer could distort the car's frame, and cause sharp metal pieces to crush passengers inside.