14 Common Misconceptions Concerning Semi Truck Lawsuit

Semi Truck Accident Law A semi-truck crash can result in an injury that is serious enough to cause a person to pay a huge amount in medical expenses. It could also cause permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy. After a collision is essential to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney at your side. A qualified attorney will help you prove your case with evidence like police reports, surveillance footage, etc. Vehicles that are not maintained properly In a majority of cases trucking firms and owners-operators do not take proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This can lead to many preventable accidents every year. As compared to passenger cars tractor-trailers and semis will require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and weight. loads. However working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits may take precedence over the maintenance of a fleet. In the end, trucks can become prone to mechanical problems that can could cause devastating accidents. The brakes of trucks are of particular importance because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. When a truck's brake pads, lines, or return springs fail they could result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is essential to have these parts regularly checked and replaced as required to keep them in good condition. Tires that are not maintained properly can be a major cause of truck accidents. Tires that are worn down may lose traction and cause the truck to rollover or skid. If a tire is deficient in some way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically. In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require routine inspections to detect mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or if the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's recommendations it could cause a crash. In these cases, a company that hired the repair or maintenance company or managed it may be held liable. Another major cause of truck accidents is defective signals, lights and reflectors. These devices must be correctly functioning to allow drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. Drivers or trucking companies may not be able to maintain and inspect these items, or might not conduct regular safety checks. A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will investigate your case to determine who is accountable for your damages when you've been injured in an accident caused by a poorly maintained commercial truck. Investigating your case can uncover evidence to prove the negligence of the defendant in the accident and help you get the compensation you deserve. Distracted Drivers There aren't many things that can be more devastating than an incident which involves a commercial vehicle. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and can cause much greater injuries when they are involved in an accident. While a variety of factors can cause accidents but distracted driving is among of the most common and risky. A driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle or overlook an opportunity to avoid a road accident and cause serious and life-threatening injuries. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting or using cell phones while operating their vehicles. Even if truckers abide by the rules, they can be distracted and result in an accident. This can be caused by accidental distractions, such as not having your hands on the steering wheel or mental distractions like thinking about something other than driving. Although most people know the dangers of using text and drive, many realize that other activities such as eating, changing the radio station, and even conversing with a passenger could also be considered to be distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they might drift into another lane or fail to notice the traffic jam ahead of them. When a trucker's attention is diverted, it takes only a split-second for a large vehicle to collide with a car. When a truck collision is caused by distracted drivers, it is important to take photographs of the crash scene and collect the name and contact details of any witnesses. It is important to know the name of the driver, the business that they work for and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This can affect who is accountable for your accident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible for your accident, they could be liable to you for both economic as well as non-economic losses. Rear-End Collisions Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and often result in serious injuries. These accidents can occur in many different situations such as a stop sign or red light when the trucker is not checking ahead for traffic coming in. They can also occur when a car cuts in front of the truck, causing the driver to use their brakes without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind. It is often difficult to prove fault in rear-end collisions, since it's not always clear which vehicle caused the accident. However, an experienced attorney can gather evidence that proves the driver behind caused the crash due to following too closely or driving while distracted. This can include evidence such as photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the road. Sometimes the driver in front may be found to be at fault for the crash in addition. This could happen if they cut off someone else or fail to use their turn signal in the manner that a reasonable person would, or hit on the brakes at the last moment and cause the driver in the back to crash into the vehicle directly in the front. In this kind of situation an amended comparative negligence law could be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. The damages are then reduced accordingly. Lacerations and Bruises The rear-end of the car is the most impacted area in a rear-end collision which means that occupants may suffer serious injuries when they hit their head against the dashboard or back window. They could also break bones due to being scattered around the interior of the car as a result of the force of the crash. Injuries to the spine can be particularly severe. Spinal injuries can have serious and long-lasting consequences for victims. A person who is a victim of a fatal accident could also be suffering from psychological and emotional trauma. They may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating which can lead them to depression and anxiety. If they are unable work due to the extent of their injury, this can add anxiety and financial hardship. An attorney can examine the possible sources of liability and ensure that the victim receives fair compensation for their loss. The trailer hitches are faulty. Whatever vehicle you're driving, either a car, truck, a van, or a flatbed, all vehicles need to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer becomes unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries by an unhitched trailer, call an experienced vehicle accident lawyer with a specialization in cases of hitch failure as soon as you can to discuss your legal options. The reason behind a defective trailer hitch could be due to a variety of factors that can be traced to improper security or design. It could also be the result of a defect in the manufacturing process and, in this case, products liability laws could apply. The person or company at the fault for a defective trailer could be held accountable for the cost of medical bills, auto repair costs, as well as other losses that result from the incident. In a fatal crash that occurred on a highway 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 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 that was involved in the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama — to malfunction on a high proportion of times. kent semi truck accident law firm to the malfunctioning hitch due to the hitch's failure, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles, before colliding into them head-on. This led to multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles. The driver of the truck involved in the crash was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, but experts say that he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles had he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were in good order. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major disasters, as they typically require a significant amount of speed and can easily cause a collision with smaller vehicles or motorcycles. In such cases, the trailer can distort the car's frame, and cause razor sharp metal fragments to impale passengers inside.