Semi Truck Accident Law
A severe injury sustained in collision with trucks can result in the death of a person in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following a collision, it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney at your side. A qualified attorney can help establish your case through evidence like police reports and surveillance camera footage and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In many cases trucking firms and owners-operators do not take proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good working condition. This negligence results in many preventable accidents each year.
In comparison to passenger cars, semis and tractor-trailers require more frequent maintenance due to their size and weight. loads. Unfortunately working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits often take precedence over the maintenance of the fleet. As a result, trucks are susceptible to mechanical malfunctions that can could cause devastating accidents.
The brakes of a truck are particularly important because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at any moment. When a truck's brake pads, lines or return springs wear out they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is essential that these components are regularly inspected and replaced as needed to keep them in good working condition.
Tires that are not properly maintained may contribute to truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can cause traction issues, which causes the truck to slide or even roll over. If a tire is damaged in some way, for example, having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
Trucks need routine inspections in addition to regular maintenance to detect mechanical issues before they lead to an accident. If an inspection was performed incorrectly or if the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's guidelines it could lead to a crash. In these cases, a company that commissioned the maintenance or repair shop or was the one who supervised it could be held accountable.
Faulty lights, signals and reflectors are another common cause of truck accident. These components must be in good working to enable drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. However, trucking companies may fail to check and maintain these elements or the driver could fail to conduct regular safety checks.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer can analyze your case to determine who is liable for your damages should you be injured in an accident caused by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence of negligence by the defendant and help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many things as devastating as an accident that involves a commercial truck. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and can cause much greater injuries when they are involved in collisions. While many factors cause accidents but distracted driving is among of the most frequent and risky. A distracted truck driver can lose control of the vehicle or miss an accident on the road, which can lead to serious and life-changing injuries.
oklahoma semi truck accident settlement has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and the use of cell phones while operating their vehicles. Even if truckers abide by the rules, they may still be distracted, causing an accident. This can be a result of distractions caused by manual actions like getting off the wheel or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
Although most people know that it is risky to text and drive, many are aware that other activities like eating, changing the station on the radio or even talking to passengers can be considered to be distracting. If a trucker is distracted he may drift into another lane and fail to notice the traffic jam ahead. When a truck driver's attention is diverted, it will only take just a few seconds for a huge vehicle to collide with a car.
When a truck collision is caused by distracted driving it is vital to capture photos of the scene of the crash as well as collect the contact details and name of any witnesses. It is important to know the name of the driver, the company for which they work, and who owns the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This could impact who is accountable for your accident as the trucking company is responsible for securing skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found partially responsible for your accident, it may be liable to you for any economic and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are common and often result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety situations like at an intersection, a stop sign when the trucker fails to check their surroundings for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. It can also happen if vehicles cross the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to brake abruptly without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault in the event of rear-end collisions as it's not always evident which vehicle was at fault. An experienced lawyer can collect evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the accident by following too closely or driving in a distracted manner. This can include evidence such as photos, police reports eyewitness testimony, and skid marks in the road.
The driver in the front of the car could be held accountable for the incident. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to use a turn signal as any reasonable person would do. In this scenario an amended comparative negligence law could be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each party. The damages are then reduced according to.
Lacerations & Bruises
The rear end of the vehicle 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 also may break bones due to being torn around inside the vehicle by the force of the collision. Spinal injuries can be severe. The spinal cord contains many nerves that control the body, so any damage to the spinal column could cause serious and lasting issues for those affected.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, victims may also experience psychological and emotional trauma as a result of being in a horrific crash. They may experience difficulty sleeping or concentrating. This can cause anxiety and depression. If they are unable to work due to the severity of their injury, this can cause stress and financial hardship. An attorney will investigate the possible causes of liability to ensure that the victim receives the right amount of compensation for their loss.
Faulty trailer hitches
All vehicles, regardless of whether they are a vehicle, a car, van, truck flatbed, van must be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer goes unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a truck that has run away and you are in need of an experienced attorney who is experienced in cases of hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
A damaged trailer hitch could be the result of a variety of things, from improper securement to a defective design. It could be the result of a defect in the manufacturing process or a manufacturing defect, in which case the products liability laws could apply. The company or the person who is at fault for a faulty trailer could be held accountable for victims' medical bills as well as auto repair costs and other losses arising from the incident.
For instance there was a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 along an Ohio road known locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck and crashed through the air into two cars that were behind it. The initial investigation blamed the crash to the truck driver's negligence in failing examine and secure the hitch. However, in June 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch involved in the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to malfunction on a high proportion of occasions.
The trailer struck the sides of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.
The driver of the truck involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, but experts believe that he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles if he performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were in good order. Faulty trailer hitsches can cause major catastrophes, since they typically involve a large amount of speed and may sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these situations the trailer could deform the car's frame and result in sharp metal fragments to impale any passengers.