Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury resulting from a crash with semi-trucks can cost the victim with medical costs. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following a collision, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A professional lawyer can assist you in proving your case with evidence like police reports, surveillance footage, etc.
Vehicles that aren't maintained properly
Trucking companies and owners-operators often do not take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good condition. This leads to many preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers due to their dimensions and larger load. However the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits is often more important than maintaining the fleet. olathe semi truck accident claim are susceptible to mechanical problems that can lead to catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on a truck are particularly important because they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. When the brake pads on a truck, lines, or return springs wear out they could result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is vital that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced as needed to keep them in good condition.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major contributor to truck accidents. Worn tires can lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even tip over. If a tire is not properly designed in any way, such as having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
The inspections are routine for trucks along with regular maintenance in order to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an incident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's instructions this could result in an accident. In these instances the company that employed or directed the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
Another common cause of truck accidents is defective lights, signals and reflectors. These components must be in good working to enable drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or after dark. However, trucking companies could neglect to inspect and maintain these components or the driver could not be able to complete daily safety checks.
A Houston truck accident lawyer can investigate your case and determine who might be accountable for your damages in the event you were injured by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence to prove the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be catastrophic. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 25 times more than your car and cause a lot more injuries in accidents. While many factors contribute to accidents, distracted driving is one of the most prevalent and dangerous. A driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an accident on the road, which can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting or using cell phones while driving. However, even when truckers obey the rules they can still become distracted and cause crashes. This could be the result of manual distractions, such as taking their hands off the wheel, or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but few know that other activities, such as eating, changing radio stations, or talking to passengers, are also considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they may drift into another lane or not be able to see a traffic jam up ahead of them. When a trucker's attention is diverted, it will only take just a few seconds for a huge vehicle to crash into a passenger car.
When a truck accident occurs due to distracted drivers it is crucial to take photos of the scene of the crash as well as collect the name and contact details of any witnesses. It is also helpful to find out the name of the truck driver as well as the company they work for, as well and who owns the truck, if it's an independent contractor. This can affect who is liable for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for securing skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible for the accident, they could be held accountable for your financial as well as non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are frequent and frequently result in serious injuries. These accidents can happen in a variety of circumstances like at the stop sign or a red light, when the trucker is not checking the road ahead for oncoming traffic. It could also happen when a car cuts across the truck's route, causing the driver of the truck to brake at a rapid pace without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove the fault of a driver in rear-end collisions, as it isn't always certain who was at fault. An experienced lawyer can gather evidence to show that the driver behind caused the crash by following too closely, or driving erratically. The evidence can include photographs of the scene, police reports, eyewitness testimony, aswell being skid marks on the road.
Sometimes, the driver in the front could be found to be liable for the accident also. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to use a turn signal as any reasonable person. This kind of situation is where modified comparative negligence laws could come into play, where the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
The rear-end of the vehicle has the greatest impact in a rear-end collision which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries as they smash their head against the dashboard or back window. They may also break bones after being bounced around the interior of the car by the force of the collision. Spinal injuries can be severe. The damage to the spine could be serious and have long-lasting consequences for victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, a victim may also be suffering from psychological and emotional trauma from having been involved in a terrible crash. They might have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating, which may lead to depression and anxiety. They may also face financial hardship and stress in the event that they are unable to work due to an injury. An attorney can investigate all possible sources of liability and assist the victim in seeking fair compensation for their expenses.
Troublesome trailer hitches
Regardless of whether you're driving the vehicle of a car, truck, a van or a flatbed, all vehicles must to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it could lead to catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a vehicle accident caused by a truck that has run away and you are in need of an experienced attorney who is specialized in cases involving hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
The reason behind a defective trailer hitch can be caused by a variety which can range from inadequate secured or defective design. It could also be the result of an issue with the manufacturer and in that case, laws governing product liability could apply. The company or the person who is at the fault for a trailer that is defective can be held liable for the medical bills of the victims as well as auto repair costs as well as other losses that result from the incident.
For example, in a deadly crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road that is locally referred to as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came off the truck, and was thrown head-on into two cars behind it. The initial investigation blamed the crash to the truck driver's lapse in inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.
Due to the malfunctioning hitch, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers.
The driver of the truck involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts say he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles had he completed a thorough inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were in good order. A faulty trailer hitch can lead to major disasters. These kinds of incidents are usually high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In these instances the trailer can deform a car's frame and force the metal to crush passengers inside.