18 Wheeler Attorneys
18-wheeler trucks are large vehicles that pose a major risk to other motorists on the road. They are often involved in serious accidents that cause severe injuries or even death.
Engaging a personal injury lawyer is the initial step to recover monetary damages from an 18-wheeler collision. A qualified legal team will help you to build solid evidence like:
Fatigue
Truckers who are fatigued are the cause of many 18-wheeler accident. These accidents are nearly always fatal and can cause severe injuries. If truck drivers are tired they are more likely to ignore federal regulations and take risks. These risks can include speeding, the use of stimulants to combat fatigue and inattention.
Federal law restricts driving a commercial vehicle when drowsy. However, unscrupulous transportation companies place unreasonable demands on their truck drivers and push them to take breaks in between and falsify logbooks. Being tired while driving is dangerous for all motorists on the road.
Unhealthy diets and unplanned schedules can also result in fatigue for truck drivers. These individuals might be tempted to purchase fast food at gas stations or convenience shops, which is often high on fat and simple carbs. This can cause truckers to feel tired and sluggish. In addition, a lot of these individuals are on irregular sleep schedules that make it difficult for them to get enough rest. A Gretna, LA 18 wheeler lawyer can help you determine whether the fatigue of truck drivers was the reason for your crash.
Maintenance Issues
Truck drivers must meet certain requirements to operate commercial trucks, and companies and drivers must abide by strict Federal regulations on hours of service, safety inspections and maintenance. When these laws are ignored or companies cut corners to save money on maintenance the rest of us on the road at risk.
Hazardous substances, such as explosives, flammables or radiological substances, could be involved in truck accidents involving large trucks. These chemicals are transported on all roads in America. Hazmat drivers are required to undergo specialized training in order to safely load and unload their loads. If they do not follow the correct procedure or are not able to manage a truck in bad weather conditions they can cause fatal and grave accidents.
Due to their size and the massive blind spots, 18 wheelers require longer time to slow or stop than traditional cars. Other motorists could be injured or even killed when they don't leave enough space or their brakes fail. To ensure the safety of these vehicles, all lighting including headlights and taillights, turn signals and emergency flashers should be working properly.
Excessive weight
Trucks must abide by specific weight limits. If an 18-wheeler is properly loaded the weight limit should not exceed 80,000 pounds. Due to negligence or the desire to make more money, some businesses may violate these restrictions by allowing their trucks to be loaded over. This is a major danger to the safety of all road users and could cause serious accidents in the event of an accident.
A truck that is loaded will need more space to stop than smaller vehicles. This could also result in blind spots, which can be dangerous for vehicles with smaller sized wheels. Drivers who aren't experienced might have a difficult time be able to see out of these areas. This is particularly true when the truck is making an turn or changes lanes.
Depending on the circumstances depending on the circumstances, there could be other responsible parties besides the driver of the truck or the trucking company. These could include mechanics who fail to properly inspect or service trucks, loading crews that aren't able to properly secure cargo, or shipping or transport firms that pressure drivers to adhere to deadlines. An experienced lawyer who is skilled in 18 wheeler accidents will be able identify these parties and investigate their actions. seek damages for the victims of accidents.
Defective Design
Injuries can be severe when a large truck is involved. The weight of the trucks is a major factor, but other factors can be contributing to this in the form of defective components or mechanical malfunctions.
The brakes and tires can fail in 18-wheeler accidents. However, there are other issues. Unloading cargo in the wrong manner can increase the chance of the truck rolling over or colliding into other vehicles. If these issues aren't dealt with by the trucking companies or maintenance service providers, they could result in fatal accidents.
Our team has extensive experience prosecuting commercial and truck cases involving defective components. We also have experience in working with design engineers to establish negligent conduct. We are dedicated to helping our clients receive the compensation they deserve. We also fight for justice against negligent trucking companies that encourage their drivers to engage in unsafe driving habits, like disregarding safety regulations and rushing to meet unrealistic deadlines for delivery.
Negligence
Truck accident litigation is a complex legal process because it is a mix of various fields such as physics, chemistry and federal trucking regulations medical, biology driving standards, and economics. It is essential that the victim of a crash seeks out an experienced attorney. The lawyer can help the victim of a truck accident receive an acceptable settlement without having to invest any money upfront.
The lawyer may also work with insurance companies and parties at fault who may try to take advantage of the victim of a truck accident. The attorney can also help victims of a collision file a claim in accordance with New York laws and federal laws.
After a truck crash the attorney should act swiftly to gather evidence, such as photos and videos of the scene of the crash and the damage to vehicles and structures involved in accidents. 18 wheeler accident case lorain should also interview witnesses and inspect the black box of the truck. The attorney should also examine the documents of the trucking company along with driver logbooks and other documents which can be used to prove negligence. The attorney should also determine what damages are recoverable. These include both financial losses (medical bills and repair costs to the property) as well as non-financial losses (pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life).