Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident can cause serious injuries that could cost the victim a significant amount in medical bills. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
After a collision, it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A qualified attorney can help you prove your case with evidence like police reports and surveillance camera footage and much more.
Vehicles that are not maintained properly
Owner-operators and trucking companies often do not take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good shape. This can lead to a large percentage of preventable accidents every year.
As compared to passenger cars tractor-trailers and semis will require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavier loads. However, the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits is often more important than maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks can become prone to mechanical malfunctions that can result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on trucks must be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a moment's notice. When a truck's brake pads lines, lines or return springs wear out they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components must be checked regularly and repaired as necessary to maintain their good working condition.
Tires that are not maintained properly can be a major cause of truck accidents. Tires that have worn out may lose traction and cause the truck to overturn or skid. Tires that are defective, whether it's due to improper tread design or air pressure may fail catastrophically.
Trucks require regular inspections in addition to regular maintenance to spot mechanical issues before they can cause an incident. However, if the inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's instructions this could result in a crash. In these instances, the company that hired or directed the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
Another common cause of truck accidents is malfunctioning lights, signals, and reflectors. These items must function properly so that drivers can see and anticipate the truck's movements particularly when driving in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies might fail to maintain and inspect these components or the driver may not be able to complete daily safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident attorney will investigate your case and determine who might be responsible for your damages in the event you were injured by a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence to prove the defendant's negligence in the accident and assist you recover the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be devastating. These huge vehicles can weigh up 25 times more than your car and cause much worse injuries in accidents. While a variety of factors can cause accidents but distracted driving is among of the most frequent and risky. A driver who is distracted could lose control of the vehicle or overlook a road hazard which could lead to serious and life-altering injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition against texting or using mobile phones while driving. But even if truckers obey the rules they are still prone to be distracted and cause an accident. This could be because of manual distractions, such as taking a hand off the wheel, or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
While the majority of people are aware that it is dangerous to text and drive, very few are aware that other activities, such as eating or changing the radio station, and even conversing with a passenger could also be considered distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they might wander off into a different lane or fail to notice a traffic jam up ahead of them. It only takes a split second for a large truck to crash into a vehicle if the trucker's mind wanders.
It is essential to collect information on witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the crash when the driver is distracted and causes the truck to crash. It is also beneficial to find out the name of the driver of the truck and the company they are employed by, as well in determining who owns the truck if they are an independent contractor. This can have an influence on who is responsible for the accident, because it is the responsibility of the trucking business to find competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible for your accident, they could be held responsible for your economic and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are not uncommon and can result in serious injuries. They can occur in a variety of situations, such as at an intersection or stop sign when the trucker fails to look behind them for oncoming traffic. They can also happen when a car is able to cut in front of the truck, which forces the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker may then crash into the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove the cause of an accident that occurs at the rear, as it is not always obvious what vehicle caused the accident. A knowledgeable attorney can collect evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the accident by following too closely, or driving with a distraction. This could include evidence like photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks in the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be accountable for the collision. This could occur if they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal as any other reasonable person would do. In this scenario an amended comparative negligence law could be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. Damages are then reduced accordingly.
Lacerations, Bruises and Bruises
In a rear-end collision, the rear-end of the car is the area that receives the most force. This means that the occupants are at risk of serious injuries if they strike their heads against the dashboard or the back window. waterbury semi truck accident lawyer of the crash may cause broken bones if the occupants of the vehicle are thrown around the vehicle's interior. Injuries to the spine can be severe. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that control the body. Therefore, any injury to the spinal column can cause long-lasting and serious issues for the victims.
A person who is a victim of a fatal accident may also experience psychological and emotional trauma. They may have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating. This can lead to depression and anxiety. If they're unable work due to the seriousness of their injury it can create stress and financial burden. An attorney can investigate all possible causes of liability and assist the victim in seeking fair compensation for their expenses.
Troublesome trailer hitches
All vehicles, regardless of whether they're a car or van, truck flatbed, van must be securely connected to their trailers. When a trailer becomes unexpectedly unhitched, it could result in catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries or even death. If you've been injured in an accident involving the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
The cause of a faulty trailer hitch can be a variety of things, ranging from improper security or design. It could also be due to an issue with the manufacturer and in that case, lawful product liability may apply. The person or company responsible for a trailer's defect could be held responsible for the victim's medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
In an accident that killed a person on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 an unattached trailer was spotted on the truck. It crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigations linked the incident to the truck driver's carelessness in failing to properly inspect and secure hitch. However, in June 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch in the crash -- an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large number of occasions.
The trailer hit the side of the vehicles, and then crashed into them. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.
The driver of the truck that was involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. However experts believe that he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles if he had performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were tight. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major accidents. These kinds of incidents are usually high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorcycles or smaller cars. In these situations, the trailer may distort the car's frame and cause sharp metal fragments to entrap passengers.