Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury sustained in the crash of semi-trucks can cost a person with medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
After a crash, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A qualified attorney can help you prove your case with evidence such as police reports and surveillance camera footage and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In many cases, trucking companies and owner-operators fail to take the proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This causes an astronomical number of preventable accidents each year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their larger dimensions and larger load. Unfortunately, the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits can overtake maintaining the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical problems that can cause devastating accidents.
The brakes on a truck 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 fail they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. These parts should be regularly inspected and repaired as needed to ensure their good working condition.
Tires that are not properly maintained can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can cause the tires to lose traction and cause the truck to skid or even tip over. If a tire is damaged in some way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it could fail catastrophically.
Regular inspections of trucks are required in addition to regular maintenance in order to spot mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is performed improperly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's recommendations this could result in an accident. In albany semi truck accident lawsuit that employed or directed the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
Another major cause of truck accidents is malfunctioning signals, lights, and reflectors. These components must function properly so that drivers can detect and anticipate the speed of the truck especially in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies may neglect to inspect and maintain these items or the driver may not be able to complete daily safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who could be responsible for your damages in the event that you were injured by a deteriorated maintenance of a commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence of the defendant's negligence and assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your vehicle and can cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in an accident. Distracted driving is just one of the many factors that cause accidents. A driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or overlook a road danger and cause serious and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers are required to follow strict rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition against texting or using cellular phones while driving. However, even when truckers abide by the rules, they are still prone to be distracted and cause a crash. This could be because of manual distractions like taking a hand off the wheel or mental distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be risky, but not many know that other activities, such as eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers, can also be considered distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they might wander off into a different lane or fail to see a traffic jam up ahead of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a big truck to collide with a vehicle when the driver's attention wanders.
When a truck accident occurs due to a distracted driver, it is important to snap photos of the crash scene and note down the name and contact information of any witnesses. It is crucial to know the name of the driver, the business for which they work, and who owns the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This will affect the person who is responsible for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for securing competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found partially responsible for the accident, it could be liable to you for financial and non-economic damage.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are common and can result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety settings like a red light or stop sign when the trucker fails to check their surroundings for traffic coming in. It could also happen when an automobile crosses the truck's path, causing the driver of the truck to stop at a rapid pace without warning. The trucker might then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault in an accident that occurs at the rear, as it's not always clear what vehicle caused the accident. An experienced attorney can gather evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the accident because they followed too closely or driving with a distraction. This evidence could include photos as well as police reports and eyewitness testimony, as well being skid marks on the road.
Sometimes, the driver in the front might be liable for the accident as well. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail use a turn signal as any reasonable person would do. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws be used, in which the jury assigns a percentage of blame to each party, and damages are lowered accordingly.
Lacerations and Bruises
In a rear-end collision, the rear of the car is the area that experiences the most impact. This means that occupants are at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They could also break bones from being torn around inside the car by the force of the collision. The severity of spinal injuries can be devastating. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that regulate the body, and any damage to the spinal column may cause long-lasting and serious problems for victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, the victim may suffer from psychological and emotional traumas as a result of having been involved in a terrible crash. They may have difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could cause depression and anxiety. They may also face financial hardship and stress if they are unable work due to an injury. An attorney can investigate any possible liability sources and assist a victim in seeking fair compensation for their expenses.
The trailer is not working properly
All vehicles, regardless of whether they are a car, a truck, van flatbed, van should be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries or even death. If you've been injured in an accident that involved an unhitched trailer, call a qualified vehicle accident attorney specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
A faulty trailer hitch can be caused by many different factors, ranging from inadequate securing to defective design. It could be due to a defect on the part of the manufacturer, in which case the product liability laws could apply. The person or company at fault for a faulty trailer is liable for the cost of medical bills and auto repair costs and other losses related to the incident.
In the fatal crash that took place on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 a trailer detached from the truck. It crashed into two cars directly behind it. The initial investigation attributed the crash to the truck driver's lapse in examine and secure the hitch. In June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles, and then crashed into them. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck that was involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, but experts say he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles if he had performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were secure. Incorrect trailer hitches can lead to major disasters. These types of accidents are typically fast and can easily smack motorcycles or smaller cars. In such cases the trailer can deform the car's frame and push razor sharp metal fragments to strike the passengers inside.