Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury sustained during the crash of semi-trucks can cost a person in medical costs. It can also result in permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
After a crash, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A professional lawyer can help you prove your case with evidence like police reports and surveillance footage, among others.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and trucking companies typically fail to take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This can lead to an overwhelming number of accidents that could have been avoided every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers due to their size and heavier weight. Unfortunately, meeting deadlines and maximising profits may take precedence over the maintenance of the fleet. This is why trucks are more prone to mechanical malfunctions that can result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes of a truck need to be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a minute's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck are worn out they can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these components are regularly inspected and replaced as necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major cause of truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can cause traction issues and cause the truck to skid or even tip over. Tires that are defective because of incorrect tread design or air pressure can fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's instructions, it can cause an accident. In such cases, the company that hired or supervising the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
The malfunctioning of signals, lights and reflectors are also a frequent cause of truck accident. These components must function properly to enable drivers to detect and anticipate the speed of the truck particularly when driving in rural areas or at night. Drivers and trucking companies could not maintain and inspect these components, or they might not conduct regular safety inspections.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will examine your case to identify who might be accountable for your damages after you've been injured during an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence of negligence by the defendant and help you get the compensation you're due.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many things that can be more devastating than an incident which involves a commercial vehicle. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your vehicle and can cause more injuries when they are involved in an accident. Distracted driving is one of many factors that cause accidents. A distracted driver of a truck can lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an opportunity to avoid a road accident 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 ban on texting or using cell phones while driving. However, even when truckers obey the rules they could still get distracted and cause crash. This can be the result of manual distractions like getting off the wheel or mental distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.
While most people understand the dangers of using text and drive, very few are aware that other activities such as eating or changing the radio station, and even conversing with a passenger can also be considered to be distracting. When a truck driver gets distracted, they might wander off into another lane, or miss a traffic jam in front of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a large truck to crash into a vehicle if the trucker's mind is diverted.
torrance semi truck accident case is important to collect details about witnesses and take photos of the accident scene when the driver is distracted, which can cause the truck to crash. It is also helpful to determine the name of the truck driver and the company they work for, as well and who owns the truck, if it's an independent contractor. This could impact who is liable for your incident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and competent truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible in your accident, they could be held accountable to you for economic and non-economic damage.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are common and can result in serious injuries. They can occur in a variety of situations, such as at an intersection, a stop signal when the trucker fails to check their surroundings for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. It can also happen when cars cross the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to brake at a rapid pace without warning. The trucker could then hit the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove fault in a rear-end crash, as it is not always obvious which vehicle was responsible for the crash. However, a skilled attorney can gather evidence that shows the driver in the rear caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving distracted. The evidence can include photographs or police reports, eyewitness testimony as well being skid marks on the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be held responsible for the accident. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to use their turn signal as a reasonable person would, or slam on the brakes at the very last minute, causing the driver in the back to crash into the car directly in front of them. In this type of scenario the modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each party. Damages are then reduced according to.
Bruises and Lacerations
In a rear-end crash, the rear end of the vehicle is the one that suffers the most force. This means that the drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if they crash their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the vehicle's interior. Spinal injuries can be severe. The spinal cord is home to many nerves that control the body, therefore any injury to the spinal column could cause long-lasting and serious problems for victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, the victim may suffer from emotional and psychological trauma from being in a horrific crash. They may experience difficulty sleeping or concentrating which can result in anxiety and depression. If they are unable work due to the severity of their injury, it can create stress and financial burden. An attorney can look into possible sources of liability and ensure that the victim receives the right amount of compensation for their loss.
Faulty Trailer Hitches
Regardless of whether you're driving either a car, truck, a van or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely attached to their trailers. Unintentionally pulling a trailer off can cause catastrophic accidents that can lead to severe injuries, or even death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident that involved the trailer that has run away, contact an experienced vehicle accident lawyer who specializes in cases involving hitch failure as soon as you can to discuss your legal options.
The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch is many things such as inadequate security or design. It could also be the result of an issue with the manufacturer, in which case product liability laws may apply. The company or individual responsible for a defective trailer could be held responsible for the victims' medical costs, auto repair costs and other losses that result from the incident.
In an accident that killed a person on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer was detached from the truck. It then crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident 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 flaw in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
The trailer slammed into the side of the vehicles and crashed into them. The result was multiple fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.
The truck driver who was involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However experts suggest that he could've avoided the collision if he'd performed a thorough inspection of his trailer to ensure that all connections were secure. A faulty trailer hitch could cause major problems. These kinds of incidents are usually fast and can easily smack motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In these cases the trailer could deform the car's frame and cause sharp metal fragments to entrap passengers.