10 Misconceptions Your Boss Holds Regarding Semi Truck Lawsuit
Semi Truck Accident Law A semi-truck accident could cause serious injuries that could cause a person to pay a huge amount in medical bills. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy. It is important to have a reputable New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after an accident. A qualified attorney can help establish your case through evidence such as police reports or surveillance camera footage and more. Vehicles that are poorly maintained Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often do not take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good working order. This leads to an increase in the number of preventable accidents every year. Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars due to their larger dimensions and larger load. Unfortunately the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits is often more important than maintaining the fleet. As a result, trucks can become prone to mechanical problems that can cause catastrophic accidents. The brakes on a truck must be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a minute's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck fail and become damaged, it can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these parts are regularly checked and replaced as required to ensure that they remain in good condition. Tires that are not properly maintained may play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can cause the tires to lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even tip over. Tires that aren't working because of improper air pressure or tread design, can fail catastrophically. In addition to regular maintenance, trucks must undergo regular inspections in order to spot mechanical problems before they lead to an accident. However, if an inspection is not done correctly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's guidelines, it could cause a crash. In these situations, a company that hired the repair or maintenance shop or supervised it could be held responsible. Faulty lights, signals and reflectors are also a frequent reason for truck accidents. These components must be in good working to enable drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas and after dark. Trucking companies or drivers could fail to maintain and inspect these items, or may not carry out regular safety inspections. A Houston truck accident attorney can investigate your case and determine who may be responsible for your damages in the event that you are injured by a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence that shows the negligence of the defendant in the accident and assist you receive the compensation you are entitled to. Distracted Drivers There aren't many things that can be as devastating as an accident involving a commercial truck. These massive vehicles can weigh as much as 25-times more than your vehicle and cause far more injuries when involved in an accident. While a variety of factors can cause accidents and injuries, distracted driving is one of the most common and dangerous. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize a hazard in the road, which could lead to severe and life-changing injuries. Truck drivers must follow strict rules and regulations formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition on texting and using cell phones while driving. However, even when truckers adhere to the rules, they are still prone to be distracted and cause crashes. This can be a result of manual distractions such as taking their hands off the steering wheel or mental distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving. While most people are aware that it is dangerous to text and drive, few are aware that other activities like eating, changing the station on the radio or conversing with a passenger can also be deemed to be distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they may drift into another lane or fail to notice a traffic jam in front of them. If a truck driver's focus is diverted, it will only take a split-second for a large vehicle to collide with a car. If a car accident occurs due to a distracted driver it is crucial to take photographs of the scene of the accident as well as collect the name and contact information of any witnesses. It is also helpful to determine the name of the truck driver as well as the company they are employed by, as as who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. This can have an impact on who's responsible for the accident, because it is the responsibility of the trucking business to hire competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partially responsible for your accident, they may be held accountable for your financial and non-economic injuries. Rear-End Collisions Rear-end truck collisions are common and can cause serious injuries. These accidents can occur in many different circumstances like at an intersection or at a red light when a trucker doesn't check behind him for oncoming traffic. They may also occur when a car is able to cut in front of the truck, forcing the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind. It can be difficult to prove the cause of rear-end crashes, as it is not always obvious which vehicle was responsible for the crash. An experienced lawyer can collect evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash by following too closely, or driving with a distraction. This can include evidence such as photos, police reports eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the roadway. Sometimes, the driver in the front might be at fault for the crash as well. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to use a turn signal like any other reasonable person would do. In this type of scenario the modified comparative negligence laws can be applied. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. Damages will be reduced accordingly. Bruises and Lacerations In a rear-end crash the rear of the car is the area that receives the most impact. This means that drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the interior of the car. Spinal injuries are often severe. Injuries to the spine can cause serious and lasting effects on victims. A person who has been involved in a serious accident might also suffer emotional and psychological trauma. They may have trouble sleeping or concentrating, which may cause anxiety and depression. If cincinnati semi truck accident attorney are unable work due to the extent of their injury, this could cause stress and financial burden. An attorney can investigate all possible sources of liability and help a victim seek fair compensation for their loss. 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 connected to their trailers. If a trailer becomes unhitched, it can result in catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a runaway truck get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is experienced in cases of hitch failure to discuss your legal options. A malfunctioning trailer hitch may be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate security to design flaws. It can also be the result of an issue with the manufacturer and, in this case, lawful product liability may apply. The company or the person responsible for a trailer that is defective could be held responsible for the victims' medical expenses, auto repair costs and other losses that result from the incident. For instance in a fatal crash that took place in January 2014 on an Ohio road known locally as “Devil's Backbone,” a trailer came out of the truck and careened head-on into two cars behind it. Initial investigation linked the accident to the driver's inattention to examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch at the center of the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama — to fail on a large percentage of occasions. The trailer slammed into the side of the vehicles, and then crashed into them. This resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles. The driver of the truck involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts say that he could have avoided the collision with the other vehicles if he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were tight. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause serious accidents, since these types of incidents typically involve a substantial amount of speed and could easily wipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these situations the trailer could distort the car's frame and result in sharp metal fragments to injure passengers.