Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident could cause an injury that is serious enough to cost a person a lot in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following a collision, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A qualified lawyer will help you prove your case using evidence such as police reports and surveillance footage, among others.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and trucking companies typically do not take the proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good working order. This negligence results in an astronomical number of preventable accidents each year.
Comparatively to passenger vehicles, tractor-trailers and semis need more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavy load. Unfortunately working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits may take precedence over maintaining a fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical problems which could cause catastrophes.
The brakes of a truck need to be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. When a truck's brake pads lines, lines or return springs fail they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is vital that these components are regularly inspected and replaced when required to keep them in good working condition.
Tires that aren't maintained can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that have worn out may lose traction and cause the truck to overturn or slide. If a tire is damaged in any way, like having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks need regular inspections to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's recommendations it could cause a crash. In such cases, a company that employed the maintenance or repair shop or managed it may be held liable.
The malfunctioning of signals, lights and reflectors are also a frequent reason for truck accidents. These elements must be properly functioning to allow drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or after dark. Trucking companies or drivers could fail to maintain and inspect these components, or they may not be able to conduct daily safety checks.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will examine your case to determine who could be accountable for your damages if you were injured in an accident involving a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence proving the defendant's negligence and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be devastating. These massive vehicles can weigh up 25 times the weight of your car and cause much worse injuries in an accident. While many factors contribute to accidents and injuries, distracted driving is one of the most prevalent and risky. A distracted truck driver can lose control of their vehicle or overlook an opportunity to avoid a road accident which could lead to life-threatening injuries.
Truck drivers must follow strict rules and regulations formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting and the use of cell phones while driving. Even if truckers abide by the rules, they may still be distracted and cause an accident. This is often caused by manual distractions such as taking your hand off the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
Although most people know the dangers of using text and drive, very few are aware that other activities like eating, changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with the other driver can also be deemed as distracting. When a truck driver gets distracted, they could wander off into a different lane or fail to notice an obstruction in front of them. When a trucker's attention is diverted, it only takes one second for a massive vehicle to strike a passenger car.
It is important to collect information about any witnesses and also take pictures of the scene after an accident if a distracted driver causes a crash of a truck. It is also beneficial to determine the name of the driver who is driving the truck and the company they are employed by, as well and who owns the truck, if it's an independent contractor. sioux city semi truck accident settlement could effect on who is accountable for the incident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking business to employ competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be at least partially responsible for your accident, they may be responsible for your economic and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are not uncommon and can cause severe injuries. These accidents can happen in many different situations like at a stop sign or red light, when the trucker does not check behind him for any traffic that is coming up. It can also happen when an automobile crosses the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to stop abruptly without warning. The trucker can then slam into the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove the cause of rear-end collisions, since it is not always obvious which vehicle was responsible for the crash. An experienced lawyer can gather evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving with a distraction. This can include evidence like photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony and skid marks on the roadway.
The driver in the front of the car could also be liable for the collision. This could occur if they cut off someone else or fail to use a turn signal as any reasonable person would do. In this type of scenario the modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. Damages are then lowered accordingly.
Lacerations & Bruises
In a rear-end collision, the rear end of the vehicle is the area that receives 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. They could also break bones from being torn around inside the vehicle by the force of the crash. Spinal injuries can be serious. Injuries to the spine can have long-lasting and serious consequences for victims.
A person who has been involved in a serious accident may also suffer from emotional and psychological trauma. They may have trouble sleeping or concentrating. This can lead to depression and anxiety. They may also experience financial hardship and stress when they are unable to work because of an injury. An attorney can look into possible causes of liability to ensure that the victim receives fair compensation for their loss.
Problematic Trailer Hitches
No matter if you're driving a car, a van, truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles need to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it could lead to 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 that specializes in cases of failure of the hitch promptly to discuss your legal options.
A faulty trailer hitch can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate security to design flaws. It could also be the result a defect in the manufacturing process and, in this case, lawful product liability may apply. The company or the person who is at responsible for the malfunction of a trailer is responsible for medical bills of victims and auto repair costs and other damages resulting from the incident.
For example the fatal crash that took place in January 2014 on an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came loose from the truck, and was thrown over two cars ahead of it. The initial investigation attributed the crash to the truck driver's inattention to examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch, an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason for the crash.
As a result of the faulty hitch due to the hitch's failure, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before plunging into them head-on. This led to numerous deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, but experts say that he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles if he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were secure. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause serious accidents, since these types of incidents typically require a significant amount of speed and could easily sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these cases the trailer can distort the car's frame and cause razor-sharp metal fragments to injure passengers.