Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury sustained during an accident with a semi-truck can leave the victim in medical costs. north dakota semi truck accident lawsuit can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is crucial to have a qualified New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after an accident. A qualified attorney can help you prove your case by using evidence like police reports, surveillance footage, etc.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Trucking companies and owners-operators often do not take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good shape. This negligence leads to an overwhelming number of preventable crashes every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars because of their larger dimensions and larger weight. However keeping deadlines and increasing profits often take precedence over the maintenance of the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical issues that could result in catastrophes.
The brakes of trucks are of particular importance since they have to stop the vehicle and slow it down at a moment's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck fail, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. These parts should be regularly checked and repaired when 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, which causes the truck to skid or even tip over. Tires that aren't working or damaged, whether due to improper air pressure or tread design, can fail catastrophically.
The inspections are routine for trucks along with regular maintenance in order to spot mechanical issues before they lead to an incident. However, if the inspection is not done correctly or the repair shop doesn't adhere to the guidelines of the manufacturer the result could be an accident. In these situations the company that hired or supervised the maintenance or repair shop could be held responsible.
The malfunctioning of signals, lights and reflectors are a common reason for truck accidents. These elements must function correctly to enable drivers to detect and anticipate the movements of the truck particularly in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies may not inspect and maintain these equipments or the driver might fail to conduct regular safety checks.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who could be responsible for your losses after you've been injured during an accident caused by a faulty maintenance of a commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence that demonstrates the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be catastrophic. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and could cause more injuries when they are involved in an accident. Distracted driving is among the many factors that can cause accidents. A driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or overlook an opportunity to avoid a road accident that could result in serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting or using cellular phones while driving. However, even when truckers follow the rules, they could still get distracted and cause crash. This could be the result of manual distractions, such as dropping a hand off of the wheel or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
While most people are aware that it is dangerous to text and drive, few are aware that other activities such as eating, changing the station on the radio or even talking to the other driver can also be considered distracting. If a truck driver is distracted, they may wander off into a different lane or not be able to see the traffic jam ahead of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a big truck to collide with a vehicle if the trucker's mind wanders.
It is important to collect information on witnesses and to take photographs of the accident scene when a distracted driver causes the truck to crash. It is also beneficial to determine the name of the truck driver and the company they are employed by, as well the owner of the truck if it's an independent contractor. This will affect the person who is responsible for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for hiring competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be at least partially responsible for your accident, they could be held responsible for your economic and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are not uncommon and can result in severe injuries. These accidents can occur in many different circumstances like at the stop sign or a red light, when the trucker is not checking behind him for any traffic that is coming up. They can also happen when a car crashes into front of the truck, forcing the driver to apply their brakes without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove the cause of a rear-end crash, as it's not always clear which vehicle caused the accident. However, an experienced attorney can gather evidence to show that the driver at the rear was responsible for the crash by following too closely or driving distracted. This can include evidence like photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks in the road.
Sometimes the driver in front could be found to be responsible for the accident as well. This can happen when they cut someone off, fail to use their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or put on the brakes at the very last minute which causes the driver behind to slam into the car directly in the front of them. In this kind of situation modified comparative negligence laws may be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. The damages are then lowered accordingly.
Lacerations and Bruises
In a rear-end collision, the rear end of the vehicle is the area that experiences the most impact. This means that the passengers are at risk of serious injuries if they strike their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They could also break bones as they are torn around inside the car due to the force of the crash. Spinal injuries can be very serious. Injuries to the spine can have serious and long-lasting impacts on the victims.
A person who has been involved in a serious accident may also suffer from emotional and psychological trauma. They may experience difficulty sleeping or concentrating, which can result in anxiety and depression. They may also face stress and financial difficulties in the event that they are unable to work due to their injury. An attorney will investigate the possible causes of liability to assist the victim to receive fair compensation for their loss.
Faulty Trailer Hitches
Regardless of whether you're driving a car, a truck, a van, or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer becomes unhitched, it can result in catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries or even death. If you have been injured in a vehicle accident caused by a truck that has run away get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is specialized in cases involving hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
A malfunctioning trailer hitch may be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate securement to a defective design. It could be due to an error on the part of the manufacturer in which case the product liability law may apply. The company or person at the fault for a trailer that is defective is liable for the cost of medical bills and auto repair costs and other losses arising from the incident.
In a fatal crash on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer slid off of the truck. It crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. The initial investigation attributed the accident to the truck driver's inattention to inspect and secure the hitch. But in June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch in the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large percentage of occasions.
The trailer struck the sides of the vehicle and crashed into them. This led to numerous deaths and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck involved in the accident was convicted of vehicular homicide. However experts say that he could've avoided the crash if he'd performed a thorough inspection of his trailer to ensure that all connections were secure. Faulty trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These incidents are often high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorcycles or smaller cars. In such instances the trailer can deform a car's frame and force sharp metal pieces to crush passengers inside.
