Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck collision can result in a serious injury that can cost a person a fortune in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
After a collision is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney at your side. A skilled lawyer can to prove your case using evidence such as police reports and surveillance camera footage and much more.
Vehicles that are not maintained properly
Owner-operators and trucking companies typically don't take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good working order. This leads to a high percentage of preventable accidents occurring every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their size and heavier load. However the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits is often prioritized over maintaining the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical issues that could lead to devastating accidents.
The brakes of trucks are especially important as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at a moment's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs, or lines on a truck wear out and break, it could lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is crucial to have these parts regularly inspected and replaced when needed to keep them in good working order.
Tires that aren't properly maintained may play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out may lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even rollover. If a tire is deficient in any way, such as having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks need routine inspections to detect mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is done incorrectly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's instructions it could lead to an accident. In these instances the company that hired or oversees the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.
Another reason for truck accidents is the failure of lights, signals and reflectors. These components must be in good functioning to allow drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas or at night. However, trucking firms may not inspect and maintain these components or the driver might fail to conduct regular safety inspections.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will analyze your case to determine who is accountable for your damages should you be injured in an accident caused by a faulty maintenance of a commercial truck. Investigating your case can uncover evidence to prove the negligence of the defendant in the accident and assist you receive the compensation you're due.
Distracted Drivers
The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and could cause more injuries when they are involved in a collision. Distracted driving is among the many factors that can cause accidents. A driver who is distracted can lose control of the vehicle or miss 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 regulations for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting or using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers adhere to the rules, they can still become distracted and cause crashes. This can be a result of manual distractions such as taking a hand off the steering wheel or mental distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
Although most people know the dangers of using text while driving, a few realize that other activities such as eating or changing the radio station or even talking to 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 see a traffic jam in front of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a huge truck to hit a passenger vehicle if the trucker's mind wanders.
It is crucial to gather details about witnesses and also take pictures of the scene of the accident when the driver is distracted and causes an accident with a truck. It is also important to determine the name of the driver of the truck and the company they work for, aswell as who owns the truck if it is an independent contractor. This will affect 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 partly responsible for your accident, they may be held accountable for your financial and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are common and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of circumstances like at the stop sign or a an intersection when the trucker is not checking behind him for any traffic that is coming up. It could also happen when an automobile crosses the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to brake abruptly without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove fault in a rear-end crash, as it is not always obvious which vehicle caused the crash. However, a skilled lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that proves the driver in the rear caused the crash due to following too closely or driving while distracted. This can include evidence such as photos, police reports, eyewitness testimony and skid marks on the road.
The driver in the front of the car could also be held responsible for the accident. This could happen if they cut off someone else or fail utilize a turn signal in the same manner as any other reasonable person would do. This is where modified comparative negligence laws can be applied, in which the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party and damages are reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault.
Lacerations & Bruises
In a rear-end collision, the rear-end of the car is the one that suffers the most impact. This means that drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the inside of the vehicle. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it are often severe. The spinal cord contains many nerves that control the body, and any damage to the spinal column may cause serious and lasting problems for victims.
A person who has been involved in a serious accident could also be suffering from psychological and emotional trauma. greenville semi truck accident law firm may experience difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, which could cause anxiety and depression. They may also experience stress and financial burdens when they cannot work due to their injury. An attorney can look into possible causes of liability to help a victim receive an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.
Troublesome trailer hitches
All vehicles, whether they're a car or a truck, van flatbed, van should be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally removing a trailer's hitch can cause catastrophic accidents, leading to severe injuries, or even death. If you've been injured in an accident involving the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced attorney for vehicle accidents with a specialization in cases of hitch failure as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch can be caused by a variety, ranging from improper security or design. It could be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer in which case product liability laws may apply. The person or company responsible for a trailer that is defective could be held responsible for the victims' medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
For example in a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 along an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck and crashed over two cars ahead of it. The initial investigation blamed the crash to the truck driver's lapse in examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a flaw in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.
The trailer struck the side of the vehicles and then crashed into them. The result was numerous fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers.
The truck driver involved in the crash was found guilty of vehicular homicide, but experts believe that he could have avoided the collision by conducting an in-depth inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were tight. A faulty hitch on a trailer can lead to major catastrophes, since these incidents often involve a lot of speed and may cause a collision with smaller vehicles or motorcycles. In these situations the trailer could distort the car's frame and cause sharp metal fragments to injure passengers.