15 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Be Ignoring Semi Truck Lawsuit
Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck collision can result in an injury that is serious enough to cause a person to pay a huge amount in medical expenses. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
After a collision is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A lawyer with experience can help you prove your case with evidence like police reports or surveillance camera footage and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In a majority of cases trucking companies as well as owner-operators don't take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good working condition. This negligence results in an increase in the number of preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars due to their size and heavier weight. However, meeting deadlines and maximising profits may take precedence over the maintenance of the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical issues that could lead to catastrophic accidents.
The brakes of a truck need to be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a moment's notice. When the brake pads on a truck lines, lines or return springs fail they could cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is vital to have these parts regularly inspected and replaced when necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
Tires that aren't properly maintained can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Worn tires can lose traction and cause the truck to slide or even rollover. If a tire is defective in any way, like having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it could fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks must undergo regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is performed improperly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's guidelines it could lead to a crash. In these instances, the company that hired the maintenance or repair shop or was the one who supervised it could be held accountable.
Another reason for truck accidents is the failure of signals, lights and reflectors. These components must be in good functioning to allow drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. However, trucking firms may fail to check and maintain these items or the driver may fail to conduct regular safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who may be responsible for your injuries in the event that you are injured by a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence of negligence by the defendant and help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many things more devastating than an accident that involves a commercial truck. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 25 times more than a car and can cause more severe injuries in a crash. Distracted driving is one of many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see the dangers on the road, leading to life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers are required to follow strict rules and regulations formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition against texting or using cellular phones while driving. Even if truckers adhere to the rules, they may still be distracted and cause an accident. This can be the result of distractions caused by manual actions like dropping a hand off of the wheel or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
While most people are aware that it is risky to text and drive, very few are aware that other activities like eating or changing the radio station or conversing with a passenger could also be deemed as distracting. If a truck driver is distracted, they might drift into another lane or fail to notice a traffic jam in front of them. When a trucker's attention is diverted, it only takes one second for a massive vehicle to collide with a car.
If a truck crash occurs due to an unintentionally distracted driver it is crucial to take photographs of the crash scene and note down the contact details and name of witnesses. It is also helpful to know the name of the driver of the truck and the company they work for, aswell in determining who owns the truck if it is an independent contractor. This could affect who is liable for your accident as the trucking company is responsible for securing competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be at least partially responsible for your accident, they may be held responsible for your economic as well as non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are quite common and can result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety situations like an intersection or stop sign, when the trucker fails to observe the road ahead for any traffic that is coming up. They can also happen when a car comes in front of the truck, which forces the driver to use their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault in the event of rear-end collisions, as it's not always clear the vehicle that was at fault. An experienced attorney can find evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash because they followed too closely or driving distracted. This could include evidence like photos, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the roadway.
Sometimes the driver in front could be at fault for the crash also. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to obey their turn signal as a reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes at the last minute and causing the driver behind to slam into the car directly in front of them. In this kind of situation an amended comparative negligence law could be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each party. Damages will be reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
The rear end of the vehicle is the most impacted area in a rear-end crash, which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries as they smash their head against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the crash may cause broken bones if the occupants of the vehicle are thrown around the interior of the car. The injuries to the spine can be particularly severe. The spinal cord houses a number of nerves that control the body, therefore any damage to the spinal column could cause long-lasting and serious issues for the victims.
In addition to these types of injuries, victims may suffer from psychological and emotional traumas as a result of being in a horrific crash. They may experience difficulties getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can result in depression and anxiety. They may also experience financial hardship and stress if they are unable work due to their injury. An attorney can research all possible causes of liability and help the victim seek fair compensation for their expenses.
Problematic Trailer Hitches
All vehicles, whether they are a car, a truck, van flatbed, van, or are required to be securely connected to their trailers. When a trailer becomes unexpectedly unhitched, it could result in catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries or death. If you've been injured by the trailer that has run away, contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
quincy semi truck accident lawyer may be caused by a variety of things, from improper securing to defective design. It could also be the result an error by the manufacturer and in that case, products liability laws could apply. The company or the person who is at the fault for a defective trailer could be held accountable for victims' medical bills as well as auto repair costs and other losses arising from the incident.
In an accident that killed a person on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 a trailer detached from the truck. It then crashed into two cars directly behind it. The initial investigation blamed the accident to the truck driver's lapse in examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch, an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the cause of the crash.
The trailer struck the side of the vehicles and then crashed into them. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries for the drivers.
The truck driver involved in the accident was convicted of vehicular homicide. However experts say that he could've avoided the collision by conducting an extensive inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were in good order. A faulty trailer hitch could cause major problems. These types of accidents are typically high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In these instances, the trailer can distort the car's frame and push steel fragments that are razor-sharp to sever the limbs of passengers in.