Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck crash can result in serious injuries that could cost the victim a significant amount in medical expenses. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is essential to have a professional New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after an accident. A qualified attorney can assist you in proving your case by using evidence like police reports and surveillance footage, among others.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In a majority of cases, trucking companies and owner-operators do not take the appropriate steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This negligence results in a high percentage of preventable accidents occurring every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers due to their larger size and heavier weight. However, the pressure of completing deadlines and maximizing profits is often more important than maintaining the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that can result in devastating accidents.
The brakes of a truck need to be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a moments 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 crucial that these components are regularly inspected and replaced when required to keep them in good working condition.
Tires that aren't properly maintained can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Worn tires can lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even tip over. Tires that aren't working because of inadequate tread design or air pressure can fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require routine inspections to detect mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is conducted improperly or the repair shop fails to adhere to the manufacturer's specifications it could lead to a crash. In these instances, the company that hired or directed the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
Poorly functioning lights, signals and reflectors are another common reason for truck accidents. These components must function properly so that drivers can see and anticipate the truck's movements especially in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers may not be able to maintain and inspect these components, or they may not carry out regular safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who may be accountable for your losses in the event that you are injured by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence to prove the negligence of the defendant in your crash and help you get the compensation you are entitled to.
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 can cause more injuries when they are involved in collisions. Distracted driving is among the many factors that contribute to accidents. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice a hazard in the road, which can lead 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 on texting or using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers adhere to the rules, they are still prone to be distracted and cause crashes. This can be the result of manual distractions like getting off the wheel, or cognitive distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
While most people are aware the dangers of using text and drive, many realize that other activities, such as eating, changing the radio station or even talking to passengers can be deemed as distracting. When mississippi semi truck accident case is distracted he may drift into another lane and fail to notice an impending traffic jam. It takes only a split second for a huge truck to collide with a vehicle if the trucker's mind wanders.
It is important to collect details about witnesses and also take pictures of the scene of the accident when a distracted driver causes an accident with a truck. It is essential to know the name of the driver, the business for which they work, and who is the owner of the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This can affect who is accountable for your accident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partially responsible for the accident, they could be liable for your economic as well as non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are not uncommon and can result in severe injuries. These accidents can happen in many different situations, including at an intersection or at a red light, when the trucker fails to check behind him for oncoming traffic. It can also happen when cars cross the truck's path, forcing the driver of the truck to stop abruptly without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove fault in a rear-end crash, as it's not always clear what vehicle caused the accident. However, an experienced attorney can gather evidence to show that the driver at the rear was responsible for the crash through following too closely or driving distracted. This evidence can include photos of the scene, police reports, eyewitness testimony, as well being skid marks on the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be accountable for the accident. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to utilize their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or put on the brakes at the last minute and cause the driver in the back to crash into the car directly in the front. This is where modified comparative negligence laws can be applied, in which the jury assigns a percentage of blame to each party, and damages are reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault.
Bruises and Lacerations
The rear end of the vehicle has the greatest impact in a rear-end collision which means that occupants may suffer serious injuries after hitting their head against the dashboard or back window. They may also break bones due to being thrown around the interior of the car as a result of the force of the collision. Injuries to the spine are often severe. Damage to the spine can have long-lasting and serious effects on the victims.
A person who is a victim of a fatal accident may also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma. They may have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating, which may result in anxiety and depression. If they are unable work due to the seriousness of their injury this can add anxiety and financial hardship. An attorney can research the possible sources of liability and help the victim seek an appropriate amount of compensation for their losses.
Problematic Trailer Hitches
Whatever vehicle you're driving, either a car, truck, a van or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can result in catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries by the trailer that is running away, you should contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney specializing in hitch failure cases promptly to discuss your legal options.
The cause of a faulty trailer hitch can be a variety of things that can be traced to improper secured or defective design. It could also be due to an error by the manufacturer, in which case lawful product liability may apply. The company or individual responsible for a trailer's defect could be held responsible for the victim's medical costs along with auto repair expenses and other losses resulting from the incident.
For example in a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road known locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came out of the truck and crashed directly into two cars in front of it. Initial investigation linked the accident to the truck driver's inattention to inspect and secure the hitch. In June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a defect in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the cause of the crash.
The trailer hit the side of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was numerous deaths and serious injuries for the drivers.
The driver of the truck involved in the crash was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, but experts say that he could have prevented the collision with other vehicles if he had completed a thorough inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were secure. Faulty trailer hitches can lead to major disasters. These types of accidents are typically high-speed and can easily sidewipe motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In these cases the trailer could deform the car's frame and cause sharp metal fragments to impale any passengers.