Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident can cause an injury that is serious enough to cost a person a fortune in medical expenses. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
It is essential to have a reputable New York truck accident lawyer to assist you after an accident. A qualified attorney will assist you in proving your case by using evidence such as police reports, surveillance footage, etc.
Vehicles that aren't maintained properly
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often do not take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good working order. This causes an overwhelming number of avoidable accidents each year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers because of their larger dimensions and larger weight. However, the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits often over maintaining the fleet. cape coral semi truck accident case can be prone to mechanical problems which could cause catastrophic accidents.
The brakes of trucks are crucial because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at a moment's notice. When the brake pads on a truck, lines or return springs wear out, they can cause serious collisions and fatal injuries. These parts must be checked regularly and repaired as necessary to maintain their good condition.
A poorly maintained tire can also be a major cause of truck accidents. Tires that are worn out can cause traction issues and cause the truck to slide or even rollover. If a tire is defective in any way, for example, having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
Trucks require regular inspections along with regular maintenance to detect mechanical issues prior to causing an incident. However, if the inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop fails to adhere to the guidelines of the manufacturer, it could cause an accident. In these situations the company that hired or supervising the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
Another common cause of truck accidents is the failure of lights, signals, and reflectors. These elements must be properly working to enable drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas or after dark. However, trucking firms may not inspect and maintain these components or the driver could not be able to complete daily safety inspections.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer will analyze your case to determine who could be liable for your damages after you've been injured during an accident involving a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence to prove the defendant's negligence in the accident and help you obtain the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There are few things more devastating than an incident that involves a commercial truck. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and can cause more serious injuries when they are involved in a collision. While a variety of factors can cause accidents but distracted driving is among of the most frequent and risky. A truck driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an issue on the road, leading to severe and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers are required to follow strict rules and regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition on texting and using mobile phones while operating their vehicles. But even if truckers obey the rules they may still be distracted and cause crashes. This can be a result of manual distractions, such as getting off the wheel or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving is risky, but not many know that other activities, like eating or changing radio stations or chatting with passengers, are also considered to be distracting. If a truck driver is distracted, they might wander off into another lane, or not be able to see the traffic jam ahead of them. When a truck driver's attention is diverted, it will only take a split-second for a large vehicle to crash into a passenger car.
It is important to gather details on any witnesses and take photos of the accident scene when the driver is distracted and causes a truck crash. It is important to know the name of the driver, the business that they work for and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This could have an effect on who is accountable for the accident, because it is the responsibility of the trucking firm to employ competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible for your accident, they could be liable to you for financial and non-economic damage.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are quite common and can cause serious injuries. They can occur in a variety of settings like the stop or red light sign when the trucker fails to look behind them for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. It could also happen when an automobile crosses the truck's path, forcing the driver of the truck to brake abruptly without warning. The trucker may then crash into the car from behind.
It can be hard to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions as it's not always evident the vehicle that was at fault. An experienced attorney can collect evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the crash due to following too closely or driving erratically. This evidence could include photos as well as police reports and eyewitness testimony as well being skid marks on the road.
Sometimes the driver in front could be found to be responsible for the accident also. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail to use their turn signal as any reasonable person would, or put on the brakes in the last second, causing the driver behind to slam into the car directly in the front of them. In this kind of situation the modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. The damages are then reduced according to.
Lacerations, Bruises and Bruises
The rear of the vehicle is the most impacted area in a rear-end collision meaning that occupants can sustain serious injuries when they hit their head against the dashboard or back window. They may also break bones after being bounced around the interior of the vehicle by the force of the collision. Spinal injuries can be serious. Spinal injuries can cause serious and lasting consequences for victims.
A person who is the victim of a serious accident might also suffer emotional and psychological trauma. They may have trouble being able to sleep or concentrate, which can lead them to anxiety and depression. If they are unable to work due to the extent of their injury, this can cause anxiety and financial hardship. An attorney can research the possible sources of liability and assist a victim in seeking fair compensation for their losses.
Faulty trailer hitches
Regardless of whether you're driving either a car, van, truck, or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause a catastrophic accident that could cause serious injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident involving a runaway trailer, contact an experienced vehicle accident lawyer with a specialization in cases of hitch failure as soon as you can to discuss your legal options.
A damaged trailer hitch could be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate securement to a defective design. It could be caused by an issue on the part of the manufacturer, in which case the product liability law may apply. The person or company at fault for a faulty trailer is liable for victims' medical bills, auto repair costs, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
For instance the fatal crash that was reported in January 2014 on an Ohio road referred to locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck, and was thrown through the air into two cars that were behind it. The initial investigation attributed 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 defect in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.
The trailer hit the side of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was numerous fatalities and serious injuries to the drivers.
The truck driver who was involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular murder, however experts say he could have avoided the collision if he'd performed an in-depth inspection of his trailer to ensure that all connections were secure. The failure of a trailer's hitches can result in serious accidents, since these incidents often involve a lot of speed and can easily wipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these situations the trailer could deform the car's frame and cause sharp metal fragments to injure passengers.