What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

Accidents with commercial truck drivers, their rigs, and 18 wheelers are covered under the 18 wheeler law. These massive vehicles must comply with strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training.

Companies that transport trucks often force their drivers to work for longer and manipulate logbooks. This can result in catastrophic trucking crashes.

Weight Regulations

Knowing the weight limits for semi trucks is essential. Weight limits for single axles and group axles are set by the majority of states. Weigh stations are commonplace along interstates where truckers are weighed to ensure that they do not exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is caught violating these limitations they could be fined, or even imprisoned, based on the state of their residence and criminal record.

Axle groups have a higher limit as distributing the weight across multiple axles increases the safety of the vehicle and allows more cargo to be carried. For example a single tire mounted on an axle can only be weighed at 650lbs per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on the same axle it can be measured at 1300 pounds per tire.

There are limitations on the types of trailers that can be used with a tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer, while other states allow twin or triple trailers. In addition, many states require a fifth wheel on the trailer, which is a round plate that is above the drive wheels that couples (hooks) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cab tractors and sleeper cabs which include an area for sleeping inside the tractor unit. They are designed for over the road hauling.

Lane Restrictions

In addition to restrictions on lane usage truck drivers also must follow speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks are not able to drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles, and should they do, they can cause accidents. In a lot of cases, it's the truck driver that is the one to blame. This is due to truck drivers being able to be driving for longer than is permitted, break hours-of-service rules, or become tired or distracted behind the vehicle.

Another important limitation on lane is that truck drivers are not allowed to drive in the left side of the lane. This is because it takes a lot longer for trucks to stop than passenger vehicles. This can pose a danger issue, particularly for those in cars that are smaller and could be stuck behind a truck if it slows or stops abruptly.

Certain states specifically target large trucks and restrict them from using the left lane, and others limit the use of the lane in specific situations. These laws may be based either on weight or axel limits. In other instances, they could be solely based on the vehicle's description.

Although there's no statewide law regarding lane restrictions you should still check the local rules and abide by the rules. You should also move to the left when you see a truck blocking the passing lane.

Ownership

Companies that operate 18 wheelers and trucks have a vast array of resources at their disposal to pressure accident victims into accepting less than they deserve. They have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who represent them before they know whether the victim of the accident will pursue legal action.

Because they are able to carry enormous loads and are larger than passenger vehicles, 18 wheelers often cause catastrophic injuries and enormous property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is especially so when they collide with motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an experienced lawyers fight for your rights and get you justice against these powerful, massive corporations.

Accidents involving large trucks require a deep understanding of concepts from the fields of biology, chemistry, physics and federal trucking regulations medical and driving regulations. Our attorneys are able to discover any infringements of these laws, and explain to the jury what led to your accident.

Many parties could be at fault for 18 wheeler accident law firm-wheeler truck accidents. Our NY 18 wheeler accident lawyer will investigate all accountable parties and ensure they are liable for their fair portion of your current and anticipated costs. This includes trucking companies, owners, maintenance contractors and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that may have played a part in your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies can put together large teams of adjusters, lawyers engineers, experts and adjusters quickly. They start this process even before they know whether you'll need legal recourse. That's why it's vital to immediately hire a capable attorney who can match their resources and bring them down to size.

An experienced 18 wheeler crash lawyer can alleviate the burden of dealing with these large corporations off your shoulders and concentrate on securing the compensation you're due. This money can be used to cover medical expenses, vehicle damage as well as lost income from missing work, and other non-economic damages like suffering and pain.

18-wheelers are complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Failure to keep accurate documents and carry out this maintenance could lead to devastating accidents.

Tractor-trailers are commonly used to transport hazardous materials that require special training and licenses. This material can be explosive, flammable, radiological or toxic, all of which could pose a significant risk to other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could cause a devastating accident.

A qualified 18 wheeler accident lawyer will determine the exact causes of your accident and hold liable any parties that are accountable. These may include the driver of the truck and the trucking company, the owner of the trailer and the manufacturer of the truck or its components. This is referred to as vicarious liability.