Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident can cause serious injuries that could cost a person a fortune in medical expenses. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
After a crash, it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A skilled attorney can prove your case by using evidence like police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and trucking companies typically do not take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good condition. This negligence results in a high percentage of avoidable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than passenger cars due to their larger size and heavier weight. However the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits is often prioritized over the maintenance of a fleet. This is why trucks can be susceptible to mechanical problems that can result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes of a truck need to be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. When the brake pads on a truck, lines or return springs wear out they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components must be regularly checked and repaired as needed to ensure their good working condition.
Tires that aren't well maintained can be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can lose traction and cause the truck to rollover or slide. Tires that aren't working, whether it's due to inadequate air pressure or tread design can fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks must undergo regular inspections to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. If an inspection is performed in a way that is not correct or if the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's instructions this could result in an accident. In these instances, the company that employed the repair or maintenance company or supervised it could be held responsible.
Another major cause of truck accidents is the failure of lights, signals and reflectors. These devices must function properly to allow drivers to see and anticipate the speed of the truck particularly in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers could not be able to maintain and inspect these equipment, or may not carry out regular safety checks.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer will analyze your case to determine which parties may be responsible for your losses should you be injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. Investigating your case can uncover evidence that shows the defendant's negligence in the crash and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving 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 a collision. While a variety of factors can contribute to accidents that result from distracted driving, it is one of the most frequent and risky. A driver who is distracted can lose control of the vehicle or miss a road danger which could lead to serious and life-changing injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a ban on texting or using mobile phones while driving. But even if truckers obey the rules they could still get distracted and cause an accident. This could be the result of manual distractions like taking a hand off the wheel, or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving is risky, but many do not realize that other activities, like eating or changing radio stations or talking to passengers, can also be considered distracting. If a truck driver is distracted, they might get lost in a lane or not be able to see an obstruction in front of them. When a truck driver's eye is diverted, it's only one second for a massive vehicle to crash into a passenger car.
When a truck collision occurs due to an unintentionally distracted driver It is essential to take photographs of the scene of the accident and collect the name and contact information of any witnesses. It is crucial to know the name of the driver, the business that they work for, and who owns the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This could have an impact on who is liable for the accident, as it is the trucking company's responsibility to employ competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found partially responsible for your accident, it could be held accountable to you for any economic and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are quite common and can cause severe injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of circumstances such as at the stop sign or a red light when a trucker is not checking behind him for any traffic that is coming up. It could also happen when a car cuts across the truck's route, causing the driver of the truck to stop at a rapid pace without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove the cause of a rear-end crash, as it is not always obvious which vehicle caused the crash. westland semi truck accident lawsuit can gather evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash by following too closely or driving with a distraction. The evidence can include photographs of the scene, police reports, eyewitness testimony, as well as skid marks on the road.
Sometimes, the driver in the front could be responsible for the accident as well. This could occur if they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal like any reasonable person. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws be in play, where the jury assigns a percentage to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.
Lacerations, Bruises and Bruises
The rear-end of the car experiences the most impact in a rear-end crash, which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries as they smash their head against the dashboard or back window. They may also break bones due to being torn around inside the vehicle by the force of the collision. Spinal injuries can be severe. Injuries to the spine can have serious and long-lasting consequences for victims.
In addition to these types of injuries, victims might also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma as a result of being in a horrific crash. They might have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating, which may lead to depression and anxiety. They may also face financial hardship and stress in the event that they are unable to work due to their injury. An attorney can research all possible causes of liability and assist the victim in seeking an appropriate amount of compensation for their expenses.
Faulty Trailer Hitches
No matter if you're driving the vehicle of a car, van, a truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely attached to their trailers. Unintentionally pulling a trailer off can result in catastrophic accidents that lead to serious injuries or death. If you've been injured in a collision involving the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as you can to discuss your legal options.
The reason behind a defective trailer hitch can be caused by a variety which can range from inadequate secured or defective design. It could be caused by a defect on the part of the manufacturer, in which case product liability laws may apply. The company or the person responsible for a trailer's defect is liable for the victims' medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses resulting from the incident.
In a fatal crash on a road in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014, the trailer was detached from the truck. It then crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigations linked the incident to the truck driver's carelessness in failing to check and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch the Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.
The trailer hit 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 incident was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However experts say that he could've avoided the collision had he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were tight. Faulty trailer hitsches can cause catastrophic accidents, as these incidents often require a significant amount of speed and may wipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these instances the trailer could deform the car's frame and create sharp metal fragments to injure passengers.