Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck collision can result in an injury that is serious enough to cost a person a fortune in medical bills. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following a collision, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A qualified lawyer will help you prove your case using evidence such as police reports, surveillance footage, etc.
Vehicles that are not maintained properly
Owner-operators and trucking companies often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good working order. This leads to an overwhelming number of preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their size and heavier load. However the pressure of completing deadlines and maximizing profits is often more important than maintaining the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that could result in devastating accidents.
The brakes on trucks must be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. If the brake pads of a truck, lines or return springs fail they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is essential that these components are regularly inspected and replaced when needed to keep them in good condition.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major cause of truck accidents. corona semi truck accident case that are worn out can lose traction and cause the truck to roll over or skid. Tires that aren't working, whether it's due to inadequate air pressure or tread design may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks require regular inspections in order to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. However, if an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop does not adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines this could result in a crash. In these cases the company that employed or supervising the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.
Another reason for truck accidents is faulty signals, lights, and reflectors. These devices must function properly to allow drivers to see and anticipate the speed of the truck especially in rural areas or at night. However, trucking firms may fail to maintain and inspect these items or the driver might not perform regular safety checks.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer can analyze your case to determine which parties may be liable for your damages if you were injured in an accident caused by a faulty maintenance of a commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence of the defendant's negligence and help you get the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many events more damaging than an accident which involves a commercial vehicle. These massive vehicles can weigh as much as 25 times the weight of your car and can cause more severe injuries in accidents. Distracted driving is among the many factors that cause accidents. A driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an opportunity to avoid a road accident, which can lead to life-threatening injuries.
Truck drivers are required to adhere to strict rules and regulations that have been formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition against texting or using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers abide by the rules, they can still be distracted, causing an accident. This is often caused by mechanical distractions like getting your hands off the steering wheel or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but they are not aware that other activities, like eating or changing radio stations or talking to passengers, can also be considered distracting. When a truck driver is distracted, they could wander off into another lane, or fail to see an obstruction in front of them. It only takes a split second for a huge truck to crash into a vehicle when the driver's attention is diverted.
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 also important to determine the name of the driver who is driving the truck and the company they work for, aswell and who owns the truck if it is an independent contractor. This will affect who is liable for your accident as the trucking company is responsible for securing skilled and competent truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found partially responsible for your accident, they could be held accountable to you for both economic as well as non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are frequent and frequently result in serious injuries. These accidents can happen in a variety of circumstances, including at a stop sign or red light, when the trucker doesn't check behind him for oncoming traffic. They can also happen when a car is able to cut in front of the truck, causing the driver to apply their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
It can be hard to establish fault when there's rear-end collisions because it isn't always clear the vehicle that was at fault. An experienced attorney can gather evidence that proves the driver at the rear was responsible for the crash due to following too closely or being distracted while driving. This can include evidence such as photos, police reports eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the road.
Sometimes the driver in front may be found to be responsible for the accident also. This could happen if they cut off someone else or fail to obey their turn signal in the manner that a reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes at the very last minute which causes the driver in the back to crash into the car directly in the front of them. In this kind of situation an amended comparative negligence law can be applied. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each party. The damages are then lowered accordingly.
Lacerations and Bruises
In a rear-end crash, the rear end of the vehicle is the part that takes the most force. This means that people in the car are at risk of serious injuries if they strike their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They can also suffer broken bones from being torn around inside the car as a result of the force of the collision. The severity of spinal injuries can be devastating. Damage to the spine can have long-lasting and serious impacts on the victims.
A person who has been involved in a serious accident may also experience emotional and psychological trauma. They may experience difficulty being able to sleep or concentrate, which can result in depression and anxiety. If they are unable work due to the seriousness of their injury this could cause stress and financial burden. An attorney can investigate the possible sources of liability and help a victim seek an appropriate amount of compensation for their losses.
Faulty Trailer Hitches
No matter if you're driving an automobile, a van, a truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles must to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or death. If you've been injured by a runaway trailer, contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents that specializes in cases of failure of the hitch promptly to discuss your legal options.
The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch can be caused by a variety such as inadequate securement or design. It could be caused by a defect on the part of the manufacturer in which case, product liability laws may apply. The person or company accountable for a defective trailer is liable for the victims' medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses resulting from the incident.
For example, in a deadly crash that occurred in January 2014 along an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came loose from the truck and slid through the air into two cars that were behind it. Initial investigations pointed out that the accident was due to the truck driver's negligence for not inspecting and secure hitch. In June 2015, however 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.
Due to the defective hitch due to the hitch's failure, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles, before colliding into them head-on. This led to numerous deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck that was involved in this accident was convicted of vehicular manslaughter. However experts say he could have prevented the collision with other vehicles if he had performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were tight. Faulty trailer hitsches can cause major disasters, as they typically require a significant amount of speed and may wipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In such cases the trailer can deform the frame of a vehicle and force sharp metal pieces to strike the passengers inside.