3 Reasons Your 18-Wheeler Wreck Lawyer Is Broken (And How To Repair It)

Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?

Many car accidents occur and cause physical injuries, medical bills and time lost from work. When an 18 wheeler is involved, it could be more serious.

Victims are able to make a claim for financial compensation if this happens. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can assist.

Weight Limits

18-wheelers can carry the maximum weight of 80,000 pounds including the weight and volume of cargo. This is a very tight restriction that requires trucking companies to pack their trucks as full as they can and could result in overloading. If a truck driver goes over this limit, they may face fines, which vary depending on the location.

18 wheeler accident law firm troy  can usually tell if an 18 wheeler is going over the limit by observing their lights. A single flash of their blinkers means that it's safe to merge in ahead of them, whereas flashes with multiple lights indicate that it's not. Truck drivers also use their lights to communicate, so keep watch for them when merging.

It is essential to leave a significant gap between your vehicle and an 18 wheeler especially when passing. Trucks require plenty of room to slow down and stop and if you cut them off and they are unable to stop, it could result in a fatal crash. While truck drivers are often thought of as bullies on road 72% of collisions between trucks and passenger cars result from car drivers.

Axles Axles

Semi-trucks, like cars, require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. A semi-truck typically has four wheels, which includes the drive and steer axles. Trailers typically come with two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a typical car, and it's important to keep this in mind when driving along with one of these vehicles.

The limits on axle weights are based on several factors that include the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limits set by each state. State limits may be higher than federal limits, therefore it is important for truckers to know both before traveling.

Moving standard freight shipments can be challenging enough but adding additional weight increases the risk of accidents. When a trucker overloads their trailer they are in breach of the law and may be held responsible for consequences of the injuries. A lawyer for truck accidents will determine if the driver of an 18-wheeler was at fault and the reason for the accident if you were injured.

Speed Limits

For any driver, speeding is one of the most frequent causes of truck accidents. This is particularly relevant for large trucks, which are much more likely to crash due to their weight and size. This is why it is vital for truckers to observe the speed limits for every road they travel.

However truck drivers are frequently pressured to make quick deliveries and may not be able slow down enough to accommodate the conditions. This can lead drivers to be reckless drivers, which could be fatal for other drivers.

Speed limiters can lower the chance of accidents. This is a device that will automatically restrict the speed of a vehicle to a safe limit that can be fitted in a variety of types of trucks.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering an amendment to the rulebook that will require truckers to use these devices. The agency has issued a supplemental notification of proposed rulemaking in order to get feedback on the rule. In previous proposals, it was suggested that truck speeds should be limited to 60 or 65 miles per hour.

Insurance

The majority of private owners purchase a single insurance policy to protect their vehicles. Truckers, on the other hand do not own the trucks they drive. They rent their 18-wheelers instead from a trucking firm. Companies that transport goods require greater limits of liability insurance since commercial vehicles are more risky. Additionally, they may purchase cargo and bobtail insurance for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo the semi is transporting while bobtail insurance protects the truck after it delivers its load. These policies will compensate victims and grieving family members in the event of an accident.

Maintenance

It's often difficult to get an accurate estimate of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is because commercial vehicles are expensive to repair and maintain, especially when they need major repairs. However some trucking firms offer maintenance schedules which provide an estimate of the total cost of maintaining the vehicle.

Trucks have ten brakes instead of 18 and anti-lock break breaks are nowadays standard on all new trucks. Trucks take approximately 40% longer to stop than cars. This is due to the massive dimension and speed of an 18-wheeler.

The term "eighteen-wheeler" is now synonymous with trucking. It's even been used in country music, such as the songs "Giddyup go" and "Teddy Bear", by Red Sovine, and "Roll on" by the thrash metal group BigRig. However, it's important to remember that these trucks aren't at home on the road and they are subject to the same rules as all other drivers. For instance, it's illegal for truckers to text while driving since a single second of negligence could have deadly consequences.