What Is 18 Wheeler Law?

18 wheeler law covers accidents that involve commercial truck drivers and their rigs. These massive vehicles must comply with strict federal guidelines for maintenance as well as safety and training.

Unfortunately, trucking companies frequently press their drivers to complete longer hours and alter log books. This can lead accidents with trucks that are catastrophic.

Weight Regulations

It is important to understand the weight limits for semi trucks. Most states have both single axle and group axle weight limits that must be adhered to. It is commonplace to see weigh stations along interstates where truck drivers are weighed to ensure that they do not exceed maximum limits of their vehicle and load. If a truck driver is caught violating these limitations they could be fined or even imprisoned based on the state of their residence and criminal record.

Axle groups are granted a higher limit as distributing the weight across multiple axles makes the vehicle more secure and allows for more cargo to be transported. For example a single tire on an axle can be weighed at 650lbs per inch of wheel diameter but when there are 2 tires on the same axle, it can be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire.

There are restrictions on the kind of trailers that can be used in conjunction with the tractor. Certain states only permit one trailer while others only allow triple or twin trailers. Some states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer, which is a plate that is placed over the drive wheels, and connects (hooks up) the trailer to the tractor unit. Both day cab tractors and sleeper cabs are offered. They both come with a sleeping area in the tractor unit.

Lane Restrictions

Truck drivers must abide by traffic rules and speed limits in addition to the lane limitations. Trucks cannot operate at the same speed as cars for passengers. If they do, accidents could occur. In a lot of cases, it's the driver of the truck who is at fault. This is because truck drivers may be driving for longer than is permitted, break hours-of-service rules, or get sleepy or distracted behind the driving.

Another important lane restriction is that truck drivers are not allowed to drive in the left right lane. Trucks are slower to brake than passenger cars. This can be a serious problem, particularly for those who drive smaller vehicles and may be stuck behind a truck when it stops abruptly or slows down.

Some states limit the use of lanes in certain circumstances, while others restrict it for big trucks. In some instances these laws are dependent on weight and axel limits, whereas in other they may be based on vehicle description or directions.

Even if there's no law that is statewide that you can follow, you should be aware of local rules about the lane restrictions and adhere to them. It is also recommended to move to the left when you see trucks blocking the lane.

Ownership

Trucking and 18 wheeler companies have huge resources available to force victims of accidents into accepting less than they deserve. They have teams of insurance adjusters, lawyers, engineers, and experts that work for their clients even before they know whether an accident victim will pursue legal recourse.

Because they carry huge loads and are so much larger than passenger vehicles, bartlesville 18 Wheeler Accident law firm wheelers can cause severe injuries and massive property damage when they are involved in accidents. This is especially the case when they collide with other motor vehicles. It is important to have experienced lawyers fight for your rights and recovery against these large, powerful corporations.

Accidents involving large vehicles require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics and biology, chemistry, federal regulations for trucking and medical practices, driving regulations and other related fields. Our lawyers can uncover any violations of these laws, and present to the jury the circumstances that led to your accident.

Multiple parties could be accountable for monterey park 18 wheeler accident attorney-wheeler truck crashes. Our NY rockville 18 wheeler accident attorney-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties at fault and ensure that they are held accountable for your present and future expenses. This includes trucking companies, owners as well as maintenance contractors and even drivers themselves. Our team will also study weather conditions that may have played a part in your accident.

Insurance

Trucking companies can send large teams of lawyers, adjusters engineers, and experts quickly. They start this process even before they know whether you'll need legal recourse. It is important to retain an attorney who can match their resources and helping them decrease in size.

A lawyer with expertise in handling 18-wheeler accidents can relieve you of the burden and assist you in getting the compensation you're entitled to. This can be used to cover expenses such as high medical bills or vehicle damage, the loss of earnings due to a lack of work, as well as non-economic injuries like pain and suffering.

18-wheelers are complex vehicles which require sophisticated, systematic maintenance to ensure they remain on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and maintain detailed records could lead to disastrous accidents.

Tractor-trailers often are used to transport hazardous materials which require special training and licenses. These materials may be explosive or flammable or radiological, as well as poisonous. They all pose a serious risk to other motorists on American highways. A fatal accident could occur if the load was not properly labeled and secured.

A qualified 18-wheeler crash attorney can pinpoint the exact cause of the accident and pinpoint any individuals responsible. This could include the truck driver or the trucking company the owner of the trailer, and the manufacturer of the truck or its components. This is referred to as vicarious obligation.