So , You've Bought Semi Truck Lawsuit ... Now What?
Semi Truck Accident Law A semi-truck crash can result in serious injuries that could cost a person a fortune in medical expenses. It can also cause permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy. After a crash, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A professional lawyer can help you prove your case using evidence such as police reports and surveillance footage. Poorly maintained vehicles In a majority of cases trucking companies and owner-operators fail to take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good condition. This negligence leads to many accidents that could have been avoided every year. Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers because of their larger size and heavier weight. However the pressure of completing deadlines and maximizing profits often takes precedence over maintaining the fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical issues that could cause devastating accidents. The brakes on trucks are especially important because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at a moment's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs, or lines on a truck wear out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital to have these parts regularly inspected and replaced when needed to keep them in good working order. Tires that aren't well maintained can contribute to truck accidents. Tires that are worn-out can lose traction and cause the truck to roll over or skid. If a tire is not properly designed in any way, such as having the incorrect air pressure or tread design, it may fail catastrophically. In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's recommendations it could cause a crash. In these instances the company that hired or supervising the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable. Faulty lights, signals and reflectors are another frequent cause of truck accident. These components must function properly to enable drivers to observe and anticipate the movement of the truck especially in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies may not inspect and maintain these equipments or the driver might not be able to complete daily safety inspections. A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer will review your case and determine who is liable for your damages when you've been injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence of the defendant's negligence and help you receive the compensation you're due. Distracted laredo semi truck accident lawsuit There aren't many events more devastating than an accident which involves a commercial vehicle. These huge vehicles can weigh up 25 times more than your car and cause a lot more injuries in a crash. While many factors cause accidents that result from distracted driving, it is one of the most common and dangerous. A distracted driver of a truck can lose control of the vehicle or fail to notice an opportunity to avoid a road accident, which can lead to serious and life-altering injuries. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition against texting or using mobile phones while driving. But even if truckers follow the rules, they may still be distracted and cause crashes. This can be the result of manual distractions like taking a hand off the wheel or cognitive distractions like thinking about something else other than driving. While most people understand the dangers of using text while driving, a few are aware that other activities like eating, changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with a passenger can also be considered distracting. If a truck driver is distracted, they may wander off into a different lane or miss an obstruction in front of them. When a trucker's attention is diverted, it takes only one second for a massive vehicle to hit a motorist car. When a truck collision is caused by distracted driving It is essential to take photos of the crash scene and gather the name and contact information of any witnesses. It is also helpful to find out the name of the driver who is driving the truck and the company they are employed by, as as who owns the truck, if it's an independent contractor. This can affect who is liable for your incident since the trucking company is responsible for securing skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partially responsible for your accident, they may be held responsible for your economic and non-economic injuries. Rear-End Collisions Rear-end collisions with trucks are not uncommon and can cause serious injuries. They can occur in a variety of situations, such as at a red light or stop sign when the trucker fails to check behind them for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. It can also happen when an automobile crosses the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to brake at a rapid pace without warning. The trucker could then smash the car from behind. It is often difficult to prove the cause of rear-end crashes, as it is not always obvious which vehicle caused the accident. An experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that proves that the driver behind caused the crash because they followed too closely or being distracted while driving. This can include evidence like photos, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the road. Sometimes the driver in front may be found to be liable for the accident also. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to obey their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or slam on the brakes in the last second and causing the driver in the back to slam into the car directly in the front of them. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws can be used, in which the jury assigns a percentage to each party, and damages are reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault. Bruises and Lacerations In a rear-end accident, the rear-end of the car is the one that suffers the most impact. This means that the drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the crash may also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the interior of the vehicle. Injuries to the spine can be particularly severe. Spinal injuries can have serious and long-lasting impacts on the victims. A person who has been involved in a serious accident might also suffer psychological and emotional trauma. They may experience difficulties getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can result in depression and anxiety. They may also face stress and financial strain when they are unable to work due to an injury. An attorney can look into possible causes of liability to ensure that the victim receives the right amount of compensation for their loss. The trailer is not working properly It doesn't matter if you're driving a car, a truck, a van or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it could cause catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident that involved the trailer that is running away, you should contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney that specializes in cases of failure of the hitch promptly to discuss your legal options. A damaged trailer hitch could be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate securement to a defective design. It could be caused by a defect on the part of the manufacturer in which case the product liability laws could apply. The person or company that is at responsible for the malfunction of a trailer can be held liable for medical bills of victims as well as auto repair costs and other damages resulting from the incident. In a fatal crash that occurred on a road in Ohio known as “Devil's Backbone” in January 2014, the trailer was detached from the truck. It crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. The initial investigation blamed the crash to the truck driver's inattention to examine and secure the hitch. However, in June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch at the center of the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama — to malfunction on a high proportion of occasions. Due to the malfunctioning hitch The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and then crashed into them head-on. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles. The truck driver in the accident was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However, experts believe that he could have avoided the collision if he'd performed a thorough inspection of his trailer to make sure that all connections were secure. The failure of a trailer's hitches can result in major disasters, as these types of incidents typically involve a lot of speed and may sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these situations, the trailer can distort the car's frame and push sharp metal pieces to crush passengers inside.