A semi truck accident lawyer-truck accident could cause an injury that is serious enough to cost a person a lot in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is vital to have a reputable New York truck accident lawyer on your side following an accident. A skilled lawyer can prove your case by using evidence such as police reports and surveillance camera footage and much more.
Vehicles that aren't maintained properly
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often do not take the proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good repair. This negligence results in many preventable accidents occurring every year.
In comparison to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavier loads. Unfortunately the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits often takes precedence over maintaining the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems which could result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on a truck have to be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a moments notice. If the brake pads of a truck lines, lines or return springs wear out they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is crucial that these parts are regularly checked and replaced as required to ensure that they remain in good condition.
Tires that aren't properly maintained may be a major factor in semi truck accident litigation accidents. Tires that are worn out can lose traction and cause the truck to roll over or slide. Tires that aren't working or damaged, whether due to inadequate air pressure or tread design may fail catastrophically.
Trucks need routine inspections in addition to regular maintenance to detect mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is performed improperly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's instructions this could result in an accident. In these situations, a company that commissioned the repair or maintenance company or supervised it could be held responsible.
Poorly functioning lights, signals and reflectors are also a frequent reason for truck accidents. These elements must be properly functioning to allow drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. However, trucking companies could not inspect and maintain these components or the driver might fail to perform daily safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident attorney will investigate your case and determine who might be accountable for Semi Truck accident law your losses in the event you were injured by a poorly maintained commercial semi truck accident lawsuit. Investigating your case can uncover evidence to prove the defendant's negligence in the accident and assist you get the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
The consequences of collisions with commercial trucks can be catastrophic. These huge vehicles can weigh up to 25 times more than your car and cause a lot more injuries in accidents. While a variety of factors can cause accidents that result from distracted driving, it is one of the most common and dangerous. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize the dangers on the roadway, which could lead to severe and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers must adhere to strict rules and regulations formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting or using mobile phones while driving. However, even when truckers follow the rules, they can still become distracted and cause crashes. 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 not many know that other activities, like eating or changing radio stations or chatting with passengers, can also be considered distracting. When a truck driver gets distracted, they may wander off into another lane, or miss a traffic jam 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.
If a truck crash occurs due to a distracted driver it is crucial to take photographs of the scene of the accident and note down the name and contact information of witnesses. It is important to know the name of the driver, the company that they work for and who is the owner of the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This can affect who is liable for your accident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be at least partially responsible for the accident, they may be held accountable for your financial and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are quite common and can cause serious injuries. These accidents can occur in a variety of situations, including at the stop sign or a an intersection when the trucker is not checking the road ahead for oncoming traffic. It could also happen when vehicles cross the truck's path, causing the driver of the truck to stop suddenly without warning. The trucker may then crash into the car from behind.
It can be hard to prove the fault of a driver in rear-end collisions, as it isn't always clear which vehicle was responsible. An experienced attorney can gather evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash by following too closely, or driving with a distraction. This evidence could include photos or police reports, eyewitness testimony, aswell as skid marks on the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be liable for the accident. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to obey their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or slam on the brakes at the very last minute and cause the driver behind to crash into the car directly in the front. In this scenario the modified comparative negligence laws may be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each party. Damages are then reduced according to.
Lacerations & Bruises
In a rear-end collision, the rear end of the vehicle is the one that suffers the most impact. This means that passengers are at risk of serious injuries if hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They may also break bones due to being bounced around the interior of the car as a result of the force of the crash. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it are often severe. Injuries to the spine can cause serious and lasting impacts on the victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, victims may suffer from psychological and emotional trauma from having been involved in a terrible crash. They may have difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating. This can result in anxiety and depression. They may also face financial hardship and stress if they are unable work due to an injury. An attorney will investigate the potential sources of liability to assist the victim to receive an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.
Problematic trailer hitches
Whatever vehicle you're driving, either a car, truck, a van or a flatbed, all cars need to be securely attached to their trailers. When a trailer becomes unexpectedly unhitched, it can result in catastrophic accidents that cause serious injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident involving the trailer that has run away, contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents with a specialization in cases of hitch failure as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch can be a variety of things such as inadequate securing or defective design. It could also be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer where case-by-case product liability laws could apply. The person or company that is at fault for a faulty trailer could be held accountable for medical bills of victims and auto repair costs and other losses related to the incident.
For example there was a fatal crash that was reported in January 2014 on an Ohio road referred to locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came out of the semi truck accident compensation and slid over two cars ahead of it. Initial investigations suggested that the crash was due to the truck driver's negligence for not inspecting and secure hitch. But in June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch in the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large proportion of occasions.
As a result of the faulty hitch The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles before crashing into them head-on. This led to multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck involved in the accident was convicted 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 they typically involve a large amount of speed and could easily sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these instances the trailer can deform a car's frame and force razor sharp metal fragments to impale passengers inside.
