10 Things Everyone Hates About 18-Wheeler Wreck Lawyer
Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?
Many car accidents occur and result in physical injuries, medical bills and time lost from work. If an 18-wheeler is involved, the consequences can be more severe.
Victims are able to make a claim and receive an amount of money if they suffer. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can assist.
Weight Limits
18-wheelers can carry up to 80,000 pounds including the volume and weight of cargo. This is a strict restriction that requires trucking companies to fill their vehicles as full as possible and could result in overloading. Truck drivers who exceed this limit may be penalized, and the penalties differ based on where they live.
You can generally tell if an 18-wheeler is going over the limit by observing their lights. If their blinkers flash one time it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and flashes with multiple flashes aren't. Be alert for truck drivers who also use their lights as a way to communicate with each other.
Always leave a good distance between your vehicle and an 18-wheeler. This is particularly important when passing. Trucks require plenty of room to slow down and stop and if you cut them off, it could lead to fatal crashes. Car drivers are at fault for 72 percent of all collisions between vehicles and trucks.
Number of Axles
Semi-trucks, unlike cars, require multiple axles in order to rotate the wheels. The typical truck has four axles, which includes the steer and drive axles, whereas trailers typically have two tandem axles. It's important to remember that these vehicles are much bigger than the average passenger car.
The weight limits for axles are based on a variety of factors, such as the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits posted by each state for single axles and axle groups. The state limit can often be higher than the Federal limit, which makes it essential for truckers to know the federal and state axle weight limits prior to traveling.
The process of transporting freight is enough to be difficult, but adding extra weight increases the chance of an accident. A trucker who overloads his truck is in violation of the law and may be held responsible for any injuries resulting from. If you've been injured as a result of an accident caused by an 18 wheeler an attorney for truck accidents can determine if the driver was carrying more than the maximum weight allowed, and if that negligence was the reason for your injuries.
Speed Limits
Every driver knows that speeding is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. This is particularly relevant for large trucks due to their weight, size and weight. Truckers must therefore observe the speed limits on every road they travel on.
However truck drivers are often pressured to make quick deliveries, and they may not be able to slow down enough for the conditions. This can lead to risky driving, and could also be fatal for other motorists.
Speed limiters can lower the chance of accidents. This device automatically restricts the speed of a vehicle to a level that is safe. 18 wheeler accident case colorado can be fitted on various types of vehicles.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering an updated rule that would require truckers to utilize these devices. The agency has released an additional announcement of proposed rulemaking to collect feedback on the proposed rule. Previous proposals have talked about restricting truck speeds to 60 to 65 or speeds of 68 speed.
Insurance
The majority of private car owners purchase one insurance policy to cover all their vehicles. Truckers, on the other hand don't own the truck they drive. They lease their 18-wheelers from a trucking company. Because of the higher risk associated with commercial vehicles, trucking companies usually require higher liability insurance limits. They can also purchase cargo and bobtail insurance for their vehicles. Cargo insurance is a way to protect the cargo that semi-trucks are hauling. Bobtail insurance protects the truck once it has delivered its load. These policies will pay compensation to victims and grieving family members in the event of an accident.
Maintenance
It is often difficult to estimate the maintenance costs of commercial vehicles. This is because trucks are expensive to repair and maintain particularly when they require major repairs. However some trucking companies offer maintenance schedules that provide an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle.
Trucks typically have ten brakes, not eighteen and anti-lock brakes are common in new trucks. In general, trucks take 40 percent longer than a typical car to stop. This is due in part to the large size of an 18-wheeler and its acceleration increase the stopping distance.
The term "eighteen wheeler" has become synonymous with trucking. It's included in songs of country music, such as the Red Sovine titles "Giddyup Go" and "Teddy Bear" and thrash metal band BigRig's song "Roll on". However, it's important to keep in mind that these trucks are not at home on the road, and they must obey the same rules as all other drivers. It is against the law to permit truckers, for instance, to text while driving. One second of negligence could result in disastrous consequences.