Semi Truck Accident Law
A semi-truck accident can cause an injury that is serious enough to cost the victim a significant amount in medical bills. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following glendale semi truck accident attorney , it is essential to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A skilled lawyer can to prove your case using evidence like police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often do not take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good repair. This can lead to a large percentage of accidents that could have been avoided every year.
As compared to passenger cars tractor-trailers and semis will require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavy loads. Unfortunately, meeting deadlines and maximising profits often take precedence over maintaining a fleet. This is why trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that can lead to devastating accidents.
The brakes of trucks are crucial as they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck get worn out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. These parts must be regularly inspected and repaired as necessary to maintain their good condition.
A poorly maintained tire can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out could lose traction, causing the truck to flip over or skid. Tires that are defective or damaged, whether due to improper tread design or air pressure may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks must undergo regular inspections to identify mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. If an inspection is conducted in a way that is not correct or if the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's recommendations it could lead to an accident. In these situations the company that employed or oversees the maintenance or repair shop could be held responsible.
Another cause of truck accidents is malfunctioning lights, signals and reflectors. These elements must be properly working to enable drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. Trucking companies or drivers could fail to maintain and inspect these components, or they might not conduct regular safety inspections.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer can analyze your case to determine who is accountable for your damages if you were injured in an accident caused by a faulty maintenance of a commercial truck. Investigating your case can uncover evidence to prove the defendant's negligence in the accident and help you recover the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There are few things more devastating than an accident with a commercial truck. These massive trucks can weigh up to 25 times more than your car and can cause more severe injuries in an accident. Distracted driving is among the many causes of accidents. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an issue on the road, leading to severe and life-changing injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting or using cell phones while driving. Even if truckers adhere to the rules, they are still prone to be distracted and cause an accident. This can be caused by manual distractions such as taking your hand off the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but they are not aware that other activities, such as eating or changing radio stations or conversing with passengers could also be considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they could drift into another lane or not be able to see a traffic jam in front of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a large truck to collide with a vehicle when the driver's attention is diverted.
If a truck crash occurs due to distracted driving it is vital to capture photos of the crash scene and gather the name and contact details of witnesses. It is also important to know the name of the truck driver as well as the company they are employed by, as in determining who owns the truck if they are an independent contractor. This could influence on who is responsible for the accident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking firm to recruit competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found to be partially responsible for the accident, it could be held accountable to you for economic and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are quite common and can result in serious injuries. These accidents can happen in a variety of situations such as at an intersection or at a red light when the trucker doesn't check the road ahead for oncoming traffic. They can also occur when a car is able to cut in front of the truck, causing the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker could then hit the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove the cause of rear-end collisions, since it is not always obvious which vehicle caused the crash. However, a skilled lawyer can assist in gathering evidence to show that the driver at the rear was responsible for the crash by following too closely or distracted driving. The evidence can include photographs as well as police reports and eyewitness testimony, as well as skid marks in the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be accountable for the collision. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to use their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or put on the brakes at the last moment, causing the driver behind to crash into the vehicle directly in the front. In this kind of situation modified comparative negligence laws may be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each party. The damages are then reduced according to.
Bruises & Lacerations
The rear of the vehicle has the greatest impact in a rear-end collision so occupants are more likely to suffer serious injuries as they smash their head against the dashboard or back window. They could also break bones due to being scattered around the interior of the car as a result of the force of the collision. Spinal injuries can be serious. The spinal cord contains many nerves that control the body, therefore any injury to the spinal cord could cause serious and lasting issues for those affected.
A person who is a victim of a fatal accident may also suffer from emotional and psychological trauma. They may experience difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could cause depression and anxiety. If they are unable to work due to the degree of their injury this could cause stress and financial burden. An attorney can investigate all possible causes of liability and help a victim seek fair compensation for their losses.
Problematic trailer hitches
All vehicles, regardless of whether they are a vehicle, a car, van, truck flatbed, van, or must be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer goes unhitched, it can lead to catastrophic accidents that result in serious injuries or death. If you've been injured by the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced vehicle accident lawyer with a specialization in cases of hitch failure as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
The reason behind a defective trailer hitch can be a variety of things such as inadequate securing or defective design. It can also be the result of a defect in the manufacturing process and, in this case, laws governing product liability could apply. The company or individual accountable for a defective trailer is liable for the victims' medical expenses along with auto repair expenses and other losses resulting from the incident.
For instance, in a deadly crash that occurred in January 2014 along an Ohio road referred to locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck and crashed head-on into two cars behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the truck driver’s negligence for not inspecting and secure the hitch. In June 2015, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch the Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason for the crash.
Due to the defective hitch caused by the defective hitch, the trailer smashed into the sides of the vehicles, before colliding into them head-on. This resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver in the incident was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However, experts say he could have avoided the collision had he conducted a thorough inspection of his trailer to make sure that all connections were secure. Faulty trailer hitsches can cause serious accidents, since these incidents often require a significant amount of speed, and they can cause a collision with smaller vehicles or motorcycles. In such cases, the trailer can distort the car's frame, and cause sharp metal pieces to impale passengers inside.