Five Killer Quora Answers On Semi Truck Lawsuit
Semi Truck Accident Law
A severe injury sustained in an accident with a semi truck accident law firm truck can bury the victim with medical costs. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
It is essential to have a qualified New York truck accident lawyer at your side following an accident. A qualified lawyer will help you prove your case by using evidence like police reports or surveillance footage, for instance.
Vehicles that are poorly maintained
In many cases trucking companies as well as owner-operators do not take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good condition. This leads to many preventable accidents each year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers because of their larger size and heavier load. Unfortunately the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits is often more important than maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks can become prone to mechanical breakdowns that can could cause devastating accidents.
The brakes on trucks are of particular importance because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. When a truck's brake pads, lines, or return springs wear out they can result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. These components should be checked regularly and repaired as needed to ensure their good condition.
A poorly maintained tire can also be a major contributor to truck accidents. Tires that are worn down may lose traction and cause the truck to roll over or skid. Tires that aren't working because of incorrect tread design or air pressure may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks also require regular inspections to identify mechanical issues before they can cause an accident. If an inspection is performed improperly or the repair shop fails to adhere to the manufacturer's specifications, it can cause an accident. In these situations, a company that employed the repair or maintenance company or who was responsible for its supervision could be held accountable.
Another cause of truck accidents is the failure of signals, lights and reflectors. These devices must be correctly functioning to allow drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, particularly in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers could not maintain and inspect these components, or they may not be able to conduct daily safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident attorney will investigate your case and determine who could be responsible for your damages in the event that you were injured by a poorly maintained commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence of negligence by the defendant and help you obtain the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There are few things more damaging than an accident which involves a commercial vehicle. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and can cause a lot more injuries if they are involved in a collision. Distracted driving is one of many causes of accidents. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice an accident on the road, which can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition against texting or using cell phones while driving. However, even when truckers obey the rules they are still prone to be distracted and cause crash. This could be due to mechanical distractions like getting your hands 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, like eating, changing radio stations, or chatting with passengers, could also be considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted they may wander off into a different lane and fail to notice the traffic jam ahead. When a truck driver's eye is diverted, it's only a split-second for a large vehicle to strike a passenger car.
It is important to collect details on any witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the crash when a distracted driver causes a truck crash. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the business for which they work and who owns the vehicle, if it's an independent contractor. This can have an effect on who is accountable for the accident, because it is the responsibility of the trucking company to recruit competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found partially responsible for your accident, it may be held accountable to you for financial and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are common and can cause serious injuries. They can happen in a variety of situations like at an intersection, a stop signal when the trucker fails to check their surroundings for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. It could also happen when an automobile crosses the truck's path, which forces the driver of the truck to brake suddenly and 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 what vehicle caused the accident. A skilled attorney can help gather evidence to show that the driver in the back caused the accident by following too closely or driving with a distraction. This can include evidence such as photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony and skid marks on the roadway.
Sometimes, the driver in the front might be responsible for the accident as well. This can happen when they cut off someone else, fail to use their turn signal as any reasonable person would, or slam on the brakes in the last second and causing the driver behind to crash into the car directly in the front of them. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws can be in play, where the jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party, and damages are reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the one that suffers the most force. This means that people in the car are at risk of serious injuries if they crash their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the interior of the vehicle. Spinal injuries can be severe. The damage to the spine could have serious and long-lasting effects on victims.
In addition to these types of injuries, a victim may suffer from psychological and emotional trauma as a result of being involved in a devastating crash. They may have difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could lead them to depression and anxiety. They may also experience stress and financial strain when they cannot work because of an injury. An attorney can examine all possible causes of liability and semi truck accidents help a victim seek fair compensation for their expenses.
Faulty 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. If a trailer becomes unhitched, it can cause catastrophic accidents that result in serious injuries or death. If you've been injured in a vehicle accident caused by a truck that has run away, contact an experienced attorney who is skilled in cases involving the failure of a hitch to discuss your legal options.
The reason behind a defective trailer hitch can be caused by a variety which can range from inadequate securement or design. It could be caused by an error on the part of the manufacturer, in which case the product liability law could be applicable. The person or company at the fault for a trailer that is defective is responsible for medical bills of victims and auto repair expenses, and other losses arising from the incident.
For instance in a fatal crash that was reported in January 2014 on an Ohio road known locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came off the truck, and was thrown through the air into two cars that were behind it. The initial investigation attributed the crash to the truck driver's inattention to inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch, an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason for the crash.
The trailer slammed into the side of the vehicles, and then crashed into them. 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 say that he could've avoided the crash by conducting an in-depth inspection of his trailer to make sure that all connections were secure. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These incidents are often high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In these instances, the trailer can distort the car's frame and push the metal to strike the passengers inside.