Semi Truck Accident Law
A severe injury sustained in an accident with a semi-truck can leave someone with medical costs. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
It is crucial to have a qualified New York truck accident lawyer by your side after a crash. A qualified attorney can help you prove your case with evidence like police reports or surveillance footage, for instance.
Vehicles that are not maintained properly
Owner-operators and trucking companies typically do not take the proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This can lead to an increase in the number of preventable accidents each year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport because of their larger dimensions and larger load. Unfortunately keeping deadlines and increasing profits can often take precedence over the maintenance of a fleet. This is why trucks are more prone to mechanical malfunctions that can lead to devastating accidents.
The brakes on trucks must be able to stop and slow down the vehicle at a moments notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck fail and break, it could lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is essential that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced when required to ensure that they remain in good condition.
Tires that aren't well maintained can also be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can cause the tires to lose traction and cause the truck to slide or even flip over. If a tire is not properly designed in any way, such as having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it could fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks need routine inspections to detect mechanical problems before they lead to an accident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or if the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's guidelines it could lead to a crash. In these situations, a company that commissioned the repair or maintenance shop or managed it may be held liable.
Another major cause of truck accidents is the failure of signals, lights, and reflectors. These devices must function properly in order for drivers to be able to observe and anticipate the movement of the truck, especially when driving in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies may neglect to inspect and maintain these elements or the driver might fail to conduct regular safety checks.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer will examine your case to determine which parties may be liable for your damages should you be injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. The investigation can uncover evidence that proves the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There aren't many things that can be more devastating than an incident that involves a commercial truck. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times more than your car and can cause more injuries when they are involved in collisions. Distracted driving is just one of the many factors that contribute to accidents. A truck driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize an issue on the road, leading to severe and life-changing injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition against texting or using cellular phones while driving. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they can be distracted and cause an accident. This can be caused by mechanical distractions like turning your back on the steering wheel or by cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.
Although harlingen semi truck accident law firm know that it is risky to text and drive, many realize that other activities such as eating, changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with a passenger could also be deemed to be distracting. If a trucker is distracted, they may wander off into a different track and not see an impending traffic jam. It takes only a split second for a large truck to collide with a vehicle when the trucker's attention wanders.
It is crucial to gather information on witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the crash when the driver is distracted and causes the truck to crash. It is crucial to know the name of the driver, the business for which they work, and who is the owner of the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This could have an impact on who's responsible for the accident, because it is the trucking company's responsibility to employ competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partially at fault for your accident, they may be held accountable for your financial and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are not uncommon and can result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety of situations like the stop or red light signal, where the trucker is unable to check behind them for oncoming traffic. They can also occur when a car crashes into front of the truck, which forces the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
It can be hard to establish fault when there's rear-end collisions as it isn't always clear which vehicle was responsible. An experienced lawyer can find evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the accident by following too closely, or driving in a distracted manner. This can include evidence such as photos, police reports eyewitness testimony, and skid marks in the road.
The driver in front of the car may also be held responsible for the collision. This can happen if they cut someone off or fail to make use of a turn signal, as would any other reasonable person would do. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws could be applied, in which the jury determines a percentage of the fault to each party, and damages are reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
The rear-end of the car is the one that is most affected in a rear-end collision, so occupants are more likely to suffer serious injuries from hitting their head against the back window or dashboard. The force of the crash can also cause broken bones if the occupants of the vehicle are thrown around the vehicle's interior. The injuries to the spine are often severe. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that control the body, therefore any injury to the spinal column could cause significant and permanent problems for victims.
A person who has been involved in a serious accident might also suffer emotional and psychological trauma. They may have trouble getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can result in anxiety and depression. If they're unable work due to the extent of their injury, this can add stress and financial hardship. An attorney can investigate all possible causes of liability and assist the victim in seeking fair compensation for their losses.
The trailer is not working properly
All vehicles, regardless of whether they are a car, a truck, van flatbed, van, or must be securely connected to their trailers. Unexpectedly unhitching a trailer can cause catastrophic accidents, leading to severe injuries, or even death. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a runaway truck get in touch with an experienced lawyer who is specialized in cases involving hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
The reason for a malfunctioning trailer hitch can be caused by a variety, ranging from improper securing or defective design. It can be the result of an issue with the manufacturer and in that case, products liability laws could apply. The company or the person responsible for a trailer that is defective is liable for the victims' medical expenses along with auto repair expenses and other losses resulting from the incident.
For example the fatal 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 was thrown directly into two cars in front of it. Initial investigations suggested that the crash was due to the truck driver's negligence for failing to inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a defect in the hitch that was an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
The trailer slammed into the side of the vehicles and crashed into them. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The driver of the truck that was involved in the incident was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. However, experts believe he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles if he had performed a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and made sure that all connections were secure. The failure of a trailer's hitches can result in major catastrophes, since these types of incidents typically require a significant amount of speed, and they can wipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In such instances the trailer could distort a car's frame and force the metal to impale passengers inside.