Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury sustained during the crash of a semi-truck can leave an individual in medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term physical therapy.
Following grand rapids semi truck accident lawyer , it is essential to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A professional lawyer can help you prove your case using evidence like police reports and surveillance footage, among others.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In many instances trucking firms and owner-operators fail to take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good condition. This leads to an astronomical number of preventable accidents occurring every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their size and heavier load. Unfortunately the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits often over maintaining the fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical issues that could cause catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on a truck are particularly important because they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. When brake pads, lines or return springs on a truck wear out and break, it could lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these components are regularly inspected and replaced as necessary to ensure they are in good condition.
Poor-maintained tires can also be a major contributor to truck accidents. Tires that are worn-out may lose traction and cause the truck to rollover or skid. Tires that are defective because of an insufficient air pressure or tread design could fail catastrophically.
Trucks need routine inspections in addition to regular maintenance to identify mechanical issues before they lead to an incident. If an inspection is conducted improperly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's guidelines this could result in an accident. In these instances the company that hired or supervised the maintenance or repair shop could be held responsible.
Another major cause of truck accidents is the failure of signals, lights and reflectors. These items must function properly so that drivers can be aware of and anticipate the truck's movements, especially when driving in rural areas or at night. Trucking companies or drivers may fail to maintain and check these equipment, or may not be able to conduct daily safety checks.
A reliable Houston truck accident lawyer will examine your case to identify who might be accountable for your injuries when you've been injured in an accident involving a badly maintained commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence of negligence by the defendant and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating. These massive vehicles can weigh up 25 times more than your vehicle and cause far more injuries in an accident. Distracted driving is just one of the many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle or fail to spot an issue on the road, which can lead to life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers are required to adhere to strict rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a prohibition on texting and using cell phones while driving. Even if truckers follow the rules, they could be distracted and result in an accident. This can be the result of manual distractions, such as taking their hands off the wheel, or cognitive distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
While most people are aware that it's dangerous to text while driving, a few are aware that other activities like eating or changing the station on the radio, and even conversing with passengers can be considered to be distracting. When the trucker is distracted, they may wander off into a different lane and fail to notice a traffic jam ahead. When a truck driver's eye is diverted, it takes only a split-second for a large vehicle to collide with a car.
It is essential to collect details about witnesses and take photos of the scene after an accident if a distracted driver causes an accident with a truck. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the company that they work for, and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This will affect who is liable for your accident, as the trucking company is responsible for hiring skilled and competent truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found to be partially responsible for your accident, they could be liable to you for both economic and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can cause serious injuries. They can occur in a variety settings, such as at a red light or stop sign when the trucker fails to check their surroundings for oncoming traffic. They may also occur when a car comes in front of the truck, causing the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to prove the cause of rear-end collisions, since it is not always obvious which vehicle caused the crash. An experienced attorney can help gather evidence that proves that the driver in the rear caused the crash because they followed 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.
Sometimes, the driver in the front could be found to be responsible for the accident also. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail to utilize their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or slam on the brakes at the last minute, causing the driver in the back to crash into the vehicle directly in the front. In this kind of situation, modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each of the parties. The damages are then reduced accordingly.
Bruises and Lacerations
The rear of the vehicle experiences the most impact 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 are thrown about the interior of the vehicle. The injuries to the spine can be severe. Spinal injuries can have long-lasting and serious impacts on the victims.
A person who is the victim of a serious accident may also experience psychological and emotional trauma. They may have difficulty in concentrating or sleeping, which could cause depression and anxiety. They may also face stress and financial strain in the event that they are unable to work due to an injury. An attorney can investigate any possible liability sources and help the victim seek an appropriate amount of compensation for their losses.
Faulty Trailer Hitches
It doesn't matter if you're driving a car, a truck, a van, or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely connected to their trailers. When a trailer becomes unexpectedly unhitched, it can cause a catastrophic accident that could result in severe injuries or even death. If you've been injured in a collision involving an unhitched trailer, call a qualified vehicle accident attorney that specializes in cases of failure of the hitch promptly to discuss your legal options.
The reason behind a defective trailer hitch could be due to a variety of factors, ranging from improper security or design. It could be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer, in which case, product liability laws could apply. The company or the person who is at the fault for a defective trailer is responsible for victims' medical bills as well as auto repair costs as well as other losses that result from the incident.
In an accident that killed a person on a highway in Ohio known as "Devil's Backbone" in January 2014 the trailer slid off of the truck. It crashed into two cars directly behind it. Initial investigations suggested that the crash was due to the driver's negligence for failing to inspect and secure hitch. However, in June 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch at the center of the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama -- to malfunction on a high percentage of occasions.
The trailer hit 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 driver of the truck involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular homicide, but experts say he could have avoided the crash if he'd performed a thorough inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were in good order. The failure of trailer hitches can cause major accidents. These incidents are often fast and can easily smack motorcycles or smaller cars. In these cases the trailer could deform the car's frame and create sharp metal fragments to impale any passengers.