18 Wheeler Attorneys
18-wheeler trucks are huge vehicles that pose a serious hazard to other drivers on the road. Sadly, they are frequently involved in serious accidents that result in fatal injuries or even death.
The first step towards recovering the financial damages incurred in an 18-wheeler accident is to employ a personal injury attorney. A qualified legal team will help you build solid evidence like:
Fatigue
Fatigued truck drivers are the reason for a large portion of 18 wheeler collisions. These wrecks are almost always catastrophic and result in catastrophic injuries and even fatalities. Additionally when truck drivers are fatigued they are more likely to take risks and disregard federal regulations. This could include speeding, the use of stimulants to combat fatigue, and inattention.
Federal law prohibits commercial vehicles from driving when you are sleepy. However, untrustworthy transportation companies make excessive demands of their truck drivers and force them to take breaks in between and alter logbooks. Being tired while driving can be dangerous for all motorists.
Fatigue in truck drivers can result from a poor diet and irregular schedules. These individuals may be tempted to consume fast food at gas stations or convenience stores, which are usually high in simple carbohydrates and fats which can make truck drivers feel fatigued. Furthermore, many of these individuals have irregular sleeping patterns that can make it difficult to get enough rest. A Gretna, LA 18 wheeler lawyer can help you determine whether the fatigue of truck drivers was an element in your crash.
Maintenance Issues
Truck drivers must meet certain requirements to drive commercial trucks, and businesses and drivers must abide by strict Federal regulations regarding hours of service, safety inspections, and maintenance. However, when these rules are ignored, or when companies make a sloppy effort to maintain their vehicles to save money, they place everyone riding on the road at risk.
Large truck accidents could involve hazardous and toxic cargo. This includes hazardous substances like flammable, explosive, or radiological items. These chemicals are transported all over America's highways. Hazmat drivers have to undergo special training in order to safely load and unload their loads. But if they do not follow the correct procedure or are not able to handle the truck in harsh weather conditions, they may cause serious and fatal accidents.
Due due to their size as well as the huge blind spots, 18-wheelers take longer to slow down or stop when compared to conventional vehicles. Other motorists may be injured or even killed if they fail to leave enough room or if their brakes fail. To ensure the safety of these vehicles, all light sources including headlights and taillights, turn signals and emergency flashers should be working properly.
Weight Excess
Trucks must abide by specific weight limits. When an 18-wheeler has been properly loaded with the correct weight, it will not exceed 80,000 pounds. Due to inattention or the desire to make more money, some companies might violate these rules by allowing their trucks to be overloaded. This is a major risk to the safety of everyone driving and could result in serious accidents in the case of a collision.
A truck that is loaded will require more space to stop than smaller vehicles. This can create blind spots that are unsafe for smaller vehicles. Unexperienced drivers might have trouble being able to see out of these areas, especially when the truck is making a turn or changing lanes.
Based on the circumstances, there may be other responsible parties, in addition to the truck driver or the trucking company. It could be mechanics who improperly inspect or service trucks, loading crews who aren't able to properly secure cargo and shipping or transport firms that pressure drivers to meet deadlines. An experienced lawyer who is skilled in 18 wheeler accidents will be able to determine the parties responsible and investigate their actions. claim damages on behalf of accident victims.
Defective Design
When a huge truck is involved in an accident, the injuries could be devastating. This is due to the immense weight of these trucks, but it also can result from a variety of other factors, such as malfunctioning parts or mechanical issues.
The brakes and tires may fail in 18-wheeler collisions. But there are also other issues. Unloading cargo in the wrong manner can increase the chance of the truck crashing into or colliding into other vehicles. If 18 wheeler accident attorney pembroke pines aren't addressed by the trucking company or maintenance service providers, they can cause fatal accidents.
Our team is experienced in prosecuting commercial and truck cases involving defective parts. We are also skilled working with design engineers in establishing negligence. We are dedicated to helping our clients get the compensation they are entitled to. We also fight for justice in instances where negligent trucking companies encourage their drivers to drive dangerously while ignoring safety rules or trying to meet unrealistic deadlines.
Negligence
Truck accident litigation is a complex legal process because it involves the concepts of a variety of fields, including chemistry, physics, federal trucking regulations, medical, biology driving standards, and economics. It is essential that the victim of a crash seeks the advice of an experienced lawyer. A lawyer can assist the victim of a truck accident receive a fair settlement, without having to pay upfront cash.
The lawyer can also handle the insurance companies and at-fault parties that may be tempted to take advantage of the truck accident victim. The lawyer can also help victims of a collision to file a claim in compliance with New York laws and federal laws.
After a car crash the attorney should act swiftly to gather evidence, including photographs and videos of the crash scene and damage to vehicles and structures involved in accident. The attorney should also speak with witnesses, and examine the black box on the truck. The lawyer should also review the records of the trucking company as well as driver logbooks and other documents that demonstrate negligence. The attorney must also determine the kinds of damages that are recoverable. This includes both financial losses (medical costs and repair costs for property) as well as non-financial losses (pain and mental discomfort, and loss of enjoyment in life).