Semi Truck Accident Law

A semi truck accident law firm-truck accident can cause a serious injury that can cost a person a lot in medical expenses. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.

Following a collision, it is essential to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney at your side. A qualified attorney can help establish your case through evidence like police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.

Poorly-Maintained Vehicles

Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicles are in good repair. This leads to a large percentage of accidents that could have been avoided every year.

In comparison to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis will require more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavier loads. However, the pressure to meet deadlines and maximize profits often over maintaining the fleet. In the end, trucks are more prone to mechanical malfunctions that can could cause devastating accidents.

The brakes of trucks are especially important because they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at an instant's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck get worn out they can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries. These parts should be checked regularly and repaired when necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.

Tires that aren't properly maintained can play a significant role in truck accidents. Worn tires can lose traction and cause the truck to skid or even roll over. Tires that are defective, whether it's due to an insufficient air pressure or tread design can fail catastrophically.

Trucks need routine inspections in addition to regular maintenance to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. If an inspection is done in a way that is not correct or accident if the repair shop does not adhere to the manufacturer's specifications this could result in an accident. In these situations the company that employed or oversees the maintenance or repair shop could be held accountable.

Another major cause of truck accidents is defective lights, signals and reflectors. These items must be properly functioning to allow drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas and after dark. Drivers or trucking companies may fail to maintain and inspect these items, or may not carry out regular safety checks.

A Houston truck accident lawyer can investigate your situation and determine who could be responsible for your damages in the event that you were injured by a deteriorated maintenance of a commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence of the defendant's negligence and help you get the compensation you're entitled to.

Distracted Drivers

There aren't many things that can be more devastating than an incident with a commercial truck. These massive vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your vehicle and may cause more serious injuries when they are involved in a collision. While a variety of factors can cause accidents but distracted driving is among of the most frequent and dangerous. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize the dangers on the road, which could lead to severe and life-changing 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. Even if truckers abide by the rules, they might still be distracted and cause an accident. This could be because of manual distractions like dropping a hand off of the wheel or accident cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving.

While most people are aware that it is risky to text and drive, many are aware that other activities such as eating, changing the station on the radio or conversing with passengers can be deemed as distracting. When a trucker is distracted it is possible that he will drift into a different direction and not notice the traffic jam in front of him. It takes only a split second for a huge truck to crash into a vehicle if the trucker's mind is diverted.

If a truck crash is caused by an unintentionally distracted driver it is crucial to capture photos of the scene of collision and note down the name and contact details of witnesses. It is crucial to know the name of the driver, the company that they work for and who owns the vehicle if it's an independent contractor. This can have an influence on who is responsible for the accident, as it is the responsibility of the trucking business to recruit competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible in the accident, it could be held accountable to you for any economic and non-economic damages.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions between trucks are quite common and can result in serious injuries. They can occur in a variety situations for example, at an intersection or stop sign, when the trucker fails to look behind them for traffic coming in. They can also happen when a car cuts in front of the truck, which forces the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker may then crash into the car from behind.

It can be difficult to prove fault when there is rear-end collisions as it isn't always clear who was at fault. An experienced attorney can collect evidence to prove that the driver in the back caused the accident because they followed too closely or driving erratically. This evidence could include photos or police reports, eyewitness testimony, aswell being skid marks on the road.

Sometimes the driver in front could be found to be liable for the accident also. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to utilize their turn signal in the manner that a reasonable person would, or slam on the brakes at the last moment which causes the driver in the back to crash into the car directly in the front. This kind of situation is where modified comparative negligence laws could come into play, where the jury assigns a percentage of blame to each party, and damages are reduced accordingly.

Lacerations, Bruises and Bruises

The rear end of the vehicle is the one that is most affected in a rear-end collision so occupants are more likely to suffer serious injuries when they hit their head against the back window or dashboard. They can also suffer broken bones as they are scattered around the interior of the car by the force of the crash. Spinal injuries can be serious. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that control the body. Therefore, any injury to the spinal cord could cause long-lasting and serious issues for those affected.

A person who has been involved in a serious accident may also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma. They may experience difficulties sleeping or concentrating which can cause anxiety and depression. They may also face stress and financial strain in the event that they are unable to work due to their injury. An attorney can research all possible causes of liability and assist the victim in seeking fair compensation for their losses.

Troublesome trailer hitches

All vehicles, whether they're a car or van, truck, flatbed, or van, need to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can cause a catastrophic accident that could result in severe injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident involving the trailer that is running away, you should contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney specializing in hitch failure cases promptly to discuss your legal options.

A defective trailer hitch could be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate securing to defective design. It could also be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer where case-by-case product liability laws may apply. The company or the person who is at responsible for the malfunction of a trailer can be held liable for medical bills of victims, auto repair costs, and other losses arising from the incident.

For example, in a deadly crash that occurred in January 2014 along an Ohio road locally known as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came free from the truck and crashed through the air into two cars that were behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the truck driver’s negligence for failing to inspect and secure the hitch. In June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash.

The trailer struck the side of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was numerous deaths and serious injuries for the drivers.

The driver of the truck that was involved in this accident was convicted of vehicular manslaughter. However, experts say he could have prevented the collision with other vehicles had he completed a thorough inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were in good order. Faulty trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These types of accidents are typically fast and can easily smack motorbikes or smaller vehicles. In these instances, the trailer can distort the car's frame and push steel fragments that are razor-sharp to sever the limbs of passengers in.