Semi Truck Accident Law
A serious injury sustained during collision with
semi truck accident attorney-trucks can cost a person in medical expenses. It can also cause permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
After a collision is essential to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A qualified attorney will help you prove your case using evidence like police reports, surveillance footage, etc.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and trucking companies often do not take the proper steps to ensure their vehicles are in good working order. This leads to many avoidable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport because of their larger dimensions and larger weight. Unfortunately the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximizing profits often take precedence over the maintenance of a fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical problems that could cause devastating accidents.
The brakes on trucks are especially important because they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at a moment's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or return lines on a truck are worn out and become damaged, it can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries. These components should be regularly inspected and repaired when necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
Tires that are not properly maintained can also contribute to truck accidents. Tires that are worn out may lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even flip over. Tires that are defective, whether it's due to improper tread design or air pressure may fail catastrophically.
Trucks need routine inspections in addition to regular maintenance to identify mechanical issues prior to causing an incident. However, if the inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop fails to adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines it could lead to an accident. In such cases the company that employed or supervised the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
Faulty lights, signals and reflectors are another common reason for truck accidents. These devices must be correctly working to enable drivers to see their truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or at night. Drivers and trucking companies could fail to maintain and inspect these elements, or they may not carry out regular safety checks.
A reputable Houston
semi truck accidents accident lawyer will investigate your case to determine who could be accountable for your injuries after you've been injured during an accident caused by a poorly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence that proves the negligence of the defendant in the accident and help you recover the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
There are few things more devastating than an incident that involves a commercial truck. These huge vehicles can weigh as much as 25-times more than your car and cause much worse injuries when involved in an accident. While a variety of factors can contribute to accidents and injuries, distracted driving is one of the most prevalent and risky. A driver who is distracted could lose control of the vehicle or miss an opportunity to avoid a road accident, which can lead to serious and life-altering injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and rules for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and using mobile phones while operating their vehicles. But even if truckers obey the rules they may still be distracted and cause crashes. This could be the result of manual distractions, such as taking a hand off the steering wheel or mental distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving is risky, but not many know that other activities, such as eating, changing radio stations, or chatting with passengers, are also considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they may wander off into another lane, or miss an obstruction in front of them. When a truck driver's eye is diverted, it takes only an instant for a large vehicle to crash into a passenger car.
It is essential to collect information about any witnesses and to take photographs of the scene after an accident if a distracted driver causes a crash of a truck. It is also helpful to determine the name of the driver who is driving the truck and the company they are employed by, as as who owns the truck if it is an independent contractor. This can affect who is accountable for your accident as the trucking company is responsible for securing skilled and competent truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partially responsible for your accident, they could be held accountable for your financial and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and can cause serious injuries. These accidents can happen in a variety of circumstances such as a stop sign or red light when the trucker is not checking the road ahead for oncoming traffic. They may also occur when a car crashes into front of the truck, which forces the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker might then slam into the car from behind.
It can be difficult to establish fault when there's rear-end collisions, as it's not always evident which vehicle was responsible. An experienced attorney can gather evidence to show that the driver in the back caused the accident due to following too closely or driving distracted. The evidence can include photographs as well as police reports and eyewitness testimony, aswell as skid marks in the road.
The driver in the front of the car could be held accountable for the accident. This can happen if they cut someone off or fail to make use of a turn signal, as would any reasonable person. This is where modified comparative negligence laws be used, in which the jury determines a percentage of the fault to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.
Bruises & Lacerations
In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the area that experiences the most force. This means that the people in the car are at risk of serious injuries if they crash their heads against the dashboard or the back window. They may also break bones due to being torn around inside the vehicle by the force of the collision. The spine is a vulnerable area and injuries to it can be extremely severe. The spinal cord contains a lot of nerves that control the body, so any injury to the spinal column can cause permanent and significant problems for victims.
A person who is the victim of a serious accident could also be suffering from psychological and emotional trauma. They may experience difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can result in anxiety and depression. If they're unable to work due to the severity of their injury, it can create stress and financial burden. An attorney will investigate the possible causes of liability to ensure that the victim receives an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.
Problematic Trailer Hitches
Regardless of whether you're driving either a car, van, a truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer becomes unhitched, it could result in catastrophic accidents that result in serious injuries or death. If you've been injured in an accident involving an unhitched trailer, call an experienced vehicle accident lawyer that specializes in cases of failure of the hitch immediately to discuss your legal options.
A damaged trailer hitch could result from a variety factors, ranging from inadequate security to design flaws.