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What Is 18 Wheeler Law? 18 wheeler law regulates accidents which involve commercial truck drivers as well as their rigs. These huge vehicles must adhere to strict federal guidelines for maintenance security, safety, and training. Trucking companies often make their drivers to work longer and manipulate logbooks. This can lead to devastating trucking crashes. Weight Regulations It is important to understand the weight limitations for semi-trucks. Weight limits for single axles as well as group axles are determined by the majority of states. Weigh stations are commonplace along interstates, where truckers are weighed to ensure they do not exceed the maximum weight limits for their vehicle or load. If a trucker is found to be in violation of these restrictions, they could be fined or even jailed based on the location and criminal record. Axle groups are given an increased limit because spreading the weight across multiple axles makes the vehicle safer and allows for more cargo to be carried. For example one tire on an axle can only be weighed at 650 pounds per inch of wheel diameter. However, when there are 2 tires on that same axle it can be weighted at 1300 lbs per tire. There are restrictions on the kind of trailers that can be used in conjunction with a tractor. Some states only allow one trailer, while other states allow triple or twin trailers. A lot of states also require a fifth wheel on the trailer, which is a plate which sits above the drive wheels and couples (hooks up) the trailer to the tractor unit. There are day cabtractors as well as sleeper cabs that incorporate an area for sleeping inside the tractor unit. They are made for over-the-road hauling. Lane Restrictions In addition to the lane restrictions, truck drivers must also follow speed limits and traffic lights. Trucks are not able to drive at the same speed as passenger vehicles and when they do, they can cause accidents. In most instances, it's the truck driver who is responsible. Truck drivers might be driving longer than they are allowed to, breaking hours-of-service regulations or simply being distracted or sleepy behind the steering wheel. Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving in the left right lane. Trucks are slower to brake than cars for passenger use. This can be a serious issue, especially for those who drive smaller vehicles and may be stranded behind a truck if it slows or stops abruptly. There are states that specifically single out large trucks and prevent them from using the left lane, and others only restrict the use of the lane in specific situations. These laws could be based on weight or axel limits. In other cases they may be based solely on the vehicle description. Even if there's no statewide law, you should check local rules about lane restrictions and follow them. Also, you should move to the right if you see trucks passing in the lane to ensure that it does not hinder faster vehicles from overtaking you. Ownership The 18 wheeler and trucking companies have massive resources at their disposal to force accident victims into accepting far less than they should. They have teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters engineers, experts, and even engineers who work on their behalf even before they know whether the victim of an accident is going to seek legal relief. In accidents 18-wheelers can be blamed for a number of serious injuries and property damage due to the fact that they carry such hefty loads and are incredibly large when compared to passenger cars. This is especially the case when they are involved in collisions with other motor vehicles. It is crucial to have an attorney with experience fighting for your rights against these massive, powerful corporations. Accidents involving large vehicles require an understanding of complex concepts in the fields of physics and biology, chemistry and federal regulations for trucking, medicine, driving standards and related fields. Our lawyers can identify any violations of these laws, and then show the jury the factors that led to your accident. 18-wheeler truck crashes are typically caused by the negligent or reckless actions of several parties. Our NY 18-wheeler accident lawyer will investigate the parties accountable and ensure that they are held accountable for your present and future expenses. This includes trucking companies, owners, maintenance contractors, and even the drivers themselves. Our team will also investigate the weather conditions that may have contributed to the accident. Insurance Trucking companies have vast options available and can quickly send teams of lawyers, insurance adjusters, engineers, and experts to build a defense against the victims of accidents. They start this process before they know if you intend to seek legal recourse. This is why it is vital to immediately hire an experienced attorney who will match their resources and reduce them to size. An experienced 18 wheeler crash lawyer can take the burden of dealing with these corporations off your shoulders and focus on obtaining the compensation you are entitled to. The money will cover costs like medical bills that are expensive and vehicle damage, as well as loss of wages due to absence from work, and non-economic damages such as suffering and pain. 18 wheelers are complex vehicles and require a high-level, systematic maintenance to ensure they are safe on the road. Failure to perform this maintenance and maintain accurate records could result in devastating accidents. Tractor-trailers can be used to transport hazardous materials which require specialized training and certification. The material could be explosive, flammable, radiological or poisonous, all of which pose significant risks to other drivers on American roads. Failure to properly label and secure the load could also result in a fatal accident. A qualified 18-wheeler accident lawyer can pinpoint the exact causes of your accident and hold accountable any other parties who could be accountable. These could include the driver of the truck, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer, and the manufacturer of the truck or its components. 18 wheeler accident lawyer mckinney is known as vicarious liability.