Now That You've Purchased Semi Truck Lawsuit ... Now What?
glendale semi truck accident law firm resulting from an accident with semi-trucks can cost someone in medical expenses. It can also lead to permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy. After a collision, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney to assist you. A qualified attorney can help to prove your case using evidence like police reports and surveillance camera footage and much more. Poorly maintained vehicles Owner-operators and trucking companies typically fail to take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. This causes an increase in the number of avoidable accidents every year. As compared to passenger cars tractor-trailers and semis need more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavier loads. Unfortunately working to meet deadlines and maximizing profits often take precedence over maintaining a fleet. Trucks are susceptible to mechanical issues that could result in catastrophes. The brakes of a truck are particularly important because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at a moment's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs, or lines on a truck wear out and break, it could lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced when required to keep them in good working order. Inadequately maintained tires can be a major cause of truck accidents. Worn tires can lose traction and cause the truck to skid or even tip over. Tires that aren't working either because of an insufficient tread design or air pressure can fail catastrophically. Trucks require regular inspections along with regular maintenance to detect mechanical issues before they can cause an incident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop doesn't follow the manufacturer's instructions it could cause an accident. In these cases the company that employed or oversees the maintenance or repair shop could be held responsible. Another major cause of truck accidents is the failure of signals, lights, and reflectors. These components must function properly so that drivers can observe and anticipate the movement of the truck particularly in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies could fail to check and maintain these items or the driver might fail to conduct regular safety checks. A Houston truck accident lawyer will review your situation and determine who could be responsible for your injuries in the event you were injured by a badly maintained commercial truck. Investigating your case can uncover evidence that demonstrates the negligence of the defendant in the accident and help you get the compensation you're due. Distracted Drivers There aren't many events more devastating than an accident involving a commercial truck. These huge vehicles can weigh up 25 times more than a car and cause much worse injuries in accidents. While many factors contribute to accidents, distracted driving is one of the most frequent and risky. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice a hazard in the road, which could lead to serious and life-threatening injuries. Truck drivers must adhere to strict rules and regulations formulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting or using cellular phones while driving. However, even when truckers adhere to the rules, they may still be distracted and cause crashes. This is often caused by manual distractions like not having your hands on the steering wheel or cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving. While most people are aware the dangers of using text and drive, many realize that other activities like eating, changing the radio station or even talking to a passenger can also be considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they may wander off into another lane, or not be able to see an obstruction in front of them. It only takes a fraction of a second for a large truck to strike a passenger vehicle when the driver's attention is diverted. When a truck accident occurs due to distracted driving it is crucial to take photos of the scene of collision and gather the name and contact details of witnesses. It is crucial to know the name of the driver, the business for which they work and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This could impact who is accountable for your accident as the trucking company is responsible for securing skilled and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partly responsible for your accident, it could be held accountable to you for both economic and non-economic damage. Rear-End Collisions Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and often result in severe injuries. These accidents can occur in many different situations such as the stop sign or red light, when the trucker fails to check the road ahead for oncoming traffic. It can also happen if a car cuts across the truck's path, forcing the driver of the truck to stop suddenly without warning. The trucker could then hit the car from behind. It can be difficult to prove fault when there is a rear-end collision, because it's not always clear which vehicle was responsible. An experienced attorney can find evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the crash by following too closely or driving in a distracted manner. This can be evidence in the form of photos or police reports, eyewitness testimony as well as skid marks on the road. The driver in front of the car may also be liable for the collision. This can happen when they cut someone off or fail to obey their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or put on the brakes at the last moment, causing the driver behind to crash into the car directly in the front of them. In this kind of situation modified comparative negligence laws may be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each party. The damages are then lowered accordingly. Bruises & Lacerations The rear of the vehicle is the one that is most affected during a rear-end collision which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries when they hit their head against the back window or dashboard. The force of the collision can cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the inside of the vehicle. Injuries to the spine can be severe. Injuries to the spine can have serious and long-lasting consequences for victims. In addition to these types of injuries, the victim might also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma from being involved in a devastating crash. They may experience difficulties sleeping or concentrating which can cause anxiety and depression. If they're unable work due to the extent of their injury, this can add stress and financial hardship. An attorney can examine all possible causes of liability and assist a victim in seeking an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss. Troublesome trailer hitches All vehicles, whether they're a car or a truck, van flatbed, van are required to be securely connected to their trailers. If a trailer goes unhitched, it can result in catastrophic accidents that result in serious injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries by the trailer that has run away, contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents that specializes in cases of failure of the hitch as soon as you can to discuss your legal options. A damaged trailer hitch could be caused by many different things, from improper securing to defective design. It can be the result of an error by the manufacturer and in that case, product liability laws may apply. The company or individual responsible for a trailer's defect is liable for the victim's medical costs along with auto repair expenses and 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 a trailer detached from the truck. It then crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigation linked the accident to the truck driver's negligence in failing to examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began to investigate the possibility that a defect in the hitch, an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was responsible for the crash. Due to the hitch that was defective caused by the defective hitch, the trailer smashed into the sides of the vehicles and then crashed into them head-on. 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 murder, however experts believe that he could have avoided the collision had he conducted an exhaustive inspection of his trailer to make sure all connections were tight. A faulty hitch on a trailer can lead to serious accidents, since they typically involve a lot of speed and could easily cause a collision with smaller vehicles or motorcycles. In these instances the trailer could deform the frame of a car and result in sharp metal fragments that can impale passengers.