leominster semi truck accident law firm Truck Accident Law
A severe injury sustained in an accident with trucks can result in the death of the victim with medical expenses. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following a collision, it is crucial to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side. A professional lawyer can assist you in proving your case using evidence like police reports, surveillance footage, etc.
Poorly maintained vehicles
Owner-operators and companies that operate trucks often don't take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good repair. This can lead 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, meeting deadlines and maximising profits can often take precedence over the maintenance of a fleet. As a result, trucks are susceptible to mechanical breakdowns that can result in catastrophic accidents.
The brakes on a truck must be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a moment's notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck get worn out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital that these components are regularly inspected and replaced as required to keep them in good working condition.
Tires that aren't properly maintained can contribute to truck accidents. Tires that are worn down could lose traction, causing the truck to overturn or slide. If a tire is deficient in any way, for example, having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it may fail catastrophically.
In addition to regular maintenance, trucks need regular inspections to spot mechanical issues prior to causing an accident. If an inspection is performed incorrectly or the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's guidelines it could lead to an accident. In these cases, a company that hired the maintenance or repair shop or managed it may be held responsible.
Another reason for truck accidents is defective signals, lights and reflectors. These items must function properly to allow drivers to be aware of and anticipate the movement of the
middletown semi truck accident law firm particularly when driving in rural areas or at night. However, trucking firms may neglect to inspect and maintain these items or the driver might not perform regular safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident lawyer will investigate your case and determine who could be responsible for your injuries in the event that you are injured by a deteriorated maintenance of a commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence that shows the negligence of the defendant in your crash and help you obtain the compensation you're due.
Distracted Drivers
There are few things more devastating than an incident that involves a commercial truck. These huge vehicles weigh up to 25 times the weight of your vehicle and may cause more serious injuries when they are involved in collisions. Distracted driving is just one of the many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted can lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize the dangers on the roadway, which could lead to life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting or using mobile phones while driving. Even if truckers obey the rules, they may still be distracted and cause an accident. This could be because of manual distractions such as dropping a hand off of the steering wheel or mental distractions such as thinking about something else other than driving.
Many people are aware that texting while driving can be risky, but many do not realize that other activities, like eating, changing radio stations, or conversing with passengers can also be considered distracting. When a truck driver gets distracted, they may wander off into another lane, or fail to notice a traffic jam in front of them. When a truck driver's attention is diverted, it only takes a split-second for a large vehicle to strike a passenger car.
It is important to collect details on any witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the accident when an unintentionally distracted driver causes an accident with a truck. It is crucial to know the name of the driver, the company that they work for and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This could have an impact on who is liable for the accident, since it is the responsibility of the trucking company to find competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially at fault for the accident, they could be held responsible for your economic and non-economic injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions between trucks are common and often cause severe injuries. These accidents can happen in many different situations such as at a stop sign or red light when a trucker fails to check behind him for oncoming traffic. They may also occur when a car cuts in front of the truck, forcing the driver to hit their brakes without warning. The trucker could then crash into the car from behind.
It can be difficult to establish fault when there's rear-end collisions, as it's not always certain which vehicle was at fault. However, an experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that proves the driver in the rear caused the crash by following too closely or driving distracted. The evidence can include photographs or police reports, eyewitness testimony as well being skid marks on the road.
Sometimes the driver in front may be found to be responsible for the accident also. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail utilize a turn signal in the same manner as any reasonable person. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws could be in play, where the jury determines a percentage of the fault to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.
Lacerations & Bruises
In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the part that takes the most impact. This means that drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the crash can also cause broken bones if the occupants of the vehicle are thrown around the interior of the car. Spinal injuries can be very serious. Damage to the spine can be serious and have long-lasting impacts on the victims.
A victim of a serious accident may also experience psychological and emotional trauma. They might have trouble sleeping or concentrating, which could lead to depression and anxiety. They could also be facing stress and financial burdens in the event that they are unable to work because of an injury. An attorney can examine the potential sources of liability to ensure that the victim receives an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.
The trailer hitches are faulty.
No matter if you're driving an automobile, a van, truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles must to be securely connected to their trailers. When a trailer becomes unexpectedly unhitched, it can cause a catastrophic accident that could cause serious injuries or even death. If you've been injured in a vehicle accident caused by a truck that has run away get in touch with an experienced lawyer who specializes in hitch failure cases to discuss your legal options.
A malfunctioning trailer hitch may be the result of a variety of factors, ranging from inadequate security to design flaws. It could also be the result of a defect in the manufacturing process and in that case, lawful product liability may apply. The company or the person responsible for a trailer that is defective could be held responsible for the victim's medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
For example in a fatal crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road known locally as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came off the truck, and was thrown over two cars ahead of it. The initial investigation attributed the accident to the driver's negligence in failing examine and secure the hitch. In June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch at the center of the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama -- to fail on a large number of occasions.
The trailer hit the side of the vehicle and crashed into them. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver who was involved in the accident was found guilty of vehicular homicide, but experts say that he could've avoided the crash if he'd performed an in-depth inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were tight. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause serious accidents, since they typically involve a lot of speed and may sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In such instances the trailer could distort the car's frame and push the metal to strike the passengers inside.
