History Of Semi Truck Lawsuit: The History Of Semi Truck Lawsuit
rancho cucamonga semi truck accident lawyer -truck accident could cause a serious injury that can cost a person a fortune in medical bills. It can also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy. Following a collision, it is important to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney at your side. A qualified lawyer will assist you in proving your case using evidence like police reports, surveillance footage, etc. Poorly maintained vehicles In a majority of cases trucking companies and owner-operators do not take the appropriate steps to make sure their vehicles are in good condition. This causes an increase in the number of avoidable accidents every year. Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their dimensions and larger load. However, the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits often takes precedence over maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks can become prone to mechanical failures that result in catastrophic accidents. The brakes on trucks are crucial because they have to be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at the smallest of moments. When brake pads, lines or return springs on a truck are worn out and become damaged, it can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital to have these parts regularly inspected and replaced as needed to keep them in good working condition. Tires that aren't properly maintained can play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that are worn-out can lose traction and cause the truck to flip over or skid. If a tire is deficient in some way, for example, having the wrong air pressure or improper tread design, it could fail catastrophically. The inspections are routine for trucks in addition to regular maintenance in order to spot mechanical problems before they cause an accident. If an inspection is conducted incorrectly or the repair shop does not adhere to the manufacturer's specifications, it can cause a crash. In these instances, the firm that hired the repair or maintenance company or managed it may be held accountable. Another reason for truck accidents is malfunctioning lights, signals and reflectors. These devices must be correctly functioning to allow drivers to see the truck and anticipate its movements, especially in rural areas or after dark. Drivers or trucking companies may fail to maintain and inspect these elements, or they may not be able to conduct daily safety checks. A Houston truck accident lawyer can review your case and determine who may be responsible for your damages in the event you were injured from a poorly maintained commercial truck. This investigation could uncover evidence of the defendant's negligence and help you receive the compensation you're entitled to. Distracted Drivers The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be catastrophic. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and cause much worse injuries in a crash. Distracted driving is among the many factors that can cause accidents. A truck driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see a hazard in the road, which could lead to life-threatening injuries. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and the use of cell phones while driving. Even if truckers abide by the rules, they may still be distracted and cause an accident. This could be the result of manual distractions like taking a hand off the wheel, or cognitive distractions like thinking about something other than driving. Many people are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous, but they are not aware that other activities, such as eating, changing radio stations, or conversing with passengers are also considered to be distracting. If a trucker gets distracted, the driver could drift off into another track and not see the traffic jam ahead. It only takes a fraction of a second for a huge truck to strike a passenger vehicle when the trucker's focus is diverted. If a car accident occurs due to an unintentionally distracted driver, it is important to take photos of the scene of the crash and note down the name and contact details of any witnesses. It is also helpful to find out the name of the truck driver and the company they are employed by, as and who owns the truck if it is an independent contractor. This could affect the person who is responsible for your incident since the trucking company is responsible for securing competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partly responsible for your accident, it could be liable to you for any economic and non-economic injuries. Rear-End Collisions Rear-end truck collisions are common and can result in serious injuries. They can happen in a variety of situations like at an intersection or stop signal, where the trucker is unable to observe the road ahead for traffic in the direction of oncoming traffic. It can also happen when an automobile crosses the truck's path, causing the driver of the truck to brake suddenly without warning. The trucker may then crash into the car from behind. It can be difficult to prove fault in a rear-end crash, as it's not always clear which vehicle caused the crash. An experienced attorney can find evidence to prove that the driver behind caused the accident by following too closely, or driving in a distracted manner. This can include evidence like photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony, and skid marks on the road. Sometimes, the driver in the front might be at fault for the crash as well. This can happen when they cut someone off, fail to use their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or hit on the brakes at the last moment and causing the driver in the back to crash into the vehicle directly in the front. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws can be in play, where the jury determines a percentage of the fault to each party, and damages are lowered accordingly. Lacerations and Bruises The rear-end of the vehicle is the one that is most affected in a rear-end crash, which means that occupants may suffer serious injuries from hitting their head against the dashboard or back windows. The force of the collision can also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown about the interior of the car. The injuries to the spine are often severe. The damage to the spine could have long-lasting and serious effects on victims. A person who has been involved in a serious accident might also suffer emotional and psychological trauma. They might have trouble sleeping or concentrating, which could cause anxiety and depression. If they're unable to work due to the extent of their injury, this could cause pressure and financial hardship. An attorney can research all possible sources of liability and assist the victim in seeking an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss. Problematic Trailer Hitches No matter if you're driving the vehicle of a car, truck, a van, or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely attached to their trailers. If a trailer is suddenly unhitched, it can lead to catastrophic accidents that result in serious injuries or even death. If you've suffered injuries in a collision involving the trailer that is running away, you should contact an experienced attorney for vehicle accidents with a specialization in cases of hitch failure immediately to discuss your legal options. A defective trailer hitch could be caused by many different factors, ranging from inadequate secured to faulty design. It can also be the result a defect in the manufacturing process or a manufacturing defect, in which case the products liability laws could apply. The company or person responsible for a trailer that is defective is liable for the victim's medical expenses as well as auto repair costs and other losses that result from the incident. In a fatal crash on a road in Ohio known as “Devil's Backbone” in January 2014, the trailer slid off of the truck. It then crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the truck driver's negligence for not inspecting and secure the hitch. But in June 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect had caused the hitch at the center of the crash -it was an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama — to fail on a significant proportion of times. Due to the malfunctioning hitch due to the hitch's failure, the trailer struck the sides of the vehicles, before colliding into them head-on. The result was numerous fatalities and serious injuries for the drivers. The driver of the truck involved in the accident was convicted of vehicular murder, however experts suggest that he could've avoided the collision had he conducted an extensive inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were in good order. Faulty trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These types of accidents are typically high-speed, and they can easily cause a collision with motorcycles or other smaller vehicles. In these situations, the trailer may distort the frame of a car and result in sharp metal fragments that can impale passengers.