fremont semi truck accident lawyer Truck Accident Law
A middleton semi truck accident attorney-truck crash can result in an injury that is serious enough to cost a person a lot in medical expenses. It can also lead to permanent disabilities requiring expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
After a crash, it is essential 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, surveillance camera footage, and much more.
Vehicles that are poorly maintained
Trucking companies and owners-operators often do not take the proper steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good shape. This leads to a large percentage of preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars for passengers due to their size and heavier load. Unfortunately, meeting deadlines and maximising profits can often take precedence over the maintenance of a fleet. Trucks can be prone to mechanical issues that could lead to disastrous accidents.
The brakes of a truck are particularly important because they must be able to stop the vehicle and slow it down at any moment. If the pads of a truck’s brakes, lines or return springs fail they could result in serious collisions and fatal injuries. It is vital that these parts are regularly inspected and replaced as needed to keep them in good working order.
Inadequately maintained tires can be a major factor in truck accidents. Tires that are worn out may lose traction, which causes the truck to slide or even rollover. Tires that aren’t working, whether it’s due to improper air pressure or tread design could fail catastrophically.
Trucks need routine inspections in addition to regular maintenance to identify mechanical issues before they lead to an accident. However, if the inspection is not done correctly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer’s instructions the result could be an accident. In these situations the company that employed or directed the maintenance or repair shop could be held responsible.
Another common cause of truck accidents is the failure of lights, signals and reflectors. These components must be in good working to enable drivers to see the 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 might not conduct regular safety inspections.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer can review your case and determine who is accountable for your injuries if you were injured in an accident with a poorly-maintained commercial truck. These investigations can uncover evidence proving the defendant’s negligence and help you receive the compensation you’re due.
Distracted Drivers
The result of a collision involving commercial trucks could be catastrophic. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 25 times more than your vehicle and cause far more injuries in an accident. While a variety of factors can cause accidents that result from distracted driving, it is one of the most frequent and dangerous. A truck driver who is distracted may lose control of their vehicle or fail to recognize an issue on the road, which can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and regulations for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting or using cellular phones while driving. Even if truckers adhere to the rules, they may still be distracted and cause crash. This is often caused by mechanical distractions like not having your hands on the steering wheel, or by cognitive distractions such as thinking about something other than driving.
While the majority of people are aware that it’s dangerous to text and drive, many realize that other activities like eating or changing the radio station, and even conversing with a passenger could also be considered to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, they might wander off into another lane, or not be able to see a traffic jam up ahead of them. It only takes a split second for a big truck to hit a passenger vehicle when the trucker’s focus wanders.
When a truck collision is caused by an unintentionally distracted driver, it is important to take photos of the crash scene and note down the contact details and name of any witnesses. It is essential to know the name of the driver, the company that they work for, and who owns the vehicle, if 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 hire competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking firm is found to be partially responsible in the accident, it could be liable to you for 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 many different circumstances such as at a stop sign or an intersection when the trucker is not checking behind him for any traffic that is coming up. It can also happen when cars cross the truck’s path, causing the driver of the truck to brake abruptly without warning. The trucker could then hit the car from behind.
It can be hard to establish fault when there’s rear-end collisions, as it isn’t always evident which vehicle was responsible. However, a skilled lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that proves that the driver at the rear was responsible for the crash due to following too closely or being distracted while driving. This can include evidence like photos, police reports eyewitness testimony and skid marks in the road.
Sometimes the driver in front could be at fault for the crash as well. This could occur if they cut off someone else or fail to use a turn signal like any reasonable person. In this kind of situation the modified comparative negligence laws could be used. The jury will determine a percentage of the blame to each party. The damages are then lowered accordingly.
Lacerations and Bruises
The rear-end of the car is the most impacted area in a rear-end collision, which means that the occupants could suffer serious injuries from hitting their head against the back window or dashboard. They can also suffer broken bones from being thrown around the interior of the car by the force of the crash. The injuries to the spine can be severe. The spinal cord houses a number of nerves that control the body, therefore any damage to the spinal cord could cause serious and lasting issues for the victims.
In addition to these kinds of injuries, the victim might also suffer from psychological and emotional trauma as a result of having been involved in a terrible crash. They may experience difficulty getting enough sleep or concentrating, which can lead them to depression and anxiety. If they are unable to work due to the degree of their injury this can add anxiety and financial hardship. An attorney can examine the possible sources of liability to assist the victim to receive fair compensation for their loss.
Problematic Trailer Hitches
All vehicles, regardless of whether they are a car or a truck, van flatbed, van, need to be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally removing a trailer’s hitch can cause catastrophic accidents that can lead to severe injuries or even death. If you’ve suffered injuries in a collision involving the trailer that has run away, contact a qualified vehicle accident attorney specializing in hitch failure cases as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
The reason behind a defective trailer hitch is many things that can be traced to improper securement or design. It could be due to a defect on the part of the manufacturer, in which case product liability laws may apply. The person or company responsible for a trailer’s defect could be held responsible for the victims’ medical expenses as well as auto repair costs and other losses resulting from the incident.
In a fatal crash that occurred on a highway in Ohio known as “Devil’s Backbone” in January 2014, the trailer was detached from the truck. It crashed into two cars that were directly behind it. Initial investigation linked the accident to the truck driver’s inattention to inspect and secure the hitch. In June 2015 however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a flaw in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason behind the crash.
The trailer struck the side of the vehicle and crashed into them. 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 manslaughter, but experts say that he could have avoided the collision with other vehicles if he had done a thorough visual inspection of his trailer and ensured that all connections were in good order. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes, since they typically involve a lot of speed and can easily sidewipe smaller cars or motorcycles. In these situations the trailer could deform the frame of a car and result in sharp metal fragments that can impale passengers.