The Biggest Issue With 18-Wheeler Wreck Lawyer, And How You Can Fix It
Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?
Numerous car accidents occur and result in physical and medical expenses and time away from work. If an 18 wheeler is involved, it can be even more grave.
In this case, victims can file a claim to receive financial compensation. 18 wheeler accident lawyer savannah can help.
Weight Limits
In general 18 wheelers are able to carry 80,000 pounds in total, not including the weight of cargo. This is a very strict restriction that requires trucking companies to load their vehicles as full as they can and may result in overloaded. Truck drivers who exceed this limit may be fined, and the penalties vary based on where they reside.
You can usually tell if an 18-wheeler is going over the limit by watching their lights. If their blinkers flash only once, it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and flashes with multiple flashes aren't. Truck drivers also utilize their lights to communicate, so keep an on the lookout for them when merging.
It's important to always leave a wide gap between your vehicle and an 18 wheeler especially when passing. If you cut off the truck, it could lead to fatal crashes. Car drivers are at fault for 72% of all crashes between cars and trucks.
The number of Axles
Unlike cars, semi-trucks require multiple axles to turn the wheels. A typical truck has four wheels, including the drive and steer axles. Trailers typically come with two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a typical car and it's important to keep this in mind when driving along with one of these vehicles.
Axle weight limitations are based upon a variety of factors, such as the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits posted by each state for single axles as well as axle groups. Limits for states can be higher than federal limits, which is why it is important for truckers to know prior to traveling.
The challenge of hauling freight is enough to be difficult, but adding extra weight increases the chance of an accident. A trucker who overloads his truck is in violation of the law and could be held responsible for any injuries resulting from. If you've suffered injury in an accident involving an 18 wheeler, a truck accident lawyer can determine if the driver was carrying more than the maximum amount allowed, and whether this negligence caused your injuries.
Speed Limits
Speeding is one of the main causes of truck accidents, as every driver is aware. This is particularly relevant for big trucks due to their weight, size and weight. Truckers should therefore adhere to the speed limits on every road they travel on.
However truck drivers are often forced to make deliveries in a hurry and may not be able slow down enough to cope with the conditions. This can lead to dangerous driving, and can cause harm to other motorists.
Speed limiters can lower the risk of accidents. This device is able to limit the speed of a car to a safe level. It can be installed on a variety of types.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is examining an updated rule that will require truckers to use these devices. The agency has issued a revised notice of proposed rulemaking to get feedback on the proposal. In previous proposals, it was suggested that truck speeds should be limited to 60, 65 or even 68 miles per hour.
Insurance
The majority of private vehicle owners purchase a single insurance policy to cover their personal vehicles. Truckers, on the other hand do not own the trucks they drive. They lease their 18-wheelers from a trucking firm. Trucking companies need higher limits of liability insurance due to the fact that commercial vehicles are more dangerous. They can also purchase cargo and bobtail insurances for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that semi-trucks are hauling. Bobtail insurance covers the truck once it has delivered its cargo. These policies may pay compensation to victims and grieving family members in the event of an accident.
Maintenance
It is often difficult to obtain an accurate estimation of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is because commercial vehicles are very expensive to repair and maintain, especially when they need major repairs. However, some trucking companies provide maintenance schedules which provide an estimate of the total cost of maintaining the vehicle.
Trucks have ten brakes rather than eighteen and anti-lock breaks are now standard on new trucks. The trucks take about 40 percent longer to stop than a car. This is due to the massive dimensions of an 18-wheeler as well as its momentum add to the stopping distance.
The term "eighteen-wheeler" is now synonymous with trucking. It has even been used in country music, including the songs "Giddyup go" and "Teddy Bear", by Red Sovine, and "Roll on" by thrash metal group BigRig. It is nevertheless important to remember that these trucks are not at home on the road and that they must follow the same rules as all other drivers. It is illegal for truckers, for instance to text while driving. A single second of inattention could have disastrous consequences.