Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?
A lot of car accidents happen and result in physical injuries, medical bills and time lost from work. When an 18 wheeler is involved it could be more serious.
Victims may make a claim for an amount of money if they suffer. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can help.
Weight Limits
18-wheelers are limited to carrying up to 80,000 pounds including the volume and weight of cargo. This is a very strict limitation that requires trucking companies to fill their vehicles to the maximum extent possible and may result in overloading. If a trucker exceeds the limit, they could be subject to fines that vary according to the location.
If you look at the lights of an 18-wheeler you can usually tell whether they're over the speed limit. If their blinkers flash one time, it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and multiple flashes are not. Be on the lookout for truck drivers who are also using their lights to communicate.
Always leave a wide gap between your car and an 18-wheeler. This is particularly important when passing. Trucks need plenty of room to slow down and stop and if you cut them off, it could lead to a fatal crash. Car drivers are responsible for 72 percent of all collisions between trucks and cars.
Number of Axles
Semi-trucks, unlike cars require multiple axles in order to rotate the wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, which includes the steer and drive axles, while trailers typically have two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a typical passenger vehicle and it's crucial to keep this in mind when driving with one of these vehicles.
18 wheeler accident law firm milwaukee for axles are based on various factors including the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limit set by each state. State limits may be higher than federal limits, so it is essential for truckers to know before they travel.
Moving standard freight shipments can be difficult enough, but adding more heft increases the chance of accidents. A trucker who overloaded his trailer is in violation of law and could be held responsible for any injuries resulting from. If you've been injured as a result of an accident that involved an 18 wheeler, a lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the driver was carrying more than the maximum amount allowed, and if that negligence was the cause of your injury.
Speed Limits
Speeding is a major cause of truck accidents, as any driver knows. This is especially relevant for large trucks due to their weight, size and weight. Truckers should therefore adhere to speed limits on all roads they travel.
Truck drivers are often under pressure to deliver their goods quickly and may not be able slow down enough to match the conditions. This could lead to unsafe driving, and it can also be fatal for other motorists.
It is possible to minimize the chance of accidents by using speed limiters. This device automatically restricts the speed of a car to a safe speed. It is able to be installed on many different types.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is looking into the possibility of a new rule that will require truckers to use these devices. The agency has issued a revised notice of proposed rulemaking, in order to collect feedback on the idea. In previous proposals it was suggested that truck speeds be limited to 60 or 65 miles per hour.
Insurance
The majority of private car owners buy an insurance policy that will protect their vehicles. Truckers, on the other hand don't own the vehicles they drive. Instead, they lease their 18-wheelers from a company that transports trucks. Trucking companies require higher limits for liability insurance as commercial vehicles are more dangerous. They can also purchase cargo insurance and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance protects the freight that semi-trucks transport. Bobtail insurance protects the truck once it has delivered its load. In the event of a collision these policies can be used to compensate grieving family members for their losses.
Maintenance
It's often difficult to get an accurate estimation of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is because commercial vehicles are costly to repair and maintain, especially when they need major repairs. Some trucking companies have maintenance schedules to estimate the cost of maintaining a vehicle.
Trucks have ten brakes instead 18 and anti-lock breaks are currently standard on new trucks. They take about 40% longer to stop than a car. This is due to the massive dimensions of an 18-wheeler as well as its acceleration increase the stopping distance.
The term "eighteen-wheeler" is now synonymous with trucking. It's even been used in country music, like the songs "Giddyup go" and "Teddy Bear", by Red Sovine, and "Roll on" by the thrash metal group BigRig. It is nevertheless important to remember that these vehicles aren't home on the road and they must obey the same rules as other drivers. It is against the law to permit truckers, for instance, to text while driving. One second of negligence could result in fatal consequences.