“Secure Your Future: 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer’s Support”
18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer: Driving 18 wheelers or semitrailer trucks comes with inherent risks. Their sheer size and speed pose substantial threats on roadways.
According to data provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 4,862 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes during 2018; 18-wheelers made up 55% of these fatal crashes involving single large truck incidents.
After being involved in a large truck accident, numerous complications arise and should be immediately discussed with an 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer. From injuries and liability concerns to insurance claims procedures and more, your 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer is your trusted ally throughout this legal process.
Why Are 18-Wheelers So Dangerous?
What factors make 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer so much more hazardous than standard vehicles? Let’s consider some possible explanations:
Weight and Speed:
While an average consumer car weighs 1.5 tons, an average loaded tractor typically weighs 40 tons — nearly 27 times heavier. Imagine this vehicle traveling 60mph colliding against another smaller vehicle: its consequences could be catastrophic.
Stopping Distances:
Large trucks require much more time to stop than cars do; on average it takes an average passenger car traveling 65 mph 525 feet under ideal conditions to come to a full stop, while a 40-ton truck traveling at that speed requires 525 feet! Furthermore, large trucks must deal with brake lag – due to how air brakes work there may be an added delay between when drivers apply the brake and when their air brakes actually kick in – making braking an8 wheeler accident attorney even harder!
Blind Spot: 8 wheeler accident attorney feature four distinct blind spots – in front, at either end and behind – which may make spotting smaller vehicles difficult when in these areas due to their size and height. Driving these routes may become very dangerous when truck drivers fail to check all their blindspots regularly.
Hazardous material: Semi-trucks on American roads carry hazardous material on an almost constant basis, due to more stringent regulations drivers must undergo special training as Hazmat drivers in order to become certified hazmat drivers and transport hazardous items such as those classified as flammable, explosive, radiological or poisonous which pose potential threats both to people and the environment. If released uncontrolled these materials can have devastating impacts.
Unsecured Cargo: Not all 8 wheeler accident attorney feature enclosed trailers. Some semis feature open flatbeds which require the driver to properly secure cargo in an open flatbed if possible; any negligence in doing this could cause accidents causing injuries and even fatalities, with loose debris possibly leading to incidents with raw materials, industrial tools, and car parts among others as potential sources.
As seen above, driving an 8 wheeler accident attorney entails several risks, and failing to properly manage them can result in accidents. When an incident is due to another party’s negligence, compensation should be sought; an 18 wheeler accident lawyer is the ideal person for providing advice in these situations.
Common Causes of 18 Wheeler Accidents
Determining the cause of an 8 wheeler accident attorney can sometimes be challenging; not always is its primary party responsible (usually multiple factors contribute). Below are some of the more likely sources for 8 wheeler accident attorney crashes.
Driver Inexperience
New drivers require extensive training before being eligible to obtain their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). While state requirements differ, in general drivers must pass a written exam, obtain a learning permit, and pass both an oral driving test as well as pass their CDL road exam successfully.
With an unprecedented surge in demand for truck drivers in the industry, companies may unknowingly hire under-qualified candidates or engage in trucking license fraud schemes that issue fraudulent licenses resulting in even more inexperienced truckers on our roadways.
Driver Fatigue
According to FMCSA research, fatigue was identified as a contributing factor in 13 percent of accidents involving commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in 2016. Truck drivers typically work long and difficult shifts under adverse weather conditions – making the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel very real when operating these large trucks.
As part of their efforts to mitigate risk, hours-of-service (HOS) regulations exist to restrict driving hours; specifically 11 hours following 10 off duty; in addition, there must also be mandatory breaks during shifts and mandatory breaks taken between shifts. Unfortunately despite such regulations driver fatigue still creeps in; even with such safeguards in place drivers could choose to break them in order to meet delivery demands, creating dangerous road environments and risks for all involved parties involved.
Distracted Driving Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of truck crashes and near-crashes, accounting for close to 80 percent of collisions involving distracted truck drivers. Distraction may come in various forms.
Your cabin may include areas in or outside, for instance:
Texting, using dispatch devices for dispatch purposes, eating and drinking while smoking, and gazing upon billboards.
Technology today makes it increasingly challenging for drivers to maintain focus while on the roads. From tablets and mobile phones to in-cab displays – even momentary distractions can cause 18 wheeler accidents to happen quickly.
Unsuitable Maintenance Under FMCSA regulations, trucking companies are subject to stringent maintenance standards in order to ensure safe vehicle operations. Some of these standards include inspecting brakes, fuel systems, lights, and tires regularly in order to guarantee compliance and avoid costly repair expenses in the future.
Trucking companies may sometimes cut costs by performing only minimal truck maintenance tasks, like checking brakes or tire tread depth regularly. Accidents caused by such neglectful maintenance like malfunctioning brakes and worn-out tires could prove disastrous; all players including trucking companies, maintenance contractors, and drivers have an equal role to play to ensure proper truck upkeep.
Bad Weather
Environmental factors may play a part in 18 wheeler accidents, from high winds, snow/ice accumulation, rain, and fog to large blind spots that increase stopping distance and blind spot issues for truck drivers. Because these types of inclement conditions require extra care from truckers when operating vehicles – due to blind spots and increased stopping distance.
Federal regulations allow truck drivers the right to refuse driving if they deem it unsafe, though, under pressure to meet delivery deadlines, they may still choose to drive in poor weather conditions, increasing the likelihood of an accident occurring.
What To Do Following An 18 Wheeler Accident
After an 18 wheeler accident it can be overwhelming deciding what steps are needed next. Here are a few general suggestions as you investigate your incident further.
1. Seek Safety
In cases where injuries were minor and your car is still driveable, move to safety by moving it away from any secondary collisions or remaining where you are until help arrives if needed. Call 911 immediately in such instances so authorities are informed.
2. Gather Information From the Truck Driver
Exchange details with the truck driver, such as their name, contact info, license/registration/insurance details as well as company and any relevant contacts.
Limit conversations with truck drivers; never discuss issues of fault directly. Even an apology could be used against you in court proceedings.
3. Document the Scene
To effectively document a scene, take photographs that capture its entirety: damage, debris, injuries, and the surrounding environment. Take witness contact info if available as well; nearby businesses might even have video footage from that incident that you can use as evidence against anyone involved in an attack or dispute.
4. Seek Medical Attention
An 18 wheeler accident is potentially serious; seek medical assistance immediately following such an event. Even if there are no immediate symptoms such as whiplash, visiting the doctor might still prove beneficial; whiplash symptoms often develop days or even weeks post-incident – making a checkup immediately post-accident essential to overall well-being and recovery.
5. Consult an 18 Wheeler Lawyer
Accident victims sometimes make the mistake of providing statements directly to insurance companies without consulting an 18 wheeler injury lawyer first. Unfortunately, insurance companies’ primary goal isn’t giving out money; trucking companies and their insurers often vigorously defend against every claim filed by victims of accidents involving 18-wheelers; to have your best chance at receiving fair compensation it would be wiser for you to let an experienced 18-wheeler lawyer deal with these parties directly and represent them against them as soon as possible.
How an 18 Wheeler Accident Attorney Can Assist
Recovering from an 18 wheeler accident can be challenging, so hiring an 18 wheeler accident law firm to assist can ease your mind as you recover from injuries sustained in an 18 wheeler crash.
READ MORE: How to Make a Contact with an Atlanta Car Accident Attorney
At that meeting, they’ll address issues like:
Who Is at Fault in an 18 Wheeler Accident?
There can be various parties responsible for an 18 wheeler crash: it could be the truck driver, trucking company, manufacturer, other drivers involved, or even third-party entities liable. Determining who was negligent is essential when receiving compensation and working with a lawyer is invaluable in doing this process effectively.
How much compensation am I eligible to get after being involved in an 18 wheeler crash?
A qualified attorney will ensure you’re compensated fairly; this may include enough funds for medical treatments, car damages, loss of income compensation costs as well as pain and suffering expenses.
How Can Negotiation with Insurance Companies Work?
It is in an insurance company’s best interest to reach a quick resolution quickly, which means they’re likely trying to offer as little compensation as possible. Most people lack the expertise needed for successful negotiations against large insurers; an 18 wheeler accident attorney understands their tactics better so as to level the playing field so you get the maximum settlement value possible.