pembroke pines semi truck accident lawyer sustained in collision with a semi-truck can leave the victim with medical bills. It can also result in permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and long-term therapy.
Following a collision, it is essential to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A professional lawyer can help you prove your case with evidence such as police reports and surveillance footage, among others.
Vehicles that are poorly maintained
Owner-operators and trucking companies often fail to take the necessary steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good repair. This negligence results in a high percentage of preventable accidents every year.
Semis and tractor trailers require more frequent maintenance than cars used for passenger transport due to their dimensions and larger weight. Unfortunately, the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits can overtake maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks can become prone to mechanical breakdowns that can lead to devastating accidents.
The brakes on a truck have to be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a moments notice. When brake pads lines, return springs or lines on a truck are worn out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. It is vital to have these parts regularly checked and replaced as necessary to ensure they are in good working condition.
Tires that aren't maintained may play a significant role in truck accidents. Tires that are worn down can lose traction and cause the truck to overturn or skid. Tires that are defective either because of an insufficient tread design or air pressure can fail catastrophically.
Trucks require regular inspections in addition to regular maintenance to spot mechanical issues before they lead to an incident. If an inspection is done improperly or the repair shop does not follow the manufacturer's recommendations it could lead to an accident. In these instances the company that hired or supervised the maintenance or the repair shop could be held responsible.
Faulty lights, signals and reflectors are another frequent cause of truck accident. These elements must function correctly in order for drivers to be able to observe and anticipate the speed of the truck, especially when driving in rural areas or at night. However, trucking companies may fail to maintain and inspect these components or the driver might fail to conduct regular safety inspections.
A reputable Houston truck accident lawyer can investigate your case to determine who is liable for your damages should you be injured in an accident involving a badly maintained commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence that proves the defendant's negligence in your crash and help you obtain the compensation you're entitled to.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating. These huge vehicles can weigh up to 25 times the weight of your car and cause much worse injuries in a crash. While many factors contribute to accidents that result from distracted driving, it is one of the most common and risky. A truck driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle, or fail to see the dangers on the road, leading to severe and life-changing injuries.
Truck drivers must follow strict rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes a ban on texting or using cellular phones while driving. Even when truckers adhere to the rules, they could still be distracted, causing an accident. This can be a result of manual distractions like taking their hands off the wheel, or cognitive distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
While most people understand that it is dangerous to text and drive, very few realize that other activities such as eating or changing the radio station, and even conversing with a passenger could also be deemed to be distracting. When a trucker is distracted, he may drift into another lane and fail to notice an impending traffic jam. When a trucker's attention is diverted, it takes only just a few seconds for a huge vehicle to hit a motorist car.
It is crucial to gather details on any witnesses and to take photographs of the scene of the crash when the driver is distracted and causes a crash of a truck. It is also helpful to know the name of the driver of the truck and the company they are employed by, as in determining who owns the truck if it's an independent contractor. This can have an influence on who is responsible for the accident, as it is the responsibility of the trucking business to employ competent and experienced truck drivers. If the trucking company is found be partially responsible for the accident, they may be responsible for your economic and non-economic damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end truck collisions are quite common and can cause serious injuries. They can happen in a variety situations like at the stop or red light sign, when the trucker fails to look behind them for traffic coming in. They can also occur when a car is able to cut in front of the truck, which forces the driver to slam on their brakes without warning. The trucker can then slam into the car from behind.
It is often difficult to prove fault in a rear-end crash, as it is not always obvious which vehicle caused the accident. An experienced attorney can gather evidence that proves the driver in the rear caused the crash by following too closely or driving distracted. This evidence could include photos or police reports, eyewitness testimony, as well as skid marks in the road.
The driver in the front of the car could also be accountable for the collision. This could happen if they cut someone off or fail use a turn signal like any reasonable person would do. In this scenario the modified comparative negligence laws may be used. The jury will assign a percentage of blame to each of the parties. Damages are then reduced according to.
Lacerations, Bruises and Bruises
In a rear-end accident, the rear end of the vehicle is the part that takes the most impact. This means that the drivers are most at risk of serious injuries if they strike their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The force of the collision can also cause broken bones if the occupants are thrown around the interior of the car. The injuries to the spine can be severe. The damage to the spine could be serious and have long-lasting effects on the victims.
A victim of a serious accident might also suffer psychological and emotional trauma. They may have trouble sleeping or concentrating which can result in anxiety and depression. If they're unable work due to the severity of their injury, it can create stress and financial burden. An attorney will investigate the possible sources of liability to ensure that the victim receives an appropriate amount of compensation for their loss.
Troublesome trailer hitches
All vehicles, whether they are a car or van, truck, flatbed, or van must be securely connected to their trailers. Unintentionally unhitching a trailer could result in catastrophic accidents that lead to serious injuries or death. If you've been injured in a vehicle accident caused by a runaway truck, contact an experienced attorney who is specialized in cases involving hitch failure to discuss your legal options.
The cause of a faulty trailer hitch can be caused by a variety such as inadequate secured or defective design. It could also be due to an issue with the manufacturer, in which case product liability laws may apply. The company or person at responsible for the malfunction of a trailer is liable for the cost of medical bills and auto repair costs and other losses related to the incident.
For instance, in a deadly crash that occurred in January 2014 on an Ohio road that is locally referred to as "Devil's Backbone," a trailer came out of the truck, and was thrown over two cars ahead of it. Initial investigations pointed out that the accident was due to the truck driver’s negligence for not inspecting and secure the hitch. However, in June 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused the hitch involved in the crash -an Ultra LT manufactured by Fontaine Fifth Wheel of Trussville, Alabama -- to malfunction on a high proportion of times.
As a result of the defective hitch The trailer struck the sides of the vehicles and then crashed into them head-on. This led to numerous deaths and serious injuries to drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver in the incident was found guilty of vehicular homicide. However experts believe that he could have avoided the crash by conducting an extensive inspection of his trailer to ensure all connections were tight. Faulty trailer hitsches can cause serious accidents, since they typically involve a lot of speed and may hit smaller cars or motorcycles. In such instances, the trailer can distort the frame of a vehicle and force razor sharp metal fragments to impale passengers inside.