appleton semi truck accident attorney sustained in the crash of trucks can result in the death of an individual in medical costs. It could also cause permanent disabilities that require expensive equipment and ongoing physical therapy.
Following a collision, it is essential to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney by your side. A skilled lawyer can you prove your case with evidence like police reports, surveillance camera footage, and much more.
Poorly maintained vehicles
In many instances trucking companies and owner-operators don't take the appropriate steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good working condition. This causes a high percentage of preventable accidents each year.
In comparison to passenger cars, tractor-trailers and semis need more frequent maintenance work due to their size and heavy loads. However, the pressure of meeting deadlines and maximising profits is often more important than maintaining the fleet. This is why trucks are more prone to mechanical failures that could cause devastating accidents.
The brakes on a truck have to be able stop and slow down the vehicle at a single notice. When brake pads, lines or return springs on a truck get worn out, it can lead to serious accidents and fatal injuries. These components should be regularly inspected and repaired in order to keep them in good condition.
A poorly maintained tire can also be a major cause of truck accidents. Tires that have worn out could lose traction, causing the truck to flip over or skid. Tires that aren't working or damaged, whether due to an insufficient air pressure or tread design may fail catastrophically.
Trucks require regular inspections in addition to regular maintenance to spot mechanical issues before they lead to an incident. If an inspection was performed improperly or the repair shop fails to follow the manufacturer's instructions it could cause a crash. In these instances the company that employed or supervised the maintenance or the repair shop could be held accountable.
Another common cause of truck accidents is malfunctioning lights, signals and reflectors. These items must function properly to enable drivers to observe and anticipate the movements of the truck especially in rural areas or at night. Drivers or trucking companies may fail to maintain and check these components, or they may not carry out regular safety inspections.
A Houston truck accident attorney can review your situation and determine who could be accountable for your damages in the event that you are injured by a deteriorated maintenance of a commercial truck. These investigations can reveal evidence to prove the negligence of the defendant in the crash and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Drivers
Accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating. These huge vehicles can weigh up to 25 times the weight of your vehicle and cause far more injuries when involved in an accident. While many factors contribute to accidents that result from distracted driving, it is one of the most frequent and dangerous. A truck driver who is distracted could lose control of their vehicle or fail to notice the dangers on the road, leading to life-changing injuries.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules and guidelines for truck drivers. This includes a prohibition on texting and using cell phones while driving. But even if truckers obey the rules they can still become distracted and cause a crash. This could be the result of manual distractions like dropping a hand off of the wheel or cognitive distractions like thinking about something else other than driving.
While most people are aware the dangers of using text and drive, very few realize that other activities such as eating, changing the radio station, and even conversing with the other driver can also be deemed to be distracting. When a trucker gets distracted, they may wander off into a different track and not see the traffic jam in front of him. If a truck driver's focus is diverted, it only takes one second for a massive vehicle to hit a motorist car.
When a truck collision is caused by an unintentionally distracted driver It is essential to take photographs of the scene of the accident and note down the name and contact details of witnesses. It is important to determine the name of the driver, the business that they work for, and who owns the vehicle in case it's an independent contractor. This could impact the person who is responsible for your incident since the trucking company is responsible for hiring competent and skilled truck drivers. If the trucking company is found to be partially responsible for your accident, they could be liable for your economic and non-economic losses.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions with trucks are frequent and frequently result in severe injuries. These accidents can happen in many different situations, including at a stop sign or red light, when the trucker is not checking behind him for any traffic that is coming up. It can also happen if vehicles cross the truck's route, causing the driver of the truck to brake abruptly without warning. The trucker may then slam the car from behind.
It can be difficult to establish fault when there's rear-end collisions as it's not always certain the vehicle that was at fault. However, an experienced lawyer can assist in gathering evidence that shows the driver at the rear was responsible for the crash due to following too closely or being distracted while driving. The evidence can include photographs, police reports and eyewitness testimony, as well being skid marks on the road.
The driver in front of the car may be held accountable for the accident. This can happen when they cut off someone else or fail to obey their turn signal in the way that a reasonable person would, or decide to slam on the brakes at the very last minute and causing the driver in the back to crash into the vehicle directly in the front. This type of scenario is where modified comparative negligence laws can come into play, where the jury determines a percentage of the fault to each party and damages are reduced accordingly.
Lacerations, Bruises and Bruises
In a rear-end accident, the rear of the car is the area that experiences the most impact. This means that the occupants are at risk of serious injuries if they hit their heads against the dashboard or the back window. The impact of the crash could cause broken bones when the occupants of the vehicle are thrown around the vehicle's interior. Spinal injuries can be severe. The spinal cord contains many nerves that control the body, therefore any damage to the spinal column can cause permanent and significant issues for the victims.
A person who is a victim of a fatal accident could also be suffering from emotional and psychological trauma. They might have trouble sleeping or concentrating. This can lead to depression and anxiety. If they are unable to work due to the severity of their injury, it can create stress and financial hardship. An attorney can examine the possible sources of liability and assist a victim in receiving fair compensation for their loss.
The trailer is not working properly
No matter if you're driving the vehicle of a car, van, a truck, or a flatbed, all vehicles have to be securely attached to their trailers. When a trailer becomes unexpectedly unhitched, it could cause a catastrophic accident that could result in severe injuries or death. If you've suffered injuries in an accident involving the trailer that has run away, contact an experienced lawyer for car accidents with a specialization in cases of hitch failure immediately to discuss your legal options.
The cause of a faulty trailer hitch could be due to a variety of factors, ranging from improper securement or design. It could be due to an issue on the part of the manufacturer, in which case product liability law could be applicable. The person or company responsible for a trailer that is defective can be held accountable for the victim's medical costs or auto repair expenses, as well as other losses that result from the incident.
In a fatal crash 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 investigations suggested that the crash was due to the driver's negligence in failing to check and secure hitch. In June of 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating the possibility that a defect in the hitch and an Ultra LT manufactured Fontaine Fifth Wheel in Trussville, Alabama, was the reason for the crash.
The trailer hit the side of the vehicles, and then crashed into them. The result was multiple deaths and serious injuries to the drivers of the vehicles.
The truck driver who was involved in the accident was convicted of vehicular murder, however experts believe that he could have avoided the collision had he conducted an exhaustive inspection of his trailer to make sure that all connections were secure. Incorrect trailer hitches can cause major catastrophes. These types of accidents are typically high-speed and are able to sidewipe motorbikes or small cars. In these situations the trailer could distort a car's frame and force steel fragments that are razor-sharp to strike the passengers inside.