congobrick38

Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? 18 wheeler accident lawsuit downey happen and can result in medical bills, physical damage and time lost from work. When an 18-wheeler is involved it can be a lot more dangerous. In this case, victims can file a claim for financial compensation. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can help. Weight Limits In general 18 wheelers are able to carry up to 80,000lbs in total, not including the weight of cargo. This is a very strict restriction that forces trucking companies to load their vehicles with full capacity and could lead to overloaded. If a truck driver exceeds this limit, they could be subject to fines that vary depending on the place of operation. You can generally tell if an 18-wheeler is over the limit by observing their lights. A single flash of their blinkers indicates that it's safe to merge in front of them, while flashes with multiple lights mean that it's not. Keep an eye out 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 crucial when passing. Trucks require plenty of space to slow down and stop, and if you cut them off it could result in a deadly crash. Car drivers are at fault for 72% of all crashes between trucks and cars. Axles Axles As opposed to cars, semi-trucks have multiple axles to rotate their wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, including the drive and steer axles, while trailers typically have two tandem axles. It's important to remember that these vehicles are bigger than the average car for a passenger. The weight limits for axles are based on a number of factors, including the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits set by each state for single axles and axle groups. The limit for each state can be higher than the Federal limit, which makes it essential for truckers and drivers to know the federal and state limit on axle weight before they travel. The process of transporting freight isn't difficult enough and adding additional weight can increase the risk of an accident. A trucker who overloads his trailer is in violation of the law and could be held accountable for any injuries resulting from. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine whether the driver of an 18-wheeler was at fault and the reason for the accident if you were injured. Speed Limits Speeding is a major cause of truck accidents, as any driver knows. This is especially relevant for large trucks, which are much more likely to crash due to their size and weight. Therefore, it is essential for truckers to observe the speed limits of every route they travel. Truck drivers are often pressured to speed up delivery times and may not be able to slow down enough to suit the conditions. This can result in dangerous driving, and could cause harm to other motorists. Speed limiters can reduce the chance of accidents. This device automatically reduces the speed of a vehicle to a safe limit. It can be put in on various types of vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering an updated rule that will require truckers to make use of these devices. The agency has issued a revised notice of proposed rulemaking to get feedback on the idea. In earlier proposals it was suggested that truck speeds should be limited to 60, 65 or even 68 miles per hour. Insurance Most private vehicle owners buy one insurance policy that covers all their vehicles. Truckers, on the other hand don't own the vehicles they drive. They rent their 18-wheelers instead from a trucking company. Due to the increased risk that come with commercial vehicles, trucking companies generally require higher liability insurance limits. They can also purchase cargo and bobtail insurance for their vehicles. Cargo coverage protects the freight that a semi transports and bobtail insurance protects the truck after it delivers its load. These policies are able to provide compensation to grieving victims and family members in the event of an accident. Maintenance It's often difficult to get an accurate estimate of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is due to the fact that trucks are very expensive to repair and maintain, especially when they need major repairs. However some trucking firms offer maintenance schedules that provide an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle. Trucks have ten brakes instead of eighteen and anti-lock breaks are now standard on new trucks. In general, trucks take about 40 percent longer than a normal car to stop. This is due in part to the large dimensions and the speed of an 18-wheeler. The term “eighteen-wheeler” is now synonymous with trucking. It's even been used in country music, such as the songs “Giddyup go” and “Teddy Bear”, by Red Sovine, and “Roll on” by the thrash metal group BigRig. It is nevertheless important to keep in mind that these trucks aren't at home on the road, and that they must follow the same rules as all other drivers. It is illegal for truckers, as an example to use their mobile phones while driving. A single second of negligence could result in fatal consequences.