Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?
18 wheeler accident lawyer bellevue of car accidents happen and result in medical bills, physical damage and time lost from work. But, if an 18 wheeler gets involved it could be more serious.
In the event of a crash, victims are able to file a claim for financial compensation. This is where a New Orleans truck accident attorney can be of assistance.
Weight Limits
In general 18 wheelers are able to carry 80,000 pounds including the weight of cargo. This is a strict limit that requires trucking companies to pack their vehicles with full capacity and could lead to overloading. Truck drivers who exceed this limit may be fined. The fines will vary depending on the location they reside in.
You can tell when an 18 wheeler is going over the limit by watching their lights. If their blinkers flash one time, it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams or multiple flashes aren't. Truck drivers also make use of their lights to communicate, so keep alert for them when merging.
Always leave plenty of space between your vehicle, and an 18-wheeler. This is particularly important when you're passing. If you cut off the truck, it could cause an accident that is fatal. Car drivers are the primary cause of 72 percent of all crashes between trucks and cars.
Number of Axles
Semi-trucks, unlike cars, require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. The most common truck has four axles, including the steer and drive axles, whereas trailers typically have two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a typical car, and it's important to be aware of this when driving along with one of these vehicles.
The weight limits for axles are determined by a variety of factors including the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limit set by each state. The limits of the state may be higher than federal limits, which is why it is crucial for truckers and drivers to be aware of prior to traveling.
The process of transporting freight is already difficult enough and adding additional weight can increase the risk of an accident. A trucker who overloads his truck is in violation of the law and could be held accountable for any injuries that occur as a result. A truck accident lawyer can determine if the driver of an 18-wheeler was negligent and the cause of the accident if you were injured.
Speed Limits
Speeding is one of the main causes of truck accidents, which every driver is aware. This is particularly the case for larger trucks, which are more likely to crash due to their weight and size. Truckers must, therefore, adhere to the speed limits on every road they travel on.
Truck drivers are often pressured to speed up delivery times and may not be able to slow enough to accommodate the conditions. This could lead to unsafe driving, and it can cause harm to other motorists.
Speed limiters can decrease the chance of accidents. This is a device that can automatically limit the speed of a truck to a safe speed, and it can be used in a variety of trucks.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is currently evaluating an amendment to the rulebook that would require truckers to utilize these devices. The agency has issued an additional announcement of proposed rulemaking in order to solicit feedback on the proposed rule. Previous proposals have discussed limit truck speeds to 60, 65, or even 68 mph.
Insurance
Most private vehicle owners purchase an insurance policy that will protect their personal vehicles. Truckers however, don't own the trucks they drive. They lease their 18-wheelers from a trucking firm. Trucking companies require higher limits of liability insurance because commercial vehicles are more hazardous. They can also purchase cargo and bobtail insurance for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that a semi transports, while bobtail insurance covers the truck once it has delivered its load. In the event of a crash these policies can be used to compensate grieving family members for the losses they suffered.
Maintenance
It can be difficult to estimate the maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. The maintenance costs for trucks are high and repair, especially when major repairs are required. However some trucking companies offer maintenance schedules which provide an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle.
Trucks have ten brakes instead 18 and anti-lock breaks are being offered on new trucks. Trucks take approximately 40 percent longer to stop than cars. This is due to the huge dimension and speed of an 18-wheeler.
The term "eighteen wheeler" has become synonymous with trucking. It's used in country music songs like the Red Sovine titles "Giddyup Go" and "Teddy Bear" and the thrash metal group BigRig's hit song "Roll on". But it is crucial to remember that these vehicles are not home on the road and they are subject to the same rules as other drivers. For example, it is illegal for truck drivers to text while driving since the slightest mistake could result in fatal consequences.