Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?

Many car accidents happen and result in physical injury, medical bills and time away from work. If an 18 wheeler is involved, it can be much more grave.

Victims are able to make a claim for financial compensation if this happens. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can help.

Weight Limits

18 wheeler accident attorneys-wheelers are restricted to carrying a maximum of 80,000 pounds including the volume and weight of cargo. This is a very strict restriction that forces trucking firms to pack their vehicles to the max, which can lead to overloading. Truck drivers who exceed this limit may be fined, and the fines vary depending the place they live.

If you take a look at the lights of an 18-wheeler you'll know if they're going over the speed limit. If their blinkers flash only once, it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and multiple flashes aren't. Truck drivers also utilize their lights to communicate, so keep an eye out for them when merging.

It's important to always leave a wide gap between your vehicle and an 18 wheeler, particularly when you pass. If you cut off the truck, it could lead to an accident that is fatal. Car drivers are responsible for 72 percent of all collisions between trucks and cars.

Axles Axles

Semi-trucks, unlike cars, require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, which includes the steer and drive axles, while trailers typically have two tandem axles. It is important to keep in mind that these vehicles are bigger than the average automobile.

The limits on axle weights are based on a variety of factors that include the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limit set by each state. The state limit can often be higher than the Federal limit that is why it is vital for truckers to be aware of the federal and state axle weight limits prior to traveling.

The task of transporting freight is already difficult enough, but adding extra weight increases the risk of an accident. A trucker who overloads his truck is in violation of the law and may be held responsible for any injuries that result. A truck accident lawyer can determine if the operator of an 18 wheeler accident lawsuit-wheeler was at fault and the reason for the accident in case you were injured.

Speed Limits

Speeding is a major cause of truck accidents, as every driver knows. This is especially the case for big trucks due to their weight, size and weight. Truckers must, therefore, adhere to speed limits on all roads they travel.

Truck drivers are often under pressure to deliver their goods quickly and accident may not be able slow down enough to suit the conditions. This can cause drivers be reckless drivers, which could cause harm to other drivers.

It is, however, possible to minimize the risk of these accidents by using speed limiters. This is a device that can automatically limit the speed of a truck to a safe amount that can be fitted in a variety of types of trucks.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is looking at an updated rule that will require truckers to use these devices. The agency has issued a revised notice of proposed rulemaking, in order to collect feedback on the idea. In previous proposals, it was suggested that truck speeds should be limited to 60, 65 or even 68 miles per hour.

Insurance

The majority of private car owners purchase a single policy to cover all their vehicles. Truckers however, don't own the trucks they drive. Instead, they rent their 18-wheelers to a trucking company. Due to the increased risk associated with commercial vehicles trucking companies typically require higher liability insurance limits. In addition, they can purchase bobtail and cargo coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance safeguards the cargo that semi-trucks are hauling. Bobtail insurance protects the truck after it has delivered its cargo. In the event of a crash the policies could help to compensate victims or grieving family members for their losses.

Maintenance

It's not always easy to get an accurate estimation of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is because the trucks are very expensive to maintain and repair, especially when they need major repairs. However some trucking firms offer maintenance schedules that will give an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle.

Trucks have ten brakes instead 18 and anti-lock break breaks are currently standard on new trucks. Trucks take around 40% longer to stop than cars. This is due to the massive size of an 18-wheeler and its speed increase the stopping distance.

The term "eighteen-wheeler" is now synonymous with trucking. It's even used in country music, like the songs "Giddyup go" and "Teddy Bear", by Red Sovine, and "Roll on" by thrash metal group BigRig. However, it is important to remember that these vehicles aren't home on the road, and they must follow the same rules as other drivers. It is illegal to permit truckers, for instance to use their mobile phones while driving. One second of inattention can have disastrous consequences.