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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?

There are a lot of car accidents that result in physical and medical costs and absence from work. When an 18 wheeler is involved it can be even more serious.

Victims may make a claim for the financial compensation they deserve if this happens. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can assist.

Weight Limits

In general 18 wheelers are able to transport up to 80,000 lbs including the weight of cargo. This is a very strict restriction that forces trucking firms to pack their vehicles to the max which could result in overloaded. If a truck driver exceeds this limit, they may be penalized, and the penalties vary depending on the place of operation.

You can generally tell if an norco 18 wheeler accident law firm-wheeler is going over the limit by checking their lights. A single flash of their blinkers means that it's safe to merge in front of them, but flashes with multiple lights mean that it's not. Keep an eye out for truck drivers who also use their lights as a way to communicate.

Always leave a good distance between your vehicle and an 18-wheeler. This is especially important when passing. If you cut off the truck, it could lead to an unfatal crash. Although truck drivers are often considered to be bullies on the road 72% of accidents between passenger cars and trucks are caused by car drivers.

Number of Axles

Semi-trucks, unlike cars, require multiple axles in order to rotate the wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, including the drive and steer axles, while trailers typically have two tandem axles. This can make them much longer than a typical passenger vehicle, and it's important to be aware of this when driving along with one of these vehicles.

The weight limits for axles are based on a range of factors, like the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits set by each state for single axles as well as axle groups. The limits of the state may be higher than federal limits, therefore it is crucial for truckers and drivers to be aware of both before traveling.

Moving standard freight shipments can be challenging enough however, adding extra weight increases the chance of accidents. A trucker who overloaded his trailer is in violation of law and could be held liable for any injuries resulting from. If you've suffered injuries in an accident caused by an 18-wheeler an attorney for truck accidents can determine if the driver was carrying more than the maximum weight allowed, and whether this negligence was the reason for the injury.

Speed Limits

Speeding is one of the main causes of truck accidents, as any driver is aware. This is particularly true for large trucks, which are more likely to crash due to their weight and east moline 18 wheeler accident lawsuit size. For this reason, it is crucial for truckers to observe the speed limits of every road they travel on.

However truck drivers are usually required to deliver their goods quickly and might not be able to slow down enough for the conditions. This could cause drivers to take risks when driving, which could be fatal for other drivers.

Fortunately, it is possible to lower the risk of these accidents by using speed limiters. This device automatically limits the speed of a vehicle to a safe level. It can be fitted on a variety of types.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering a new rule that will require truckers to make use of these devices. The agency has issued an additional notice of proposed rulemaking to get feedback about the proposal. In previous proposals it was suggested that truck speeds be limited to 60, 65 or even 68 miles per hour.

Insurance

The majority of private owners purchase a single insurance policy to cover their personal vehicles. Truckers on the other hand do not own the trucks they drive. They rent their east moline 18 wheeler accident lawsuit-wheelers instead from a trucking company. Due to the increased risk associated with commercial vehicles, trucking companies typically require higher liability insurance limits. They can also purchase cargo and bobtail insurance for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that a semi-truck is hauling. Bobtail insurance protects the truck once it has delivered its load. These policies can 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 the maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is because trucks are expensive to maintain and repair, especially when they need major repairs. Some trucking companies offer maintenance schedules that estimate the cost of maintaining a vehicle.

Trucks come with ten brakes instead of eighteen, and anti-lock brakes are nowadays standard on all new trucks. In general, trucks take about 40 percent longer than a standard car to stop. This is due to the massive size and acceleration of an 18-wheeler.

The term "eighteen wheeler" has become synonymous with trucking and is even used in country music songs like the Red Sovine titles "Giddyup Go" and "Teddy Bear" and the thrash metal group BigRig's track "Roll on". It is important to remember that these trucks aren't at driving on the streets and must obey the same guidelines as other drivers. For instance, it's illegal for truck drivers to text while driving since the split second of inattention could have fatal consequences.