Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?
Many car accidents occur and result in medical bills, physical damage and time away from work. If an 18-wheeler is involved the consequences are far more severe.
Victims are able to file a claim to receive financial compensation if this happens. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can help.
Weight Limits
In general 18 wheelers can carry up to 80,000 pounds in total, not including the weight of cargo. This is a strict limit that requires trucking companies to pack their vehicles to the max and can result in overloading. Truck drivers who exceed this limit may be fined. The fines will vary depending on where they reside.
You can generally tell if an 18 wheeler is over the limit by observing their lights. If their blinkers flash once, it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and flashes with multiple flashes aren't. Truck drivers also make use of their lights to communicate, so keep on the lookout for them when merging.
Always leave a good distance between your car and an 18-wheeler. This is particularly important when you're driving by. If you cut off the truck, it could result in a fatal crash. Car drivers are at fault for 72% of all crashes between trucks and cars.
The number of Axles
Unlike cars, semi-trucks require multiple axles to rotate their wheels. The most common truck has four axles, which includes the drive and steer axles, whereas a trailer typically has two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a standard passenger vehicle and it's essential to keep this in mind when driving alongside one of these vehicles.
The limits on axle weights are based on a variety of factors, including the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limits set by each state. 18 wheeler accident lawyer hammond for each state can be higher than the Federal limit which is why it is crucial for truckers and drivers to know the federal and state limit on axle weight before they travel.
The process of transporting freight is already difficult enough however, adding more weight increases the likelihood of an accident. A trucker who overloaded his trailer is in violation of the law and may be held responsible 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 reason for the accident in case you were injured.
Speed Limits
Speeding is one of the main causes of truck accidents, as any driver knows. This is especially applicable to large trucks, which are more likely to crash due to their weight and size. For this reason, it is essential for truckers to adhere to the speed limits of every road they travel.
However truck drivers are frequently forced to make deliveries in a hurry, and they may not be able slow down enough for the conditions. This can cause drivers to drive recklessly, which could be deadly for other drivers.
Speed limiters can lower the chance of accidents. This is a device that can automatically restrict the speed of a vehicle to a safe limit and can be installed in various types of trucks.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is examining an updated rule that will require truckers to make use of these devices. The agency has issued an additional notification of the proposed rulemaking in order to gather feedback about the proposal. In earlier proposals it was suggested that truck speeds be limited to 60, 65 or even 68 miles per hour.
Insurance
Most private vehicle owners buy one policy to cover all their vehicles. Truckers however don't own the vehicles they drive. They lease their 18-wheelers from a trucking company. Companies that transport goods require greater limits of liability insurance because commercial vehicles are more hazardous. They can also purchase cargo and bobtail insurances for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that a semi transports while bobtail insurance protects the truck after it has delivered its load. These policies are able to provide compensation to grieving victims and family members in the event of an accident.
Maintenance
It can be difficult to estimate the cost of maintenance for commercial vehicles. This is because the trucks are costly to maintain and repair particularly when they require major repairs. Some trucking companies provide maintenance schedules that estimate the cost of maintaining a vehicle.
The majority of trucks have 10 brakes, not 18, and anti-lock brakes are available in all newer trucks. They take about 40 percent longer to stop than a car. This is due to the large dimensions and the speed of an 18-wheeler.
The term "eighteen-wheeler" is now synonymous with trucking. It's even used in country music, for instance the songs "Giddyup go" and "Teddy Bear" by Red Sovine, and "Roll on" by thrash metal group BigRig. It is important to remember that these trucks aren't at their own on the road and must follow the same rules as other drivers. For instance, it is illegal for truckers to text while driving since the split second of inattention could lead to fatal consequences.