Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?

A lot of car accidents happen and can result in physical and medical expenses and time away from work. If an 18 wheeler accident-wheeler is involved, the consequences could be more serious.

Victims may file a claim to receive 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 can carry up to 80,000lbs in total, not including the weight of cargo. This is a very strict restriction that requires trucking companies to pack their trucks to the maximum extent possible and could result in overloaded. Truck drivers who exceed this limit can be penalized. The fines will vary depending on where they live.

If you take a look at the lights of an 18-wheeler, you can usually tell whether they are going over the speed limit. If their blinkers flash just once it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and multiple flashes aren't. Keep an eye out for truck drivers who also use their lights to communicate with each other.

Always leave plenty of space between your vehicle, and an 18 wheeler accident lawsuits-wheeler. This is particularly important when you're passing. If you cut off the truck, it could result in fatal crashes. Car drivers are the primary cause of 72 percent of all crashes between trucks and cars.

Axles Axles

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

Axle weight limitations are based on a number of factors, like the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits posted by each state for single axles as well as axle groups. The state limit can often be higher than the Federal limit that is why it is vital for truckers to understand the federal and state limit on axle weight before they travel.

Transporting normal freight shipments can be challenging enough however, adding extra weight increases the risk of accidents. A trucker who overloads his truck is in violation of the law and could be held liable for any injuries that occur as a result. If you've been injured in an accident with an 18 wheeler an attorney for truck accidents can help determine whether the driver was carrying more than the maximum amount allowed, and whether this negligence was the reason for your injuries.

Speed Limits

Speeding is one of the main causes of truck accidents, which every driver knows. This is especially the case for big trucks due to their weight, size and size. Therefore, it is essential for truckers to observe the speed limits for every route they travel.

However truck drivers are often pressured to make quick deliveries, and they might not be able to slow down enough to accommodate the conditions. This can result in dangerous driving, and could also be fatal for other motorists.

Speed limiters can reduce the chance of accidents. This is a device that can automatically restrict the speed of a truck to a safe limit and is used in a variety of trucks.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is currently evaluating the possibility of a new rule that will require truckers to utilize these devices. The agency has released a new notice of proposed rulemaking in order to gather feedback on the proposal. The previous proposals have talked about limiting truck speeds to 60 or 65, or even up to 68 miles per hour.

Insurance

The majority of private car owners buy one insurance policy to protect their personal vehicles. The truckers do not own the vehicles they drive. They lease their 18-wheelers from a trucking firm. Because of the higher risk that come with commercial vehicles, trucking companies typically require higher liability insurance limits. Additionally, they may purchase cargo and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance protects the freight that semi-trucks transport. Bobtail insurance protects the truck once it has delivered its cargo. In the event of a collision these policies can be used to compensate grieving family members for their losses.

Maintenance

It is often difficult to estimate the cost of maintenance for commercial vehicles. It is expensive to maintain and repair, especially when major repairs are needed. Some trucking companies offer maintenance schedules that estimate the cost of maintaining the vehicle.

Trucks have ten brakes instead 18 and anti-lock breaks are nowadays standard on all new trucks. In general, trucks take around 40% longer than a regular car to stop. This is due to the massive dimension and speed of an 18-wheeler.

The term "eighteen wheeler" has become synonymous with trucking and is even featured 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". It is nevertheless important to keep in mind that these vehicles aren't at home on the road, and that they are subject to the same rules as all other drivers. It is against the law for truckers, for instance to text while driving. A split second of inattention could have negative consequences for a driver.