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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?
There are many accidents involving cars that cause physical and medical bills, as well as time away from work. If an 18-wheeler is involved the consequences can be more severe.
In the event of a crash, victims may file a claim for financial compensation. 18 wheeler accident lawsuit bolingbrook is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can assist.
Weight Limits
18-wheelers are restricted to carrying the maximum weight of 80,000 pounds including the weight and volume of cargo. This is a tight limitation that requires trucking companies to pack their trucks to the maximum extent possible and could result in overloading. Drivers who exceed the limit could be fined. The fines will vary depending the place they live.
If you examine the lights of an 18-wheeler you'll be able to tell if they're exceeding the speed limit. A single flash of their blinkers means that it's safe to merge ahead of them, whereas high beams or multiple flashes indicate that it's not. Be on the lookout for truck drivers who are also using their lights as a way to communicate with each other.
Always leave a large gap between your vehicle, and an 18-wheeler. This is especially important when you're driving by. Trucks require plenty room to slow down and stop and if you cut them off it could result in a fatal crash. Although truck drivers are frequently thought of as bullies on road 72% of crashes between trucks and passenger cars 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, which includes the drive and steer axles, while trailers typically have two tandem axles. It is important to keep in mind that these vehicles are longer than the average passenger car.
Limits on axle weights are based on a number of factors, such as the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits posted by each state for single axles as well as axle groups. State limits can be higher than federal limits, which is why it is important for truckers to know prior to travel.
Hauling standard freight shipments is enough of a challenge, but adding more heft increases the chance of accidents. A trucker who overloaded his trailer 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 was negligent and the reason for the accident in case you were injured.
Speed Limits
For any driver, speeding is among the main causes of truck accidents. This is especially the case for big trucks due to their size, weight and size. Truckers must, therefore, adhere to speed limits on all roads they travel.
However truck drivers are usually pressured to make quick deliveries and may not be able to slow down enough to accommodate the conditions. This can lead to dangerous driving, and could cause harm to other motorists.
It is possible to decrease the risk of these accidents by using speed limiters. This device automatically restricts the speed of a car to a safe speed. It is able to be installed on various types of vehicles.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is looking into the possibility of a new rule that would require truckers to use these devices. The agency has issued a supplemental notification of proposed rulemaking to gather feedback on the proposal. Previous proposals have talked about limiting truck speeds to 60, 65, or even speeds of 68 speed.
Insurance
The majority of private vehicle owners purchase an insurance policy that will protect their vehicles. Truckers, on the other hand, don't own the trucks 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. In addition, they can purchase cargo and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance protects the freight that a semi-truck is carrying. Bobtail insurance covers the truck after it has delivered its load. In the event of a wreck these policies can be used to compensate grieving family members for their losses.
Maintenance
It's difficult to come up with an accurate estimation of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. It is expensive to maintain and repair, especially when major repairs are needed. However some trucking companies offer maintenance schedules that give an estimate of the total cost of maintaining the vehicle.
Trucks are usually equipped with 10 brakes, not 18 and anti-lock brakes are now standard in new trucks. Trucks take around 40 percent longer to stop than cars. This is due in part to the large size of an 18-wheeler and its acceleration increase the stopping distance.
The term "eighteen-wheeler" is now synonymous with trucking. It has even been 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 crucial to keep in mind that these trucks aren't all times on the roads and must obey the same rules as other drivers. For instance, it's illegal for truck drivers to text while driving since a single second of negligence could have deadly consequences.