| Tricky
litigation of laws claims
against negligent truck
drivers and the companies
who hire them. Negligence,
when behind the wheel
of an eighteen wheeler
as a professional driver
rises to an even greater
standard of negligence.
Collisions caused by
the truckers negligence
often times lead to
the most devastating,
catastrophic injuries
on hand. With the number
of semi-trucks on the
highways exploding,
so too are the number
of cases involving injuries
and damages caused by
negligent truck drivers.
Our firm devotes every
resource necessary to
bring about a fair recovery
for the victims of trucker’s
negligence as quickly
as possible. Our firm
has a comprehensive
understanding of the
complicated issues in
the Department of Transportation
regulations that govern
them. We will work with
our clients to make
the industry aware of
the problems and to
bring about increased
road safety for all.
A high percentage
of traffic crashes
and deaths involve
large trucks. A large
truck is any truck
whose vehicle weighs
over 10,000 pounds.
Because of their size,
crashes involving
large trucks are more
likely to result in
serious injury and
death rather than
car crashes. Trucking
companies are required
to keep records of
their drivers and
cargo being transferred.
Poor equipment and
driver fatigue can
be causes of such
crashes, and the careful
study of the trucking
company’s records
may be needed to determine
if negligence has
occurred.
Trucking accidents
are different from
auto accidents in
many ways, one of
the most serious being
the extent of damages
and injuries when
a truck and an auto
collide. Because big
rigs, 18-wheelers
and tractor-trailers
can weigh in excess
of 80,000 pounds,
a trucking collision
can have deadly consequences.
There are laws and
regulations that are
designed specifically
to protect motorists
from negligent actions
of truck drivers and
trucking companies.
Federal and state
regulations require
truckers to have adequate
rest to prevent driver
fatigue on the highway.
There are also other
specific rules for
trucks including proper
loading of the materials
the trucks are carrying
and safety rules on
traveling speeds and
safety when passing
other vehicles. Many
modern trucks have
devices that allow
for their reconstruction
of the trucker’s
accident just before
impact and all truckers
are required to keep
logs of their time.
WHAT STEPS
TO TAKE IF YOU ARE
INVOLVED IN A TRACTOR-TRAILER
COLLSION
If you are involved
in a tractor-trailer
collision or a collision
of any type, the first
thing to do is call
emergency response
to request both medical
and police assistance.
Never leave the scene
and it is best if
you do not move your
vehicle. If there
are any disputes over
the way the collision
occurred placement
of the vehicles will
often times assist
the officer and others
regarding reconstruction
of the accident to
determine exactly
what happened. If
you have a camera
in your car, take
pictures of damage
to the vehicles and
the position of vehicles
along with the scene.
If you can, attempt
to locate any people
that may have witnessed
the collision. Get
their names, addresses
and telephone numbers.
As well exchange information
with the other driver
such as insurance
and driver’s
license information.
Be sure you know which
police department
investigates the collision
so you know where
to request the police
report.
In almost every collision,
there is some type
of trauma caused to
the body. If an ambulance
is offered, it is
always best to go
to the emergency room
to be examined to
ensure that are not
any hidden internal
injuries. Many times
because of the shock
or adrenaline will
mask your symptoms
and later appear.
Emergency room doctors
will also give you
advice regarding follow-up
care.
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