Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?
Many car accidents happen and result in physical injury, medical bills and time taken away from work. When an 18-wheeler vehicle is involved, the consequences could be more severe.
When this happens, victims are able to file a claim for financial compensation. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can assist.
Weight Limits
In general 18 wheelers are able to transport up to 80,000 lbs which includes the weight of cargo. This is a very strict limit that requires trucking companies to load their vehicles full and can result in overloaded. Drivers who exceed this limit may be fined. The fines vary depending on where they reside.
If you examine the lights of an 18-wheeler you can usually tell whether they're going over the speed limit. A single flash of their blinkers indicates that it's safe to merge in front of them, but flashes of high intensity or multiple flashes mean that it's not. Be aware of truck drivers who are also using their lights as a way to communicate.
Always leave a large gap between your vehicle and an 18-wheeler. This is particularly important when you're passing. If you cut off the truck, it may cause an unfatal crash. Car drivers are the cause of 72 percent of crashes involving cars and trucks.
The number of Axles
In contrast to cars, semi-trucks require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. The most common truck has four axles, which includes the steer and drive axles, whereas trailers usually have 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, like the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits set by each state for single axles as well as axle groups. The state limit can often be higher than the Federal limit and this is why it is essential for truckers to understand the federal and state axle weight limits before traveling.
The task of transporting freight is enough to be difficult however, adding more weight increases the chance of an accident. When truckers overload their trailer and is in violation of the law and may be held liable for the resultant injuries. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the driver of an 18-wheeler was at fault and the reason for the accident in case you were injured.
Speed Limits
Speeding is one of the main causes of truck accidents, which every driver is aware. This is particularly true for large trucks, which are more likely to crash due to their weight and size. Because of this, it is vital for truckers to follow the speed limits on every road they travel on.
Truck drivers are often pressured to make quick delivery and may not be able to slow down enough to match the conditions. This can lead to dangerous driving, and can also be fatal for other motorists.
Fortunately, it is possible to reduce the risk of these accidents by using speed limiters. This device automatically reduces the speed of a car to a safe limit. It can be put in on a variety of different types of.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is examining the possibility of a new rule that would require truckers to use these devices. The agency has issued an additional notice of proposed rulemaking in order to collect feedback on the proposed rule. The previous proposals have talked about limiting truck speeds to 60 or 65 mph, or even the speed limit of 68 miles per hour.
Insurance
The majority of private vehicle owners purchase a single policy to cover all their vehicles. The truckers do not own the trucks that they drive. Instead, they rent their 18-wheelers to a trucking company. Because of the risky nature of commercial vehicles, trucking firms typically require greater liability insurance limits. They can also purchase cargo and bobtail insurances for their vehicles. Cargo coverage protects the freight that a semi is carrying and bobtail insurance protects the truck after it delivers its load. These policies will pay compensation to victims and grieving family members in the event of an accident.
Maintenance
It can be difficult to estimate the maintenance costs of commercial vehicles. This is because trucks are costly to repair and maintain, especially when they need major repairs. 18 wheeler accident settlement new britain that operate in the field of trucking offer maintenance schedules to estimate the cost of maintaining the vehicle.
Trucks have ten brakes rather than 18 and anti-lock breaks are nowadays standard on all new trucks. In general, trucks take 40% longer than a regular car to stop. This is due to the huge dimensions of an 18-wheeler as well as its momentum add to the stopping distance.
The term "eighteen-wheeler" is now synonymous with trucking. It's even been used in country music, including the songs "Giddyup go" and "Teddy Bear", by Red Sovine, and "Roll on" by the thrash metal group BigRig. It is crucial to remember that these trucks aren't at driving on the streets and must adhere to the same guidelines as other drivers. It is illegal for truckers, for instance to text while driving. One second of negligence could result in negative consequences for a driver.