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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal?

Numerous car accidents occur and can result in physical injury, medical bills and time lost from work. When 18 wheeler accident case fishers gets involved it can be even more dangerous.

Victims can make a claim and receive the financial compensation they deserve if this happens. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can assist.

Weight Limits

18-wheelers can carry the maximum weight of 80,000 pounds including the weight and volume of cargo. This is a tight restriction that requires trucking companies to fill their vehicles to the maximum extent possible and can lead to overloading. Truck drivers who exceed this limit can be fined, and the fines vary depending on where they live.

You can tell when an 18-wheeler is going over the limit by watching their lights. If their blinkers flash only once it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams or 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 wide gap between your vehicle and an 18-wheeler. This is crucial when passing. Trucks need plenty of room to slow down and stop and if you cut them off and they are unable to stop, it could result in fatal crashes. While truck drivers are often seen as bullies on the road 72% of collisions between trucks and passenger cars result from car drivers.

Number of Axles

As opposed to cars, semi-trucks have multiple axles in order to rotate the wheels. A typical truck has four wheels, including the drive and steer axles. Trailers usually have two tandem axles. This can make them much longer than a typical car and it's essential to keep this in mind when driving along with one of these vehicles.

Limits on axle weights are based upon a variety of factors, such as the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits posted by each state for single axles and axle groups. State limits may be higher than federal limits, which is why it is crucial for truckers and drivers to be aware of prior to travel.

Hauling standard freight shipments is enough of a challenge 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 responsible for any injuries resulting from. A truck accident lawyer will determine if the driver of an 18-wheeler was negligent and the cause of the accident in case you were injured.

Speed Limits

Like any driver, speeding is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. This is especially applicable to big trucks due to their size, weight and weight. Therefore, truckers must adhere to the speed limits on every road they travel.

Truck drivers are often under pressure to deliver their goods quickly and may not be able slow down enough to meet the conditions. This can lead to risky driving, and it can also be fatal to other motorists.

Speed limiters can lower the chance of accidents. This device automatically limits the speed of a vehicle to a level that is safe. It is able to be installed on many different types.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is currently evaluating a new rule which would require truckers use these devices. The agency has issued an additional notification of the proposed rulemaking to solicit feedback on the proposed rule. Previous proposals have focused on limiting truck speeds to 60 or 65 mph, or even up to 68 speed.

Insurance

Most private vehicle owners buy one insurance policy that covers all their vehicles. Truckers however do not own the trucks they drive. Instead, they lease their 18-wheelers from a trucking company. Companies that transport goods require greater limits for liability insurance as commercial vehicles are more hazardous. 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 an accident, these policies can help to compensate grieving family members for their losses.





Maintenance

It can be difficult to estimate the maintenance costs of commercial vehicles. They are costly to maintain and repair, especially when major repairs are required. However, some trucking companies provide maintenance schedules which provide an estimate of the total cost of maintaining the vehicle.

Trucks are usually equipped with 10 brakes, not 18 and anti-lock brakes are the norm in new trucks. In general, trucks take around 40 percent longer than a typical car to stop. This is due to the huge dimensions of an 18-wheeler as well as its speed increase the stopping distance.

The term "eighteen-wheeler" is now synonymous with trucking. It's even been used in country music, such as the songs "Giddyup go" and "Teddy Bear" by Red Sovine, and "Roll on" by thrash metal group BigRig. It is important to keep in mind that these trucks aren't at driving on the streets and must follow the same guidelines as other drivers. It is against the law for truckers, for instance to use their mobile phones while driving. One second of inattention could result in disastrous consequences.