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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? Many car accidents occur and can result in physical injuries, medical bills and time lost from work. When an 18 wheeler gets involved it can be even more grave. When this happens, victims are able to file a claim for financial compensation. This is where a New Orleans truck accident attorney can assist. Weight Limits In general 18 wheelers are able to carry 80,000 pounds, including the weight of cargo. This is a very strict restriction that requires trucking companies to pack their vehicles with full capacity and can result in overloaded. Drivers who exceed this limit can be penalized, and the penalties vary based on where they reside. You can generally tell if an 18 wheeler is going over the limit by watching their lights. If 18 wheeler accident lawyer fontana flash just once it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and multiple flashes are not. Truck drivers also utilize their lights to communicate, so keep on the lookout for them when merging. It is important to leave a large gap between your vehicle and an 18 wheeler especially when passing. Trucks need plenty of room to slow down and stop If you cut them off this could result in an unfathomable crash. While truck drivers are often seen as bullies on the road 72% of accidents between cars and trucks are caused by car drivers. Axles Axles Unlike cars, semi-trucks require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. The most common truck has four axles, which includes the drive and steer axles, while trailers typically have two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a typical passenger vehicle and it's crucial to be aware of this when driving with one of these vehicles. The weight limits for axles are based on a variety of factors, like the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits set by each state for single axles and axle groups. The limit for each state can be higher than the Federal limit, which makes it essential for truckers to understand the federal and state axle weight limits before traveling. The task of transporting freight is already difficult enough but adding weight increases the risk of an accident. A trucker who overloaded his trailer is in violation of law and may be held responsible for any injuries resulting from. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the driver of an 18-wheeler was negligent and the cause of 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 especially applicable to large trucks due to their size, weight and size. Therefore, truckers must adhere to the speed limits on every road they travel. Truck drivers are often under pressure to speed up delivery times and may not be able slow down enough to meet the conditions. This could lead to unsafe driving, and can also be deadly for other motorists. It is, however, possible to minimize the chance of these accidents by using speed limiters. This is a gadget that will automatically restrict the speed of a vehicle to a safe amount and can be installed in various types of trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering an updated rule that will require truckers to make use of these devices. The agency has issued an additional notice of proposed rulemaking in order to get feedback on the proposal. In previous proposals, it was suggested that truck speeds be restricted to 60 or 65 miles per hour. Insurance The majority of private car owners purchase one insurance policy that covers all their vehicles. Truckers however don't own the truck they drive. Instead, they rent their 18-wheelers to a trucking company. Trucking companies require higher limits for liability insurance as commercial vehicles are more dangerous. They can also purchase cargo and bobtail insurance for their vehicles. Cargo insurance protects the freight that a semi-truck is carrying. Bobtail insurance covers the truck after it has delivered its cargo. In the event of a crash the policies could help to compensate grieving family members for their losses. Maintenance It's difficult to come up with an accurate estimate of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. It is expensive to maintain and repair, especially when major repairs are required. However certain trucking companies offer maintenance schedules that provide an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle. Trucks have ten brakes instead of 18 and anti-lock breaks are being offered on new trucks. In general, trucks take 40 percent longer than a normal car to stop. This is because the large 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 used in country music, for instance the songs “Giddyup go” and “Teddy Bear”, by Red Sovine, and “Roll on” by the thrash metal group BigRig. It is crucial to keep in mind that these trucks aren't driving on the streets and must adhere to the same rules as other drivers. It is against the law for truckers, as an example to use their phones while driving. A moment of inattention could result in negative consequences for a driver.