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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? There are many car accidents that result in physical and medical bills, as well as the need to take time off from work. But, if an 18 wheeler is involved it can be a lot more serious. If this happens, the victims are able to file a claim for financial compensation. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can help. Weight Limits In general 18 wheelers can carry 80,000 pounds including the weight of cargo. This is a strict restriction that requires trucking companies to pack their vehicles to capacity, which can lead to overloading. If a truck driver goes over the limit, they could be fined, which varies depending on the location. It is easy to tell if an 18 wheeler is over the limit by observing their lights. A single flash of their blinkers indicates that it's safe to merge in front of them, while high beams or multiple flashes mean that it's not. Truck drivers also use their lights to communicate, so keep on the lookout for them when merging. It is important to leave a wide gap between your vehicle and an 18 wheeler especially when passing. Trucks require plenty of room to slow down and stop, and if you cut them off this could result in an unfathomable crash. Car drivers are responsible for 72% of all crashes between trucks and cars. The number of Axles Like cars, semi-trucks need multiple axles to turn the wheels. The typical truck has four axles, which includes the drive and steer axles, while a trailer typically has two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a typical passenger vehicle and it's crucial to be aware of this when driving in the vicinity of one of these vehicles. The weight limits for axles are based on several factors that include the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limit set by each state. The limit for each state can be higher than the Federal limit which is why it is crucial for truckers to know the federal and state limits on axle weight prior to travel. The transportation of standard freight is enough of a challenge, but adding more heft increases the risk of accidents. A trucker who overloads his trailer is in violation of the law and could be held responsible for any injuries resulting from. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the operator of an 18-wheeler was negligent and the reason for the accident in case you were injured. Speed Limits Speeding is a major cause of truck accidents, which every driver knows. This is particularly the case for larger trucks, which are more likely to crash due to their weight and size. Therefore, truckers must adhere to the speed limits on every road they travel. However truck drivers are usually pressured to make quick deliveries, and they may not be able slow down enough for the conditions. This could cause drivers to be reckless drivers, which could cause harm to other drivers. Fortunately, it is possible to decrease the chance of these accidents by using speed limiters. This device automatically reduces the speed of a car to a safe limit. It can be fitted on a variety of different types of. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is looking into the possibility of a new rule that will require truckers use these devices. The agency has released a supplemental notification of proposed rulemaking to get feedback on the rule. In previous proposals, it was suggested that truck speeds should be limited to 60 or 65 miles per hour. Insurance The majority of private car owners purchase one insurance policy that covers all their vehicles. Truckers, on the other hand, don't own the trucks they drive. They rent their 18-wheelers instead from a trucking company. 18 wheeler accident lawsuit huntsville require higher limits of liability insurance since commercial vehicles are more hazardous. They can also purchase cargo insurance and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that semi-trucks transport. Bobtail insurance protects the truck after it has delivered its load. These policies will compensate victims and grieving family members in the event of an accident. Maintenance It's not always easy to get an accurate estimate of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is because the trucks are expensive to repair and maintain particularly when they require major repairs. Some trucking companies provide maintenance schedules to estimate the cost of maintaining a vehicle. The majority of trucks have only ten brakes, not 18, and anti-lock brakes are common in newer vehicles. In general, trucks require around 40 percent longer than a typical 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 been used in country music, including the songs “Giddyup go” and “Teddy Bear”, by Red Sovine, and “Roll on” by thrash metal group BigRig. It is important to remember that these trucks aren't at driving on the streets and must follow the same rules as other drivers. For example, it is illegal for truck drivers to text while driving because the split second of inattention could have deadly consequences.