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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? A lot of car accidents happen and cause physical and medical expenses and time taken away from work. If an 18 wheeler is involved, it can be a lot more serious. Victims can make a claim for an amount of money if they suffer. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can assist. Weight Limits 18-wheelers are restricted to carrying up to 80,000 pounds including the volume and weight of cargo. This is a very strict limit that requires trucking firms to pack their vehicles as full as possible and may result in overloaded. Drivers who exceed this limit may be penalized, and the fines vary depending on where they reside. You can generally tell if an 18-wheeler is going over the limit by looking at their lights. If their blinkers flash one time, it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and multiple flashes are not. Truck drivers also make use of their lights to communicate, so keep on the lookout for them when merging. It is essential to leave a large gap between your vehicle and an 18 wheeler especially when passing. If you cut off the truck, it may cause fatal crashes. Car drivers are at fault for 72 percent of all crashes between vehicles and trucks. The number of Axles Semi-trucks are different from cars in that they require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. A typical semi-truck has four wheels, which includes the steer and drive axles. Trailers usually come with two tandem axles. This can make them much longer than a standard passenger vehicle and it's crucial to keep this in mind when driving alongside one of these vehicles. Axle weight limitations are based on a range of factors, such as the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits posted 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 and drivers to know the federal and state limits on axle weight prior to travel. The transportation of standard freight is enough of a challenge however, adding extra weight increases the chance of accidents. A trucker who overloads his truck is in violation of the law and could be held accountable for any injuries that result. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine whether the driver of an 18-wheeler was at fault and the reason for the accident in case you were injured. Speed Limits Every driver knows that speeding is among the most common causes of truck accidents. This is especially the case for larger trucks, which are much more likely to crash due to their size and weight. This is why it is crucial for truckers to follow the speed limits of every route they travel. However truck drivers are frequently under pressure to deliver quick deliveries, and they might not be able to slow down enough to cope with the conditions. This could lead to unsafe driving, and it could also be fatal to other motorists. It is, however, possible to decrease the chance of accidents by using speed limiters. This is a device that will automatically restrict the speed of a truck to a safe speed that can be installed in many different types of trucks. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is looking into the possibility of a new rule that would require truckers use these devices. The agency has released an additional announcement of proposed rulemaking in order to collect feedback on the proposal. Previous proposals have discussed limit truck speeds to 60 to 65 or speeds of 68 mph. Insurance The majority of private car owners buy one insurance policy to protect their vehicles. Truckers, however, do not own the vehicles they drive. They rent their 18-wheelers instead from a trucking firm. Because of the risky nature associated with commercial vehicles, trucking companies typically require higher liability insurance limits. They can also purchase cargo insurance and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance protects the freight that semi-trucks are hauling. Bobtail insurance protects the truck once it has delivered its cargo. These policies may compensate victims and grieving family members in the event of an accident. Maintenance It's difficult to come up with an accurate estimate of the maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. They are costly to maintain and repair, particularly when major repairs are required. However some trucking companies offer maintenance schedules that will give an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle. Trucks are typically equipped with 10 brakes, not 18 and anti-lock brakes have become standard in new trucks. In general, trucks take around 40 percent longer than a standard car to stop. 18 wheeler accident lawyer scranton is due to the massive size of an 18-wheeler and its acceleration add to the stopping distance. The term “eighteen wheeler” has become synonymous with trucking. It's included in songs of country music, such as the Red Sovine titles “Giddyup Go” and “Teddy Bear” and the thrash metal group BigRig's hit song “Roll on”. However, it's important to keep in mind that these vehicles aren't home on the road and they must obey the same rules as all other drivers. For instance, it's illegal for truckers to text while driving because the split second of inattention could lead to fatal consequences.