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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? Many car accidents occur and result in medical bills, physical damage and time taken away from work. If an 18-wheeler is involved, the consequences could be more severe. In the event of a crash, victims may file a claim for financial compensation. This is where a New Orleans truck accident attorney can assist. Weight Limits 18-wheelers are limited to carrying up to 80,000 pounds including the weight and volume of cargo. This is a very tight limitation that requires trucking companies to fill their vehicles to the maximum extent possible and may result in overloaded. Drivers who exceed the limit could be fined, and the penalties vary based on the location they reside in. If you examine the lights of an 18-wheeler, you'll know if they're going over the speed limit. If their blinkers flash 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 an an eye out for them when merging. Always leave a wide gap between your car and an 18-wheeler. This is crucial when you are passing. If you cut off the truck, it could cause fatal crashes. Car drivers are the primary cause of 72% of all crashes between vehicles and trucks. The number of Axles Semi-trucks, unlike cars, require multiple axles in order to rotate the wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, which includes the steer and drive axles, whereas trailers typically have two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a typical car and it's crucial to keep this in mind when driving alongside one of these vehicles. Axle weight limitations are based upon a variety of factors, like the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits set by each state for single axles and axle groups. The state limit can often be higher than the Federal limit and this is why it is essential for truckers to be aware of the state and federal axle weight limits prior to traveling. The process of transporting freight is already difficult enough but adding weight increases the risk of an accident. A trucker who overloads his truck is in violation of the law and could be held responsible for any injuries that result. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the operator of an 18-wheeler was at fault and the cause of the accident in case you were injured. Speed Limits Every driver knows that speeding is one of the most frequent causes of truck accidents. This is particularly the case for big trucks due to their size, weight and size. 18 wheeler accident lawsuit lynchburg is why it is essential for truckers to obey the speed limits on each route they travel. Truck drivers are often pressured to deliver quickly and may not be able to slow down enough to suit the conditions. This could lead to unsafe driving, and could also be deadly for other motorists. Fortunately, it is possible to decrease the chance of these accidents by using speed limiters. This is a device that can automatically limit 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 currently evaluating the possibility of a new rule that will require truckers to make use of these devices. The agency has issued a revised notice of proposed rulemaking in order to gather feedback on the idea. The previous proposals have talked about the limitation of truck speeds to 60 to 65 or 68 mph. Insurance The majority of private vehicle owners purchase one insurance policy that covers all their vehicles. Truckers, on the other hand don't own the vehicles they drive. They rent their 18-wheelers instead from a trucking company. Trucking companies require higher limits for liability insurance as commercial vehicles are more risky. In addition, they can purchase bobtail and cargo insurance for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that semi-trucks are hauling. Bobtail insurance covers the truck once it has delivered its cargo. In the event of an accident the policies could help to compensate grieving family members for their losses. Maintenance It is often difficult to estimate the costs of maintenance for commercial vehicles. This is because the trucks are costly to repair and maintain particularly when they require major repairs. However some trucking firms offer maintenance schedules that give an estimate of the total cost of maintaining the vehicle. Trucks have ten brakes instead eighteen, and anti-lock brakes are currently standard on new trucks. In general, trucks take about 40 percent longer than a standard car to stop. This is due to the huge size and momentum of an 18-wheeler. The term “eighteen-wheeler” is now synonymous with trucking. It's been used in country music, including the songs “Giddyup go” and “Teddy Bear” by Red Sovine, and “Roll on” by thrash metal group BigRig. However, it's important to keep in mind that these vehicles are not at home on the road, and that they must adhere to the same rules as all other drivers. For instance, it is illegal for truck drivers to text while driving as the smallest moment of distraction could result in fatal consequences.