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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? There are a lot of car accidents that cause medical bills and physical damage as well as time off from work. If an 18-wheeler vehicle is involved, the consequences can be more severe. In this case, victims are able to file a claim for financial compensation. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can help. Weight Limits 18-wheelers are limited to carrying up to 80,000 pounds including the volume and weight of cargo. This is a tight limitation that requires trucking companies to pack their vehicles as full as they can, which can result in overloaded. If a truck driver is in excess of this limit, they may be fined, which varies depending on the location. You can usually tell if an 18-wheeler is going over the limit by checking their lights. A single flash from their blinkers indicates that it's safe to merge in front of them, but flashes that are high or multiple mean that it's not. Truck drivers also make use of their lights to communicate, so keep an eye out for them when merging. Always leave a wide gap between your vehicle, and an 18-wheeler. This is particularly important when you're driving by. If you cut off the truck, it could result in fatal crashes. Car drivers are responsible for 72% of all crashes between cars and trucks. The number of Axles Semi-trucks are different from cars in that they require multiple axles in order to rotate the wheels. A typical truck has four wheels, which includes the steer and drive axles. Trailers usually have two tandem axles. This can make them much 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 of axles are based on several factors, including the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limits set by each state. Limits for states can be higher than federal limits, so it is essential for truckers to check prior to traveling. Moving standard freight shipments is enough of a challenge but adding additional weight increases the chance of accidents. If a trucker overloads their trailer and is in violation of the law and can be held accountable for resultant injuries. A truck accident lawyer can determine if the driver of an 18-wheeler was negligent and the reason for the accident in case you were injured. Speed Limits As any driver knows, speeding is among the most common causes of truck accidents. This is especially true for large trucks, which are more likely to crash due to their weight and size. Therefore, it is essential for truckers to adhere to the speed limits of every route they travel. Truck drivers are often pressured to make quick delivery and may not be able to slow down enough to meet the conditions. This can lead drivers to take risks when driving, which could be fatal for other drivers. Speed limiters can lower the risk of accidents. This device automatically reduces the speed of a car to a level that is safe. It can be put in on various types of vehicles. 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 issued an additional notice of proposed rulemaking in order to get feedback about 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 vehicle owners purchase one insurance policy to protect their personal vehicles. Truckers, however, do not own the trucks they drive. Instead, they rent their 18-wheelers from a company that transports trucks. Because of the higher risk that come with commercial vehicles, trucking companies generally require higher liability insurance limits. In 18 wheeler accident lawsuit southfield , they can purchase bobtail and cargo coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance protects the freight that a semi-truck is carrying. Bobtail insurance covers the truck once it has delivered its load. In the event of an accident the policies could help to compensate victims or grieving family members for their losses. Maintenance It's not always easy to get an accurate estimation of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is because trucks are very expensive to repair and maintain, especially when they need major repairs. However certain trucking companies offer maintenance schedules which provide an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle. The majority of trucks have 10 brakes, not 18 and anti-lock brakes have become the norm in newer trucks. They take about 40% longer to stop than a car. This is due to the huge 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 has even been used in country music, including the songs “Giddyup go” and “Teddy Bear” by Red Sovine, and “Roll on” by the thrash metal group BigRig. It is important to remember that these trucks aren't their own on the road and must obey the same rules as other drivers. For instance, it is illegal for truck drivers to text while driving because the smallest moment of distraction could result in fatal consequences.