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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? Many car accidents happen and can result in physical and medical expenses and time lost from work. But, if an 18-wheeler is involved it can be even more dangerous. If this happens, the victims can file a claim to receive financial compensation. This is where a New Orleans truck accident attorney can be of assistance. Weight Limits 18-wheelers are limited to carrying the maximum weight of 80,000 pounds including the weight and volume of cargo. This is a strict limit that requires trucking firms to pack their vehicles to the maximum extent possible and may result in overloaded. Drivers who exceed this limit may be penalized, and the penalties vary based on where they reside. If you examine the lights of an 18-wheeler you can usually tell whether they're over the speed limit. A single flash of their blinkers suggests that it's safe to merge ahead of them, whereas high beams or multiple flashes mean that it's not. Truck drivers also utilize their lights to communicate, so keep watch for them when merging. Always leave a large gap between your car and an 18-wheeler. This is particularly important when passing. Trucks require plenty of space to slow down and stop when they stop, and if you cut them off and they are unable to stop, it could result in a fatal crash. Although truck drivers are frequently thought of as bullies on road 72% of accidents between cars and trucks are caused by drivers of cars. 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, including the steer and drive axles. Trailers usually have two tandem axles. It's important to note that these vehicles are longer than a typical automobile. The limits on axle weights are based on a range of factors, including the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits posted by each state for single axles as well as axle groups. The limit for each state can be higher than the Federal limit that is why it is vital for truckers to be aware of the state and federal axle weight limits prior to traveling. The task of transporting freight is difficult enough however, adding more weight increases the likelihood of an accident. A trucker who overloaded his trailer is in violation of the law and could be held liable for any injuries that result. If you've suffered injury in an accident with an 18 wheeler, a lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the driver was carrying more than the limit of load allowed, and if this negligence was the cause of your injury. Speed Limits As any driver knows, speeding is among the most frequent causes of truck accidents. This is especially the case for large trucks due to their size, weight and weight. Truckers should therefore adhere to the speed limits on every road they travel on. However truck drivers are frequently required to deliver their goods quickly and may not be able to slow down enough to meet the conditions. This can result in dangerous driving, and could also be fatal to other motorists. It is, however, possible to decrease the chance of these accidents by using speed limiters. This is a device that will automatically restrict the speed of a truck to a safe speed, and it can be used in a variety of trucks. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is looking into an amendment to the rulebook that would require truckers to use these devices. The agency has issued an additional notification of the proposed rulemaking in order to collect feedback about the proposal. In earlier proposals, it was suggested that truck speeds should be restricted to 60, 65 or even 68 miles per hour. Insurance Most private vehicle owners buy one policy to cover all their vehicles. Truckers however, don't own the trucks they drive. Instead, they rent their 18-wheelers to a trucking company. Trucking companies require higher limits of liability insurance because commercial vehicles are more dangerous. Additionally, they may purchase bobtail and cargo insurance for their vehicles. Cargo insurance is a way to protect the cargo that a semi-truck is carrying. Bobtail insurance covers the truck once it has delivered its cargo. These policies will provide compensation to grieving victims and family members in the event of an accident. Maintenance It is often difficult to estimate the maintenance costs of commercial vehicles. It is expensive to maintain and repair, especially when major repairs are needed. Some trucking companies provide maintenance schedules that estimate the cost of maintaining a vehicle. Trucks come with ten brakes instead of eighteen and anti-lock breaks are nowadays standard on all new trucks. In general, trucks take 40 percent longer than a typical car to stop. 18 wheeler accident lawsuit palm bay is due in part to the large size of an 18-wheeler and its acceleration increase the stopping distance. The term “eighteen-wheeler” is now synonymous with trucking. It has even been used in country music, like the songs “Giddyup go” and “Teddy Bear”, by Red Sovine, and “Roll on” by the thrash metal group BigRig. However, it is important to remember that these trucks are not at home on the road and they must follow the same rules as other drivers. For instance, it is illegal for truckers to text while driving since the split second of inattention could have fatal consequences.