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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? There are many accidents involving cars that cause physical and medical bills as well as time off from work. When an 18-wheeler vehicle is involved, the consequences can be far more serious. Victims may file a claim to receive the financial compensation they deserve if this happens. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can assist. Weight Limits 18-wheelers are restricted to carrying an maximum of 80,000 lbs including the weight and volume of cargo. This is a very strict limitation that requires trucking companies to pack their trucks to the maximum extent possible and may result in overloading. If a truck driver exceeds this limit, they could face fines, which vary by location. It is easy to tell if an 18 wheeler is going over the limit by checking their lights. A single flash of their blinkers suggests that it's safe to merge front of them, while flashes with multiple lights indicate that it's not. Truck drivers also make use of their lights to communicate, so keep an on the lookout for them when merging. Always leave a wide gap between your car and an 18-wheeler. 18 wheeler accident attorney new rochelle is especially important when passing. If you cut off the truck, it could cause an accident that is fatal. Although truck drivers are frequently viewed as bullies on the road, 72% of crashes between cars and trucks are caused by car drivers. The number of Axles Semi-trucks, unlike cars, require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, which includes the steer and drive axles, while trailers typically have two tandem axles. It's important to keep in mind that these vehicles are larger than the typical passenger car. Axle weight limits are based on various factors, including the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limit set by each state. The state limit may be higher than the Federal limit that is why it is vital for truckers and drivers to know the federal and state axle weight limits before traveling. The task of transporting freight isn't difficult enough, but adding extra weight increases the likelihood of an accident. When the trucker overloads their trailer and is in violation of the law and can be held responsible for results of injuries. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine whether the driver of an 18-wheeler was negligent and was the cause of the accident in case you were injured. Speed Limits As any driver knows, speeding is one of the most frequent causes of truck accidents. This is especially relevant for big trucks due to their weight, size and size. Therefore, truckers must adhere to the speed limits on every road they travel on. However truck drivers are frequently under pressure to deliver quick deliveries and might not be able to slow down enough to meet the conditions. This could lead to unsafe driving, and it could also be fatal for other motorists. Speed limiters can decrease the risk of accidents. This is a device that will automatically restrict the speed of a vehicle to a safe speed that can be used in a variety of trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is looking at an amendment to the rulebook that would require truckers to use these devices. The agency has issued an additional announcement of proposed rulemaking in order to gather feedback about the proposal. In earlier proposals it was suggested that truck speeds be restricted to 60 or 65 miles per hour. Insurance The majority of private owners purchase a single insurance policy to protect their vehicles. Truckers however do not own the trucks that they drive. Instead, they rent their 18-wheelers from a trucking company. Trucking companies require greater limits for liability insurance as commercial vehicles are more risky. They can also purchase cargo and bobtail insurances for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that a semi is carrying while bobtail insurance protects the truck after it has delivered its load. In the event of a crash such policies can assist to compensate grieving victims or family members for the losses they suffered. Maintenance It is often difficult to estimate the cost of maintenance for commercial vehicles. This is because commercial vehicles are expensive to maintain and repair particularly when they require major repairs. Some trucking companies provide maintenance schedules to estimate the cost of maintaining a vehicle. Trucks come with ten brakes instead of 18 and anti-lock break breaks are currently standard on new trucks. In general, trucks take about 40% longer than a regular car to stop. This is due to the massive size and momentum of an 18-wheeler. The term “eighteen wheeler” has become synonymous with trucking. It's even mentioned in country music tracks like the Red Sovine titles “Giddyup Go” and “Teddy Bear” and the thrash metal group BigRig's song “Roll on”. It is nevertheless important to remember that these trucks are not home on the road, and that they must obey the same rules as all other drivers. For example, it is illegal for truckers to text while driving, as the slightest mistake could have fatal consequences.