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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? There are a lot of accidents involving cars that cause physical and medical costs, as well as time away from work. If an 18-wheeler is involved, the consequences could be more serious. Victims may make a claim and receive financial compensation when this occurs. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can be of assistance. Weight Limits 18-wheelers are restricted to carrying an maximum of 80,000 lbs including the volume and weight of cargo. This is a very strict limitation that requires trucking companies to fill their vehicles to capacity and can result in overloading. Truck drivers who exceed this limit can be fined. The fines vary depending on the location they reside in. It is easy to 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 or multiple flashes aren't. Truck drivers also make use of their lights to communicate, so keep an alert for them when merging. It is essential to leave a wide gap between your vehicle and an 18 wheeler, especially when passing. Trucks require plenty of space to slow down and stop and if you cut them off this could result in fatal crashes. Although truck drivers are often viewed as bullies on the road, 72% of crashes between cars and trucks are caused by car drivers. 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, including the drive and steer axles. Trailers typically have two tandem axles. It's important to note that these vehicles are bigger than the average automobile. 18 wheeler accident case overland park for axles are based on a range of factors, including the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits set by each state for single axles as well as axle groups. State limits may be higher than federal limits, and it is essential for truckers to check prior to travel. Transporting normal freight shipments is enough of a challenge, but adding more heft increases the chance of accidents. A trucker who overloads his truck is in violation of the law and could be held liable for any injuries that result. If you've been injured as a result of an accident with an 18 wheeler an attorney for truck accidents can help determine whether the driver was carrying more than the maximum load allowed, and if this negligence was the cause of your injury. Speed Limits Every driver knows that speeding is one of the main causes of truck accidents. This is especially the case for large trucks due to their weight, size and size. Therefore, it is essential for truckers to observe the speed limits on each route they travel. Truck drivers are often pressured to make quick delivery and may not be able slow enough to accommodate the conditions. This could cause drivers to drive dangerously, which can be fatal for other drivers. Speed limiters can reduce the risk of accidents. This device automatically limits the speed of a car to a safe speed. It can be fitted on a variety of types. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is looking into an amendment to the rulebook that would require truckers use these devices. The agency has released an additional notice of proposed rulemaking in order to collect feedback on the proposal. Previous proposals have talked about limiting truck speeds to 60 or 65 mph, or even the speed limit of 68 speed. Insurance Most private vehicle owners buy a single policy to cover all their vehicles. Truckers however do not own the trucks that they drive. They lease their 18-wheelers from a trucking company. Due to the increased risk of commercial vehicles, trucking companies usually require higher liability insurance limits. They can also purchase cargo insurance and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance protects the cargo a semi is hauling and bobtail insurance protects the truck after it delivers its load. In the event of a wreck the policies could help to compensate victims or grieving family members for the losses they suffered. Maintenance It is often difficult to estimate the costs of maintenance for commercial vehicles. Trucks are expensive to maintain and repair, especially when major repairs are needed. However some trucking firms offer maintenance schedules that will give an estimate of the total cost of maintaining the vehicle. Trucks come with ten brakes instead of eighteen and anti-lock breaks are currently standard on new trucks. In general, trucks take around 40 percent longer than a typical car to stop. This is due in part to the large dimensions of an 18-wheeler as well as its acceleration increase the stopping distance. The term “eighteen wheeler” has become synonymous with trucking. It's even used in country music songs like the Red Sovine titles “Giddyup Go” and “Teddy Bear” and thrash metal band BigRig's song “Roll on”. It is important to keep in mind that these trucks aren't at home on the roads and must adhere to the same rules as other drivers. For instance, it is illegal for truckers to text while driving, as the split second of inattention could have fatal consequences.