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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? There are numerous accidents involving cars that cause physical and medical expenses, as well as absence from work. But, if an 18 wheeler is involved, it can be a lot more grave. When this happens, victims may file a claim for financial compensation. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can assist. Weight Limits In general 18 wheelers can carry up to 80,000lbs which includes the weight of cargo. This is a very strict restriction that requires trucking companies to load their vehicles to the maximum extent possible and can lead to overloading. If a truck driver goes over this limit, they may be penalized, and the penalties vary by location. If you examine the lights of an 18-wheeler, you'll know if they are going over the speed limit. A single flash of their blinkers means that it's safe to merge in ahead of them, whereas flashes that are high or multiple indicate that it's not. Truck drivers also utilize their lights to communicate, so keep alert for them when merging. It is important to leave plenty of space between your vehicle and an 18 wheeler, especially when you are passing. Trucks require plenty of room to slow down and stop when they stop, and if you cut them off, it could lead to a deadly crash. Car drivers are the primary cause of 72% of all crashes between trucks and cars. Number of Axles Semi-trucks, like cars, require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, which includes the drive and steer axles, while trailers typically have two tandem axles. It's important to remember that these vehicles are much bigger than the average automobile. Limits on axle weights are based on a variety of factors, like the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits set by each state for single axles as well as axle groups. The limit for each state can be higher than the Federal limit and this is why it is essential for truckers to know the federal and state axle weight limits prior to traveling. Moving standard freight shipments is enough of a challenge and a heavier load increases the chance of accidents. When the trucker overloads their trailer is in violation of the law and could be held responsible for resultant injuries. 18 wheeler accident lawsuit lakewood can determine if the driver of an 18-wheeler was at fault and the reason for the accident in case you were injured. Speed Limits Speeding is a major cause of truck accidents, which every driver is aware. This is particularly applicable to large trucks, which are much more likely to crash due to their size and weight. Because of this, it is vital for truckers to obey the speed limits of every highway they travel. However truck drivers are usually under pressure to deliver quick deliveries, and they might not be able to slow down enough to cope with 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 reduces the speed of a car to a safe speed. It can be put in on many different types. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is studying the possibility of a new rule that would require truckers to use these devices. The agency has issued an additional notification of the proposed rulemaking in order to get feedback on the proposed rule. Previous proposals have discussed restricting truck speeds to 60 or 65 mph, or even speeds of 68 miles per hour. Insurance The majority of private car owners purchase a single policy to cover all their vehicles. Truckers however don't own the truck they drive. They rent their 18-wheelers instead from a trucking firm. Trucking companies require higher limits of liability insurance because commercial vehicles are more dangerous. Additionally, they may purchase bobtail and cargo coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that a semi transports and bobtail insurance protects the truck when it delivers its load. In the event of an accident the policies could help to compensate grieving victims or family members for their losses. Maintenance It's difficult to come up with an accurate estimate of the maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. It is expensive to maintain and repair, especially when major repairs are required. However some trucking companies offer maintenance schedules that will give an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle. Trucks come with ten brakes instead of eighteen, and anti-lock brakes are being offered on new trucks. They take about 40% longer to stop than a car. This is because 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, including the songs “Giddyup go” and “Teddy Bear”, by Red Sovine, and “Roll on” by thrash metal group BigRig. It is crucial to remember that these trucks aren't driving on the streets and must follow the same guidelines as other drivers. It is against the law for truckers, for example to use their mobile phones while driving. One second of negligence could result in disastrous consequences.