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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? There are many car accidents that result in physical and medical costs in addition to absence from work. However, when an 18 wheeler is involved, it could be more grave. Victims may make a claim and receive financial compensation if this happens. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can be of assistance. Weight Limits In general 18 wheelers can transport up to 80,000 lbs, including the weight of cargo. This is a tight limitation that requires trucking companies to pack their trucks as full as they can and could result in overloaded. If a truck driver exceeds this limit, they may face fines, which vary according to 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 the front of them, whereas flashes of high intensity or multiple flashes mean that it's not. Truck drivers also use their lights to communicate, so keep an eye out for them when merging. Always leave a large gap between your vehicle, and an 18-wheeler. This is crucial when you're passing. Trucks require plenty room to slow down and stop, and if you cut them off and they are unable to stop, it could result in fatal crashes. Car drivers are the cause of 72 percent of all collisions between trucks and cars. Number of Axles Like cars, semi-trucks need multiple axles in order to rotate the wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, which includes the drive and steer axles, while trailers usually have two tandem axles. This can make them much longer than a typical passenger vehicle, and it's important to be aware of this when driving alongside one of these vehicles. The weight limits for axles are based on a number of factors, including the Federal Bridge Formula and the legal limits posted by each state for single axles and axle groups. Limits for states can be higher than federal limits, therefore it is important for truckers and drivers to be aware of prior to travel. Transporting normal freight shipments isn't difficult enough, but adding more heft increases the chance of accidents. 18 wheeler accident lawsuit farmington hills who overloads his trailer is in violation of law and could be held liable for any injuries that occur as a result. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the operator of an 18-wheeler was negligent and the reason for the accident if you were injured. Speed Limits As any driver knows, speeding is one of the leading causes of truck accidents. This is particularly applicable to large trucks due to their size, weight and size. Truckers should therefore adhere to speed limits on all roads they travel on. However truck drivers are usually pressured to make quick deliveries, and they might not be able to slow down enough for the conditions. This could cause drivers to take risks when driving, which could be fatal for other drivers. Fortunately, it is possible to reduce the chance of these accidents by using speed limiters. This is a device that can automatically restrict the speed of a vehicle to a safe speed, and it can be used in a variety of trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is examining a new rule that will require truckers to utilize these devices. The agency has issued a revised notice of proposed rulemaking to get feedback on the proposal. Previous proposals have focused on limit truck speeds to 60 or 65, or even speeds of 68 miles per hour. Insurance The majority of private car owners buy a single insurance policy to protect their vehicles. Truckers on the other hand do not own the trucks they drive. Instead, they lease their 18-wheelers to a trucking company. Because of the heightened perils associated with commercial vehicles trucking companies typically require higher liability insurance limits. In addition, they can purchase bobtail and cargo insurance for their vehicles. Cargo insurance safeguards the cargo that a semi-truck is carrying. Bobtail insurance covers the truck once it has delivered its load. These policies can compensate victims and grieving family members in the event of an accident. 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 companies that operate in the field of trucking offer maintenance schedules to estimate the cost of maintaining a vehicle. Trucks come with ten brakes instead of eighteen, and anti-lock brakes are currently standard on new trucks. In general, trucks take 40 percent longer than a standard car to stop. This is due to the huge size and momentum of an 18-wheeler. The term “eighteen wheeler” has become synonymous with trucking. It is included in songs of country music like the Red Sovine titles “Giddyup Go” and “Teddy Bear” and the thrash metal group BigRig's hit song “Roll on”. It is important to remember that these trucks aren't their own on the road and must follow the same rules as other drivers. For instance, it's illegal for truck drivers to text while driving, as a single second of negligence could result in fatal consequences.