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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? There are numerous accidents in the car that result in physical and medical bills in addition to time off from work. When an 18 wheeler is involved it can be much more serious. When this happens, victims can file a claim for financial compensation. A New Orleans truck accident lawyer can assist. Weight Limits In general, 18 wheelers can only carry 80,000 pounds including the weight of cargo. This is a strict restriction that forces trucking firms to pack their vehicles full, which can lead to overloading. Truck drivers who exceed this limit can be fined. The penalties differ based on where they live. You can generally tell if an 18 wheeler is over the limit by looking at their lights. A single flash of their blinkers indicates that it's safe to merge in front of them, but flashes that are high or multiple mean that it's not. Truck drivers also utilize their lights to communicate, so keep an watch for them when merging. Always leave a large gap between your car and an 18-wheeler. This is crucial when you're driving by. Trucks require plenty of room to slow down and stop and if you cut them off, it could lead to a deadly crash. Although truck drivers are commonly thought of as bullies on road 72% of crashes between cars and trucks are caused by drivers of cars. The number of Axles Unlike cars, semi-trucks require multiple axles to rotate their wheels. 18 wheeler accident law firm miami gardens -truck typically has four wheels, including the steer and drive axles. Trailers usually come with two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a standard passenger vehicle, and it's important to be aware of this when driving along with one of these vehicles. The limits on axle weights are determined by a variety of factors which include the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limit posted by each state. The state limit could 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 prior to traveling. Transporting normal freight shipments can be difficult enough and a heavier load increases the chance of accidents. A trucker who overloaded his trailer is in violation of the law and could be held liable for any injuries that result. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the operator of an 18-wheeler was at fault and was the cause of the accident if you were injured. Speed Limits Speeding is one of the main causes of truck accidents, as every driver knows. This is especially relevant for large trucks, which are more likely to crash due to their weight and size. Truckers must therefore observe the speed limits on every road they travel. However truck drivers are frequently pressured to make quick deliveries, and they might not be able to slow down enough for the conditions. This can result in dangerous driving, and it could cause harm to other motorists. Fortunately, it is possible to reduce the chance of these accidents by using speed limiters. This device is able to limit the speed of a car to a safe limit. It can be installed on a variety of types. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering a new rule that would require truckers to utilize these devices. The agency has issued an additional notification of the proposed rulemaking to get feedback on the proposed rule. In previous proposals it was suggested that truck speeds should be restricted to 60, 65 or even 68 miles per hour. Insurance The majority of private owners buy one policy to cover all their vehicles. Truckers however don't own the vehicles they drive. They rent their 18-wheelers instead from a trucking company. Trucking companies require higher limits for liability insurance as commercial vehicles are more risky. They can also purchase cargo insurance and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo coverage protects the freight that a semi is carrying, while bobtail insurance covers the truck after it has delivered its load. These policies can 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. This is because trucks are very expensive to repair and maintain particularly when they require major repairs. However some trucking companies offer maintenance schedules that provide an estimate of the overall cost of maintaining the vehicle. The majority of trucks have ten brakes, not eighteen, and anti-lock brakes are now available in all newer vehicles. Trucks take approximately 40% longer to stop than a car. This is due to the massive size and momentum of an 18-wheeler. The term “eighteen wheeler” has become synonymous with trucking. It's used in country music songs like the Red Sovine titles “Giddyup Go” and “Teddy Bear” and thrash metal band BigRig's hit song “Roll on”. It is important to keep in mind that these trucks aren't all times on the roads and must obey the same rules as other drivers. It is against the law for truckers, as an example to use their mobile phones while driving. One second of inattention could have fatal consequences.