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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? Many car accidents occur and cause medical bills, physical damage and time lost from work. When an 18-wheeler vehicle is involved, the consequences are far more severe. Victims can submit a claim for financial compensation if this happens. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can be of assistance. Weight Limits 18-wheelers are restricted to carrying the maximum weight of 80,000 pounds including the volume and weight of cargo. This is a strict restriction that requires trucking companies to pack their trucks as full as they can and could result in overloaded. If a truck driver goes over this limit, they may be penalized, and the penalties vary by location. If you take a look at the lights of an 18-wheeler, you'll usually be able to determine if they're over the speed limit. A single flash of their blinkers signifies that it's safe to merge in ahead of them, whereas flashes of high intensity or multiple flashes mean that it's not. Truck drivers also utilize their lights to communicate, so keep an eye out for them when merging. It's important to always leave plenty of space between your vehicle and an 18-wheeler, especially when passing. Trucks need plenty of room to slow down and stop, and if you cut them off this could result in a fatal crash. Car drivers are at fault for 72 percent of crashes involving trucks and cars. The number of Axles Semi-trucks, like cars, require multiple axles in order to rotate the wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, including the steer and drive axles, while a trailer typically has 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 with one of these vehicles. Axle weight limits are based on several factors, including the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and the axle group legal limit posted by each state. Limits for states can be higher than federal limits, which is why it is essential for truckers to verify before they travel. Transporting normal freight shipments can be difficult enough but adding additional weight increases the risk of accidents. If a trucker overloads their trailer they are in breach of the law and can be held liable for the consequences of the injuries. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the driver of an 18-wheeler was at fault and the reason for the accident if 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 more likely to crash due to their size and weight. For this reason, it is essential for truckers to adhere to the speed limits on every highway they travel. 18 wheeler accident case oklahoma are often pressured to make quick delivery and may not be able slow down enough to meet the conditions. This can cause drivers drive recklessly, which could be fatal for other drivers. Speed limiters can reduce the risk of accidents. This is a device which will automatically restrict the speed of a vehicle to a safe limit, and it can be used in a variety of trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is examining the possibility of a new rule that would require truckers to make use of these devices. The agency has issued a second notice of proposed rulemaking in order to gather feedback on the idea. In previous proposals, it was suggested that truck speeds should be restricted to 60 or 65 miles per hour. Insurance The majority of private vehicle owners purchase a single insurance policy to cover their personal vehicles. Truckers on the other hand do not own the trucks they drive. Instead, they rent their 18-wheelers to a trucking company. Due to the increased risk associated with commercial vehicles, trucking companies usually require higher liability insurance limits. In addition, they can purchase cargo and bobtail coverage for their vehicles. Cargo insurance covers the cargo that a semi-truck is carrying. Bobtail insurance covers the truck after it has delivered its cargo. In the event of a crash such policies can assist to compensate victims or grieving family members for the losses they suffered. Maintenance It's difficult to come up with an accurate estimate of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. The maintenance costs for trucks are high and repair, especially when major repairs are needed. Some trucking companies offer maintenance schedules to estimate the cost of maintaining a vehicle. Trucks have ten brakes rather than eighteen and anti-lock breaks are currently standard on new trucks. Trucks take around 40 percent longer to stop than a car. This is due to the huge size of an 18-wheeler and its momentum add to the stopping distance. The term “eighteen-wheeler” is now synonymous with trucking. It's even used in country music, like the songs “Giddyup go” and “Teddy Bear” by Red Sovine, and “Roll on” by the thrash metal group BigRig. However, it's important to remember that these vehicles are not home on the road and they must adhere to the same rules as other drivers. It is against the law for truckers, for instance to use their phones while driving. One second of inattention can have fatal consequences.